- The Road - Charcoal Roast GABA Oolong
- The Road -
Charcoal Roast GABA Oolong
This is one of the most ‘love it or leave it’ teas we carry and it has quite a challenging flavor profile. Fresh asphalt, heavy charcoal roast, thick mouthfeel, a sweet finish and a hint of cinnamon and spices meet those brave enough to try The Road.
This Alishan GABA is heavily roasted twice by an expert roaster to bring out a flavor profile as unique as they come. It is warming, calming and very strong. If you like heavily roasted teas and teas produced using GABA processing, you will be in heaven. For everyone else, it certainly is worth a try to be able to say you drank a tea that tasted like asphalt, in a good way!
Elevation: 1000
Status: Conventional, Tested Safe
Cultivar: Jinxuan
Season: Spring 2023
Method: Machine picked, processed on site, medium batch, Charcoal Roast
Oxidization: GABA Oolong Processing
Region: Alishan, Chiayi
Recommend Brewing Style:
Gong Fu Style: 3-5g per 100ml, ~100C(205f) water, 30, 45, 60 then add 5-10 seconds steeps in gaiwan. Lasts 3-4 steeps.
Western Style: 3g per 100ml, ~95C(205f) water for 1 minute. Lasts 2-3 steeps
I'm a fan of GABA teas, and this one stands out from the rest in my collection because of the roast. I am steeping this a year after the production date, I'm intrigued by its name. For me, the only hint of "asphalt" seems to be (in the name &) the appearance of the dry leaf. Possibly the charcoal roast has settled. The only disappointment I have with this Oolong is that I wanted to experience the taste of asphalt- because life is too short to not know the taste of asphalt, lol. As far as I can remember, this is the only heavily charcoal-roasted Gaba I've tried, and I'm thoroughly enjoying it! The flavors are deep, dark, and rich, with a hint of sweetness reminiscent of caramel. The note of GABA lingers in my mouth . It also provides a comforting warmth on this chilly spring morning. When I am ready to replenish my GABA Oolong supply I will be looking to add this to cart!
I got this tea as a free sample when I ordered some other GABA oolongs (thanks Matt!) And my wife and I joked about how it supposedly tasted like asphalt. Very happy we gave it a try because it was one of the most flavorful warming teas I've had in a while! Call it asphalt, if you want, to me it is reminiscent of a cup of hot cocoa and perfect for a cold fall or winter morning. It's definitely quite dark and full of flavor which on some days is just what I'm looking for. Definitely will be grabbing some more of this on my next order!
I LOVE THIS TEA SO MUCH ! I really enjoy the flavors and effects. I feel like a monk when I drink it. I’m kind of offended by the name. ( jk ) Bc. I like the flavor so much. I’m not gonna go lick some asphalt and see if it compares. But. I drink the road often and enjoy the dark smoky woody flavors and will enjoy this one the rest of my life. If I’m so blessed.
Indeed a "love it or leave it" tea. I received this as an extra tea in my order and was grateful to be able to do a side-by-side comparison with the regular "White Egret" GABA. Personally, I'll pass on charcoal roasted teas in the future. Just not a tasting note (or smell) that I find desirable in a tea. I think a good comparison could be like the "leathery" tasting note that one can find in some red wines such as Rioja. A few pro's of this tea are its longevity and lasting caramel-like aftertaste.