Tess wrote:
> I'm setting out on another tea-buying adventure this weekend and am
> hoping to expand my small collection of tea by adding greens and
> oolongs. My exprience with greens thus far over the last few years has
> been great and getting better, and I've got a short list of varieties
> to try and pick up that people on this list have suggested. (Am very
> excited about trying a bit of gyokuro!)

Gyokuro is a funny one for me, I love it but in smaller doses and
thankfully due to the cost that works out for me. I could never drink
it daily like a good sencha. Pi Lo Chun is highly recomended by me for
a nice middleground green.

> So...if you were recommending three or four very specific varieties of
> oolong tea to someone who loves all sorts of teas (including very
> strongly-flavoured, oddly-flavoured, and delicately-flavoured teas),
> what would they be?

Phyll gave you almost the same list I was going to say:
- Tie Kuan Yin
- Dan Cong
- Bai Hao/Oriental Beauty

There is a lot of variance in oolongs IMO, even in expensive ones. I
find I will really enjoy one Oriental Beauty while detesting another,
even though both are high quality... I think it was Jason F who said he
likes to taste an oolong before buying and I fully agree with that.
Since it isnt always an option I buy Oolong's carefully.

And just to throw in some off-the-wall options (because that's just how
I am a good Osmanthus Oolong (Gui Hua) can be a good time, Huang Jin
Gui, Dong Ding, Shui Xian, and the complete darkhorses Sea Dyke Brand
Fujian Oolong and Foo Joy Wuyi Oolong (it is cheap and I like it, so
sue me

Enjoy!
- Dominic
Drinking: Random dragonwell I found in my tea cupboard at work.