from the sublime to the sacrilegious - the sublime

Just because Oprah says it Wulong doesn’t mean its not Oolong. The power of the cult never ceases to amaze me, but it does have its benefits.

For some time now we have been cautiously hording our supplies of oolong (Wulong to those of you who are followers) and trying in vain to share our love for this, most complex category, while not burning our fingers with a tons of tea that only we drink.

Now i drink a lot of tea, and i do mean a lot, and i am particularly a fan of oolongs, so you can imagine my delight when the calls started coming in asking for "wulong" tea, because Oprah says its good for the waist line. At last! an excuse to start beefing up our stocks of oolong and the hope of introducing it to enough people to keep up my drinking habits.

So out comes my favourite Gaiwan (yes, its meant to be drunk from yixing, but a Gaiwan does the trick just as well, with the added benefits of allowing for more nose) and the beer mug for my partner (a gaiwan would be like drinking from a thimble for him and don’t let me even begin to mention those tiny little cups its traditionally drunk from, they would just frustrate him) and a few weeks worth of drinking frenzy begins

Now i understand that for most of the people looking for wulong, they are simply looking for a tea that can help with weight loss and that even if that means choking down some awful, bitter, murky swill, as long as the promise of losing a few inches is there its worth it. I’m by no means knocking that, and if it works that’s great, and if it makes you feel good, that’s even better. Please don’t get the idea that im talking in a disparaging manner, i too am a firm believer in good health practices. However, to me, oolong is all about taste.

So in a fashion typical of my approach to Teabox, and totally contrary to economic sense i immediately began cupping some of the best Formosa oolongs available. My partner, also a sucker for the finer teas in life (with a particular shine for oolongs), buzzed around like a kid in a candy store downing liter after liter of the sublime liquors.

Gawping like fools we compared sweet smooth Ah Li Shans to spicy rich Wu Yi, juicy Li Shan to Oriental beauties with ethereal fragrances of flowery orchards. All hand picked! Processed by Kung Fu tea masters and with pedigrees longer than the most neurotic daschhund.

Now comes the crunch - customers want - "wulong" weight loss elixir, savior of Oprah’s ever threatening waist line. We want - tea from bush planted 100 years ago by celebrated Chinese tea master, philosopher and poet, hand picked, available in limited batches from spring flush, and expensive as the crown jewels.

So here i sit, nursing my 6th infusion of the gorgeous light honey coloured infusion, trying to excuse myself with the argument that had we bought the oolongs from the normal agents (most teas are sold via reputable brokers in the tea industry, who help to ensure quality, and break down quantities) rather than the producers themselves, whom we have a great relationship with, the tea would have been easily double the price.

In a way both objectives have been met, we now have a limited batch of exquisite tea, and the oolong may turn out to be "sliming" on the bottom line, (mine more than anyone else’s). But as i peer into the crystal clear infusion and marvel at the perfect cup of tea, i simply smile and melt into another moment of tranquility. ill let the coffee roasters worry about dollars & cents.