Where Does the Milky Aroma of TTES No. 12 JinXuan Come From?

A tea lover asked: I bought a JinXuan tea drink from a tea shop that had a rich milky aroma and loved it. Later, I bought loose-leaf JinXuan Oolong tea to brew at home, but I could barely taste any milky flavor. Why is that? Did I buy fake JinXuan tea?

Where Does the Milky Aroma of TTES No. 12 JinXuan Come From?

Tea aroma comes from volatile aromatic compounds. These components are diverse and complex, with varying proportions in different tea types that create their unique scents. When JinXuan tea is processed into a partially fermented tea, its aromatic profile naturally produces a subtle scent reminiscent of milk. That is the true origin of JinXuan’s milky aroma.

Why Is the Milky Flavor Strong in Tea Shop Drinks, but Subtle When Brewed at Home?

If you smell the dry tea leaves you purchased, authentic JinXuan Oolong should smell like natural tea leaves, not milk. The milky scent only reveals itself after brewing. Pure, natural JinXuan Oolong offers a light, delicate milky aroma rather than a heavy milk taste.

If dry tea leaves already smell distinctly like milk, or if a tea drink has 1. an overpowering milky taste, or 2. a lingering milky coat in the throat, it may have added milk, artificial flavorings, or other aromatic additives. Natural JinXuan Oolong should only release a gentle, subtle milky aroma after brewing.