On Oct 26, 1:38 pm, SN gmail.com> wrote:

Just a few of the flowery volatiles found in oolong tea include
Geraniol (rose petal), Linalool (light floral, lily of the valley),
Terpineol (lilac), Nerolidol (rose), Phenylethanol (light floral),
Methoxybenzaldehyde (vanilla), Z-jasmone & Jasmine lactone (jasmine),
B-ionone (violets), Hexanoic(s) (geranium/flowery/fruity), Oolongs
have fewer of the flowery volatile compounds compared with black teas
- but they tend to be the heavier aroma compounds and at higher
concentrations (blacks have wider spread of compounds but less
(proportionally) of the heavy ones - thus Gardenias are sometime used
to spike poor oolongs but this would not work with poor blacks -
blacks can be spiked with lemon zest and wintergreen but this would
not work with oolongs. Variations in tea volatile aroma (place to
place, season, variety) tend to be due changes in concentration ratios
of the aromas - 300 plus identified in black teas - rather than
absence or presence. Also remember that too much of any one of the
300 gives a poor tea just as too little will do the same - it's all
about balance.

Nigel at Teacraft

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