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Working my way through some old samples I never got around to drinking. This one had some interesting aromas after the wash, I was getting warm brown bread, the kind you bake with raisins and molasses. Brewed up a nice dark brown just short of black. The flavors in the aroma don’t really bear out in the cup, most of what I’m getting steep after steep is just, well basic shou flavor is the only way I can describe it. Just a clean basic shou with moderate body. It’s perfectly fine, but there’s nothing really interesting going on here.

Spring 2022. Aromas coming out of the bag are off the charts, intense notes of toasted nuts and maybe toasted sesame alongside the usual fresh grassy notes. Those flavors came through in the cup alongside a surprising subtle sweetness, becoming more vegetal in later steepings. Like summer in a tea cup.

This was my favorite of my recent Yunnan Sourcing purchases, and would probably be my go to Long Jing at this price point.

Brewing up some old samples that I had never gotten to. This one surprised me, in a good way. The “lumber” here is less pure wood or wood smoke flavor, and more like a forest on a rainy autumn day. Reminds me of a cabin in the woods. Earthy with plenty of petrichor, a bit of mushroom broth, a hint of camphor and just a trace of wood smoke like someone’s campfire smoldering out somewhere down the trail. Thick and hearty with no astringency when pushed. A comfy tea. Would buy again.

Drinking up some of my old samples I never got around to. On the nose there’s some camphor, wet rock, and a little wood. Despite brewing up a very dark reddish black, I wouldn’t call it thick or heavy bodied. There’s a bit of a bitterness/astringency there that becomes more pronounced than I’d like when I try to push the shou to get a richer brew out of it. Early steeps are camphor, wood and a little bit of that wet rock/basement, getting more medicinal until only the bitterness remains.

Overall, I found this slightly disappointing, I wanted something creamier than this offered. Probably wouldn’t buy again.

I could smell the smoke on this one as soon as I opened the sample envelope. Upon tasting it – if this is ten years of mellowing, I can only imagine what this must have been like young. It’s got that peaty smoky flavor, but balanced by a sweetness. Reminds me of sipping scotch. To be sure, not as smoky as a Lapsang or peaty as Laphroaig, but still quite pronounced! The smoke does eventually tame down, and you get tobacco, wood and some lingering sweetness, but you lose the body pretty quickly too. I don’t usually bother to comment on the “Cha qi” but after the first 150ml I could already feel this lifting my spirits, so to speak.

Not bad, but not altogether to my taste either. Glad I got a sample, probably won’t get a cake.

Smell is earthy and sweet with no fermentation aroma. The liquor brews up a deep brownish red, with very little haziness to it.

On the initial taste, there is an earthiness to it, but it’s like the smell of soil after a fresh rainfall – not basementy, mushroomy or musty at all. Very clean taste with some sweetness and a hint of fruitiness under it all. Lasted quite a few steeps (I lost track) and I couldn’t make it bitter if I tried.

Overall impression: this is a very clean, mellow and smooth shou. Easy to drink, easy to recommend.

Dry leaves have an absolutely delicious smell, sweet and very floral.

Wet leaves smell of freshly mowed grass and grilled zuchinni, with the floral notes returning as they dry.

Initial steeps were freshly mown grass and floral, with a bit of honeyed sweetness. A bit of nuttiness developed as it went on. Very vibrant and appealing, with a good bit of complexity. It’s really fresh and fragrant, and that sticks around through quite a few steeps.

I’d definitely get this one again. Punches way above it’s price range, both compared to other puerhs I’ve tried and just compared to teas in general.

Texture of the tea was soft but not overly thick. The most pronounced flavor note was a fairly strong (but not altogether unpleasant) sourness with standard “green” flavors – almost reminded me of a less-floral unroasted tie guan yin. Not much bitterness there at all, but a very noticeable mouth drying effect. Just the slightest hint of sweetness on the tip of the tongue after I drank it.

This one I found to be pretty harsh on the stomach. Actually, it’s the first sheng I thought that about.

Not terribly impressed, probably wouldn’t get more.

I got this tea as a sample along with some ripe puerh that I ordered from Whispering Pines.

Upon opening the bag, the smell of cocoa was so prevalent that I actually had to check to make sure it wasn’t a blended tea (even though I expect it in a Dian Hong). Brewed up, the cocoa was there in the background but along with a strong maltiness, with strong sweet potato and subtle spices. A very enticing cup of tea. I was impressed – very much in the classic Dian Hong range of flavors, but a very good example of the style.