5 Tasting Notes
Had this one for a while and have about a third of a cake left. I was expecting much more from this tea to be honest. It is a very earthy tea with some very light juicy notes but is not very complex and other than the earthy notes of an alright ripe puerh not much else.
I have brewed this a variety of ways but I think the best I have dialled in are a 10 sec rinse with boiling water. Then 20s first steep +5s each steep after. Starts earthy moving to more mineral notes after about 5 steeps in my case.
I will keep trying this and if there are any changes I will update. It is an ok puerh which is good for the price as it is fairly cheap. The again it is a smaller cake which brings up the overall cost per gram.
Flavors: Earth, Mineral, Wet Earth
Preparation
Very heady. Takes a couple of steeps to really get going but when it does it is a strong buzzy tea that is very relaxing. Orange honey liquor and some nice fruity notes. Good astringency. While it has already been aged I think this is one to improve over time.
First few steeps give stone fruits with a kind of jammy background then opens up with a little more citrus and a slight sweetness.
15 sec first infusion + 10 seconds on each infusion after. I’m sure this tea can do more than 10 but usually with an aged white I will do around 8 infusions before putting the leaves in a pan with water and simmering it for a good 20 minutes to bring out all the goodness and make a super potent last brew. Try it and I guarantee you will love it.
Flavors: Astringent, Citrus, Hay, Mineral, Oats, Stonefruit
Preparation
Deep dark liquor when brewed and very thick early infusions are as dark as soy sauce if not darker (if its possible) I brew this one in a 200ml yixing red clay pot which dramatically adds to the thickness. Gorgeous tea and one of my favourites I’m sad that they sold out before I could buy another cake. Definitely worth the price.
Where to start very thick mouthfeel and texture. Coats the mouth as you drink adding to the experience. Juicy on the sides of the tongue and at the back of the mouth. Warming tea and by the time you have finished brewing it leaves you with a gentle heat and slight perspiration. Taste with it has a definite sweetness, fudge with a touch of chocolate and brown sugar. Best way to describe it is a dark fudge brownie with brown sugar. It has a minerality which increases through the infusions.
Flavors: Brown Sugar, Caramel, Chocolate, Earth, Leather, Mineral, Toffee, Wet Earth, Wet Rocks
Preparation
Really good tea. Very fruity for a black reminds me of a dancong! Excellent profile including malt, chocolate, cherry (maybe cherry wood) and some dark berries. From the first infusion it packs flavour. A more delicate tea which is less suited for stronger combos like spices.
Brewed gong fu style 5g per 100ml temp 90 -95°C 5 sec rinse. 10 sex first infusion + 5 each infusion after. Profile develops. Fruit and dark chocolate/cacao in first steeps leading to fruits and malt chocolate before some minerality comes towards the end. Can usually get between 5 and 7 infusions.
Flavors: Blackberry, Cacao, Cherry, Cherry Wood, Dark Chocolate, Fruity, Malt, Mineral
Preparation
It is a good tea very interesting blend but I don’t think it has some of the flavour profiles expected. I get the fermented tang, some light fruits, a lot of minerality and some decent astringency. I have brewed a few times now and cant find a particular fruit note to pin down. I would recommend it though as I think it can be quite heady. I want to see how this opens up over time. I’m sure there is more to this and I will keep brewing.
Brewed gong fu style. 10g to 200ml 15-20 sec first infusion after a rinse. +5-10 secs each infusion after. I will edit this if anything changes.
Flavors: Astringent, Sweet Potatoes, Tangy