I was very excited to get an opportunity to try this tea and it did not disappoint. On steeps 1 & 2 I got aromas of sweet tobacco and flavors of cinnamon, star anise and apple cider on the exhale. On steeps 3 & 4 the gaiwan lid had a plummy fragrance and the flavor took on a spicy minerality with some walnut notes. Astringency building a bit, but not overwhelming. I feel heavy and calm, like a soft stone is set between my eyes, and my cheeks have a puckered / pinched uplift as if I bit a lemon. On steeps 5 & 6 the gaiwan lid almost smelled like I was brewing Yancha, and the flavor was similar. Building astringency, light pithy / pecan skin quality – but still totally in check. Qi building…expansive feeling in my lungs, sea legs in my arms and a tingling in my feet and hands similar to what happens after increased oxygen levels from focused breathing. Pressure in my ears and my head feels full of water. Butterflies in my stomach. It seems important to mention, these sensations felt rather pointed and not clumsy. I’ve had similar feels when I have run into a door frame / almost dropped my gaiwan, but this had a lot of clarity in spite of its intensity. Qi is personal and I hesitate to mention it in reviews, but it can be interesting to compare subjective experience. On steeps 7 & 8 I got a lot of cinnamon/camphor, star anise…almost reminding me of Tai Cha #18 (Red Jade) a bit. From here it moved into milder honeyed / plummy wood flavors, but remained very enjoyable. Think I will boil this in a bit. Bless you, LP <3
Flavors: Anise, Apple, Camphor, Cinnamon, Honey, Mineral, Pecan, Plum, Spices, Tobacco, Walnut, Wood
