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derk drank 2016 Yunnan Sourcing "Autumn Da Qing Gu Shu" Raw Pu-erh Tea Cake by Yunnan Sourcing

1647 tasting notes

Pretty sure this is the last of my Jinggu teas.

The dry leaf is mesmerizing and shimmery. First several steeps are 1-dimensional drying straw taste with low-sitting, tongue-numbing bitterness and a cooling, metallic finish. Pleasant, quick aftertaste that’s changing from fruity to milk and pure cinnamon. Light-bodied. Later it becomes mostly floral resinous-bitter, dry grass-brass metallic, with a woody undertone and milky-butter minty-cooling finish. Aftertaste of unripe floral apricot followed by a sugarcane returning sweetness and mild spiciness in the throat. Relaxing from the first steep with no floral-induced headache. It was the perfect after dark brew while listening to Herbie Hancock’s Maiden Voyage. Understated in flavor but simply a pleasant tea that I’d like to try again further down the line. Parts of it reminded me of White2Tea’s four am.

Thanks for sharing, Togo :)

Song pairing: Herbie Hancock — Little One
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Kl4QgMuoBU

Flavors: Apricot, Bitter, Butter, Cinnamon, Dry Grass, Drying, Floral, Metallic, Milk, Mint, Resin, Spicy, Straw, Sugarcane, Wood

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This place, like the rest of the internet, is dead and overrun with bots. Yet I persist.

Eventual tea farmer. If you are a tea grower, want to grow your own plants or are simply curious, please follow me so we can chat.

I most enjoy loose-leaf, unflavored teas and tisanes. Teabags have their place. Some of my favorite teas have a profound effect on mind and body rather than having a specific flavor profile.

Favorite teas generally come from China (all provinces), Taiwan, India (Nilgiri and Manipur). Frequently enjoyed though less sipped are teas from Georgia, Japan, and Nepal. While I’m not actively on the hunt, a goal of mine is to try tea from every country that makes it available to the North American market. This is to gain a vague understanding of how Camellia sinensis performs in different climates. I realize that borders are arbitrary and some countries are huge with many climates and tea-growing regions.

I’m convinced European countries make the best herbal teas.

Personal Rating Scale:

100-90: A tea I can lose myself into. Something about it makes me slow down and appreciate not only the tea but all of life or a moment in time. If it’s a bagged or herbal tea, it’s of standout quality in comparison to similar items.

89-80: Fits my profile well enough to buy again.

79-70: Not a preferred tea. I might buy more or try a different harvest. Would gladly have a cup if offered.

69-60: Not necessarily a bad tea but one that I won’t buy again. Would have a cup if offered.

59-1: Lacking several elements, strangely clunky, possesses off flavor/aroma/texture or something about it makes me not want to finish.

Unrated: Haven’t made up my mind or some other reason. If it’s puerh, I likely think it needs more age.

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