Received from Yunnan Sourcing July 2023. Dry leaves a mix of olive green to greenish brown. Tightly packed, I got a lot of breakage and powder in my first session.
Rinsed for 10 seconds at temperature (205F). Wet leaves smell like hops and seaweed, and after a couple steeps lemongrass.
First steep 15 seconds. Liquor is a light honey color. Aroma very clean, makes me think of an ocean breeze/seawater with a hint of cut grass. Not as bitter as I feared for a sheng puerh, very accessible for those who prefer shou but are willing to explore sheng. Light vegetal, bit of orange blossom. Finish is sweet and viscous, bit of cooling on the tongue. Very calming sensation in the chest, like deep breathing.
Second steep 20 seconds. More bitterness apparent in this one but not off-putting, and at the sides of the tongue a new subtle lemony tartness, maybe pairing with more noticeable orange blossom aroma. Color unchanged.
Third steep 20 seconds. Bitterness has faded back to steep 1 or I’m used to it, sweetness also faded. Otherwise consistent.
Flavors: Cut Grass, Hops, Lemon, Lemon Zest, Orange Blossom
