7542, take 2. Different vendor, different year. From a fresh order of KTM samples, most of which are shou. Had I known how hyped the 2010 vintage is before making this order, I would have gotten a sample of that instead haha.
This one is hands-down better than the 2006 vintage. Not sure how much of the difference is due to storage parameters. Pleasant tea to drink, although I cannot discern much flavor no matter how hard I try. Mouthfeel is neither watery nor full. No bitterness with low astringency. 10+ infusions. Like its predecessor, this tea is also heady, with cha qi kicking in at infusion 7-8.
I find it hard to fathom that the 2010 vintage is superior enough to this tea to warrant caking it. Perhaps I’m wrong, however, and the vintage really does matter that much. Or maybe I just don’t enjoy the cha qi experience as much as others?
Flavors: Astringent, Spices, Vegetal, Wet Earth
