Having a sample of this one tonight.
Dumped the sample into the breaking tray. Looks to be bigger leaf and an almost purple hue to the leaf. Ye Sheng maybe? Not sure at this point. Got 10 grams out to brew with. Heated the water and pored some into the easy brewer and dumped. Tossed around. Very fruity almost like grape skin mixed with honey.
First brew after a quick rinse. Whispers of a touch of smoke. Very light. Taste very fruity and just on the tip of the tongue. Sweet on the aftertaste lingering.
Second brew, still flash steeping. Nice and sweet. A little more thickness and the mouth coating is starting. I saw a few buds mixed in so this may be some of the sweetness. I know there are two types of wild tea. Bitter version and sweet which this one seems to be. Starting to carry heaviness and some berry malt to it.
Third steep, a little more of the white grape creeps in. Starting to have a touch of bitterness mixed in as well. Very light though. Almost like drinking a sweet white wine varietal. Pretty close just without the alcohol.
Flavors: Berry, Bitter, Honey, Smoke, Sweet, White Grapes
Preparation
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Is that different from this? https://essenceoftea.com/collections/puerh-tea/products/2018-spring-secret-forest-puerh
The 2018 Secret Forest says “We pressed this tea last year and offered these cakes as preorders, which have now sold out.”
?
@TeaGull it is a sample from he previous year. I am intrigued to know if the current compares. I may have to find a swapper to check the new one out. I just wished they had pressed a bigger cake. I dislike the new smaller cake sizes.
I bought a sample of the 2018 and really enjoyed it. It definitely has Ye Sheng in it. It’s got some funky spicy and umami characters to it and a really love long mouthfeel.
Personally, I appreciate the smaller cake sizes, I just don’t need 357/400 more grams of anything these days. But, even this one is a little more than I want to spend right now.
I will probably start downsizing in the future as storage shrinks.
I agree about the Ys Sheng as it seems to have that edge to it.
I tried the 2018 secret garden as well as the Gedeng Guoyolin and Piercing the illusion and they all have that Ye Sheng vibe to them. Nice Chardonnay notes. Kinda like the Slumbering Dragon without the big bitterness. All would be worth caking but I already have enough wild tea to last a while…
Is that different from this? https://essenceoftea.com/collections/puerh-tea/products/2018-spring-secret-forest-puerh
The 2018 Secret Forest says “We pressed this tea last year and offered these cakes as preorders, which have now sold out.”
?
@TeaGull it is a sample from he previous year. I am intrigued to know if the current compares. I may have to find a swapper to check the new one out. I just wished they had pressed a bigger cake. I dislike the new smaller cake sizes.
I bought a sample of the 2018 and really enjoyed it. It definitely has Ye Sheng in it. It’s got some funky spicy and umami characters to it and a really love long mouthfeel.
Personally, I appreciate the smaller cake sizes, I just don’t need 357/400 more grams of anything these days. But, even this one is a little more than I want to spend right now.
I will probably start downsizing in the future as storage shrinks.
I agree about the Ys Sheng as it seems to have that edge to it.
I tried the 2018 secret garden as well as the Gedeng Guoyolin and Piercing the illusion and they all have that Ye Sheng vibe to them. Nice Chardonnay notes. Kinda like the Slumbering Dragon without the big bitterness. All would be worth caking but I already have enough wild tea to last a while…