I bought the brick a while back, and I’m still reaping the rewards. This brick breaks apart into some very fine scraps though, could be I’m not breaking right. I do dig deep right through the center though to get those “shelves” of tea.
I brewed up maybe 6- 7g i don’t really know, i just threw it in the french press and added the water. I let it sit for 4- 5min and used a nice ceramic mug. The rest of the tea, I put in a mason jar with the lid on. Of coarse I don’t get all the slight changes of the tea when I go western, but I don’t care right now, I’m happy to have the quantity of tea.
I’m now drinking the second cup and I just love this tea. I’ve been drinking lots of coffee lately and this is more than a good substitute, as it ( as most shou) is full bodied and rich, with a bit of bitter on the finish. I personally love the fermentation flavor, because it some how taps into the nostalgia vein, or rather just simpler times.
The mouth feel is somewhat astringent, and coats the mouth.
I don’t know if its because I’m drinking a hot drink on a hot day and the result is a heavy feeling, I don’t know, but I feel slightly tea drunk with a good sense of qi. Something tells me I’ll be brewing another pot in about an hour- savage!
-nycoma
