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“8.3g, 90 mL, Brita filtered tap. Again, ran through this with a friend over so no specific notes. Regret using a gaiwan for this, since it might’ve needed some extra heat that the gaiwan didn’t...” Read full tasting note
The market is full of teas claiming to be “Bai Nian Lao Cong” (100 years old tree) Shui Xian. Most are a fraction of that, and this term is generally used with more than a little poetic license. We can’t guarantee that these trees are over 100 years old either, but we can say that the quality of this tea stands out from the pack and really displays what lovers of old tree yancha call “Cong Wei” or old tree flavour – the character that comes out in yancha made from these really old trees.
This was a small batch produced in 2020 by Zhang Hui Chun, one of the 12 original people designated as Wuyi Da Hong Pao Inheritance masters. His tastes (like ours) tend towards the more traditional wuyi processing, so although he designates this as medium roast, it would be towards the heavier end of the roast by many other processors’ standards. This was grown in Shui Lian Dong – in the centre of the Wuyi scenic area.
The taste is exquisitely pure, thick and deep in the throat, with flavours and aromas pleasantly lingering and transforming on the breath.
This is an excellent yancha and we’re very pleased to be able to offer this.
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8.3g, 90 mL, Brita filtered tap. Again, ran through this with a friend over so no specific notes. Regret using a gaiwan for this, since it might’ve needed some extra heat that the gaiwan didn’t provide. It could be a number of factors, but this really didn’t blow me away during session (esp. given cost). However, the thermos of the remainder is pretty decent. Roasty chocolate-y in a cocoa sort of way, slight medicinal, a bit heady and fuzzy in that sense. Not particularly deep in the throat per description, nor was aftertaste particularly lasting or transformative during the session or in thermos. From session, I remember the roasty notes and a deeper medicinal taste that I associate with shui xian, as well as some of the minty aftertaste that seems to come with oolongs. Cold cup was pretty chocolate-y. This is above average oolong for sure, but wasn’t worth the price to me and I would not re-purchase. The TShop oolong and a few of the ones I’ve been gifted have been better.
Also just generally, re-evaluating my approach to having tea with others. Sure, blowing through over $50 of tea in three hours is nothing in the grand scheme of things and pretty cheap entertainment I suppose, but it still feels wasteful when the other party thinks nothing of it and then I was also not able to be as focused as I would’ve liked. Meh. Depends on the guest, but this afternoon felt like a waste of good tea.
I’d be tempted to save the good/expensive teas for those who can appreciate them and offer more affordable crowd pleasers to guests. However, it was nice that you got to drink tea with a friend.