Lala Shan Hong Shui

It has been a while since I drank this tea and I saved the wrapper so I wouldn’t forget to review it, because it deserved a genuine and thoughtful review. I am 99% sure this came from derk.

Mine has the word roast circled. I don’t know if that is true of all the ones reviewed here. It also says June 2022.

This tea was fantastic. I know it was fantastic because it immediately got added to my wishlist and that is something I am trying to avoid doing because I am trying to sipdown and not add to the cupboard. This oolong is worth it, and deserves attention and gong fu preparation if you have time to do it.

Sipdown. I saved enough for gong fu, but….it was just so goood western mug style that I did it again for the cold weather. I got so many complex flavors even this time by heavy leafing 6 grams into my strainer mug. First steep was dark cocoa, butter, wood, honey, and earth, second steep had an immensely sweet fruit like plums pulsating from the aroma, and than wood and slight peach in the taste. The rest of the resteeps were buttery, vaguely floral, earthy, with just the right amount of wood and tannin I like in both black teas and oolong.

I’m sad to see this one gone. I’ve got other dark oolongs that aren’t quite as good. This was a treat, Derk, especially since I haven’t had a darker oolong that I’ve enjoyed as deeply as this one in a while.

Holy shit, derk. Thank you. This is everything.

Bowled. This tea… this is where I resonate. My tea. I didn’t take a single note and just sat there transfixed (and muttering expletives).

How the hell is this a GABA? As if my mind wasn’t reeling enough. “I don’t like GABAs,” she says.

It doesn’t sound like this is going to be available any more… I don’t know what to do with that. I have enough for one more bowl. Maybe I’ll take better notes next time; maybe I’ll just be.

I will always remember my last session with this because I drank with intent, outside, standing in our backyard and facing the setting sun as Spring’s clockwork winds and trails of incense whipped around me. I asked for help and sent my love out into the world, tipping my bowl toward the sun as an offering and letting the liquid soak the ground at my bare feet. Cheesy, maybe, but it felt damn good as chills of acknowledgement from nature coursed through me.

A windfall occurred the next day, and my boyfriend and I are moving rural next month to an immaculate old house and property, no further than 15 minutes from Kiki. My younger brother is getting married next weekend in Ohio and I fly out on Thursday. This is a time of joy and I am present for it.

Special tea. Soothing, deep and meditative. I am grateful for the experience.