2015 BanZhang Lao Man E (ShenShanYeYun) 100g

This was the tea from Liquid Proust’s group buy. It is very strong. Very bitter at first. I felt some qi about the third steep but it did not last. It eventually lost the bitterness and became a sweeter tea. I would not use the word apricots however. It never got that sweet. As to this tea’s origins, some people seem to think this is a Lao Man E village tea. I personally doubt that. It is Lao Man E brand tea. A brand that King Tea sells a lot of is BanZhang Lao Man E. They make some good tea but they are generally neither BanZhang or LaoManE teas. So it is anyone’s guess as to the origins of this tea. The bitterness in this tea lasted a good six steeps before it was history. This tea has a kick your ass bitterness to it. It is that strong. While it’s certainly strong enough to be a LaoManE tea I just doubt it is.

I steeped this tea twelve times in a 120ml gaiwan with 7.2g leaf and boiling water. I gave it a 10 second rinse. I steeped it for 5 sec, 5 sec, 7 sec, 10 sec, 15 sec, 20 sec, 25 sec, 30 sec, 45 sec, 1 min, 1.5 min, and 2 min. Could have gotten a few more steeps out of the leaves if I wanted to continue.