2014 Last Thoughts

This is not a flashy tea, per se. The flavor and aroma are pretty much classic Yiwu (straw, savory, slightly grainy, some grapes), the finish clean, the mouthfeel thick but not overly so, the qi present but of the clarifying, rather than intoxicating, variety. It all just harmonizes so damn well and for so long; over time, the flavor might darken a bit, then come to resemble a more savory Fade, but it doesn’t really get watery as the steeps lengthen. Excellent.

I’ve had this for a couple of years now, and I’m not sure if it’s changed much. If anything, I think the flavor’s darkened on the later steeps and it’s gotten maybe a little tarter and fruitier, moving away from white grapes a bit. It’ll be interesting to see where this heads.

Woo woo in a cake.

Here are my notes and impressions:
- dried leaf smells fresh and fruity
- wet smells like leathery dried apricots
- Broth color is pale yellow
- Feels nicely woo woo

As I was drinking this and skypeing with MzPriss, I found myself losing track of the convo. Luckily we do text chat, so I could go back and see what she was saying LOL

I wish I could do a whole cake of this. It’s a winner fo sho and I think it’s going to age amazingly. Like me. But at least I am happy I got to try it, and for that I am grateful!

This tea is an appropriate cake for me. In fact, I am using it for my life narrative. Or, end of life narrative, as it were. I decided to start writing some of my thoughts in a tea blog called “Death By Tea.” The address is on my profile————>

I wanted to be able to post photos and this is a worthy cake. Dramatic? Yes. But I have my reasons.

Of course I will continue to post reviews on Steepster, usually with different content. And I really need the cupboard here and the good tea drunks who know my stash and I know theirs. :P

I haven’t steeped out this tea yet, people. I tried. This is the most highly caffeinated puerh I have yet brewed. 8 grams in my 130 ml gaiwan and they are now busting out the top past 15 steeps. I’ve tried over brewing it, thick and bitter, as well as quick, soft steeps. An old lady like me half gone but not ready to quit yet she is barely a few months old. Baby soft.

Lots of buds and leaves of many sizes. Yellow soup, I smell that light apricot and expect that taste but what I get is 2 notes lighter, white grapes.

Is it worth the money? Only when you’re dead, or almost. Like me. Children grown and done. I don’t have the time to see how this ages, but maybe someone else here with a really big penny jar will spring for it and report back to y’all in 20 years.

88 score today for the TwoDog and for the people of Yunnan. The news of the earthquake in Yunnan today gives me pause for having drunk this cake, my Last Thoughts for today are for them.