Yunnan Black Gold Bi Luo Chun Black Tea

Spring 2023 harvest: Intensely malty. Whole wheat crackers, very little sweetness. Strong aroma of Wheat Thins, sun dried tomato, bitter boiled roses, and a hint of cigar. The vegetal / floral bitterness fades away after a few steeps, leaving a very nice cocoa cookie / chocolate graham cracker flavor that lasts through several steeps and lingers on the tongue. Love the appearance: silky black and gold pellets covered in bud dust / hairs. Great quality for the price.

Robust and slick, that’s how I think of this Dian Hong. It has a fairly classic profile with strong chocolate/cocoa notes. It is sweet, woody, a touch bitter and drying. It also reminds me a bit of eucalyptus, partly in the flavour, partly due to the cooling, astringent mouthfeel. Generally, the liquor is pretty thick and satisfying.

I’m having a very hard time being fair to this tea, as it sits next to some pure bud golden snails from What-Cha, which I prefer immensely. The pure buds make for smaller, more golden, more hairy snails — translating to a smoother, fuller-bodied, oh-so-luxurious cuppa with layers that last for days.

That said, this is solid. It’s a light to medium mouthfeel, like making cocoa with water instead of milk. That character does let the cocoa flavor punch right through, and almost gives it a watery-coffee bottom note. Tannins, malt, brown bread. Sweet vanilla in the scent at the bottom of several pours, which was lovely. Strong and punchy through several steeps.

Spring 2021 version. I have ordered this one multiple times in the past but the last time is already a few years ago. It’ s still just as great. What I like is the combination of strength and body with complexity. There are distinct high notes, especially when steeped lighter and in early steeps, but there is also great depth, with cocoa, caramel and peaty notes. The liquor is nicely thick and the visual appearance of the leaves is great.

Another one from a traveling tea box earlier this year – I’m not sure which year this tea is from. It’s pretty rich and malty. I used skim milk, but actually, I think soy milk would complement this really well. It’s got depth – I’m enjoying it! To sweeten my second steep of this, I used horchata powder I bought at an international market, and those flavors were fun together.

Spring 2021 version. I think I originally ordered the pure bud Bi Luo Chun but was sent this one instead, but I don’t mind because it’s great. What struck me was an intense dark chocolate flavor, to the point I wondered if I’d accidentally spilled cocoa powder in my teapot somehow. Very sweet and long-lasting flavor that handles lots of resteeping. Hard to go wrong here.

Still around, just drinking less tea as i really don’t have many left lol.

This tea (the Spring 2018 version) steadily grew on me over the course of finishing a 50 g. It has a luxurious smell and appearance while dry: tight golden and black curls redolent with malt, sweet potato and carrots – and a heavy dusting of magical golden dust everywhere, which I LOVE.
The taste is strong, fairly complex and instantly recognizable: dark chocolate, malt, sweet potato, floral, flowers and some sweetness. It does well with gong fu and Western brewing, but goes downhill rapidly with subsequent steepings.

Not for the folks who prefer understated teas and love to tease out multiple flavors out of them playing with the steeping conditions. This tea is ideal for drinkers who are into puers, roasted oolongs, Keemuns and other bold teas.

The version I’m reviewing is the Autumn 2016 version. Really excellent tea, tastes more expensive than what it’s being sold for. Primarily chocolate with malty undertones. Has a scent that resembles the cannabis plant. Not super complex, but tastes amazing, and has a bold feel (for any beer drinkers) like a stout in tea form. The price + taste will make this a regular for me.

My 2nd tea of the days, also hours ago! Sorry for the lame review…