2005 Yang Pin Hao Peacock Ripe Pu-erh

I just got done finishing off the last bit of this cake, I for sure really enjoyed it as I drank through it at a pretty good pace. I really enjoy this one because its a lot different than the other shou pu’erh I have. This one has more of a camphour, wet and woody flavors that really stand out. It always has a very nice clean taste and can be steeped quite a few times.

Would recommend this one to anyone looking for something a bit different in a shou pu’erh.

This tea has almost zero fermentation flavor. Its got a nice camphor wood flavor that improves as you resteep the tea. There is also another flavor that I did not like so much, sour in the early steeps then changing to something else. I don’t know how to describe this flavor I found undesirable. Overall this is not a bad tea, just not my favorite.

I steeped this ten times in a 120ml gaiwan with 10g leaf and boiling water. I steeped it for 5 sec, 5 sec, 7 sec, 10 sec, 15 sec, 20 sec, 25 sec, 30 sec, 45 sec, and 1 min. I think it would have gone five more steeps.

Got back from a special treat which was dinner at the Thai restaurant tonight. I had lemongrass tofu and mango sticky rice for dessert. The mango sticky rice was full of coconut milk and it was sooo good. I was very happy with the meal!

I thought I would have this shu puerh as my after dinner drink. On the whole, I am not terribly impressed with this one. Even when the color is quite dark it is lacking a bit in flavor and just seems to be a bit muddy with camphor. Nothing special in my opinion.

The leaves are dark brown/red with a few golden tips present. Also the leaves look small yet mostly full or at least half the leaf intact. It has a damp, earth scent with notes of wood, must and soil.

First Steep – 30 seconds

Colour is dark red with a musty and damp wood scent. Flavour is gentle with soft wood, smoke and damp earth notes. No astringency to speak of.

Second Steep – 40 seconds

The colours is now dark, similar to soy sauce. Flavour is smooth with a musty soil after taste that is gentle. A little damp tasting too.

Third Steep – 45 seconds

Flavour is still soft with damp soil, smoke, wood, musk and brown sugar notes. As it lightens towards the after taste it sweetens.

Fourth Steep – 55 seconds

Down to burnt orange in colour. This steep is more wooden and damp than musty, though the soft sweetness persists.

Fifth Steep – 1 minute

More soil in this steep though still soft and with no bitterness. Very clean and natural tasting. Slight dryness in the after taste.

Sixth Steep – 1 minute 20 seconds

Very light, all I can really taste is damp soil with a soft, sweet finish.

Seventh Steep – 2 minutes

Still consistent damp soil though no longer sweet.

Eighth Steep – 3 minutes

Softer than ever though still a faint soil flavour.

The thing that strikes me the most about this Shou is how subtle it is in flavour. The ageing has smoothed it to a nice place but personally for me this is too subtle. It has some characteristics that while still pleasant is nothing above basic.

For pics and more information on all of this months Yunnan Sourcing Premium Plan Club teas please view my blog.
http://www.kittylovestea.co.uk/2015/02/26/yunnan-sourcing-premium-plan-club-february-2015/