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195 Degrees F, Gongfu, 20 seconds for first 3 infusions, then + 5 Second infusions

This is my first Jin Jun Mei. I suspect that this isn’t a high quality Jin Jun Mei because these teas can go for a very high price and the picking doesn’t appear to be great. This tea was very affordable. Overall, this is a very enjoyable black tea, but I had to search pretty hard for tasting notes. My first impression was just, “this tastes like a good black tea”. Very Smooth finish. The slight sourness seems to give the tea just enough character to be interesting all the way through. I noticed that I started to perk up and feel pretty good after the 3rd infusion. Ive been avoiding this tea for about a year, but I think I will make this my morning tea for awhile. This is one of the better black teas I have in my collection currently. Tea lasted about 8 infusions.

Season: Spring 2018
Cultivar: Tong Mu Guan Village
Origin: Fujian, China
Picking: Buds
Elevation: Unknown

Eyes – Dry Leaf – Dark Brown, tightly rolled buds, very little light brown
Nose – Dry Leaf – Musty, Coffee, Light Floral notes
Nose – Wet Leaf – Sour Cherries, Rose Petals
Eyes – Liquor – Golden/Amber Brown
Mouth – Texture – Light
Mouth – Taste – Floral Notes, Rose, Light Sourness to it
Nose – Empty Cup – Burnt Honey
Finish – Smooth, Lubricating
Eyes – Wet Leaf – Golden Light Brown, Appears to be mostly leaves with a some buds.
Effect – Laid Back and Happy

First Brew 120 degrees F 2 minutes

I have to be in a particular mood for this tea. It has a strong Umami flavor that you either love or you hate. The first infusion is a powerhouse of umami, spinach, and pumpkin seed that will surprise you. It mellows out throughout the next 4 infusions, but it is a definitely a unique tea. Not many sweet notes in this one. A wonderful tea if you enjoy strong vegetal green teas with a lot of umami.

Season: May 2017
Cultivar: Okumidori
Origin: Fujieda, Shizuoka, Japan
Picking: Bud and one or two leaves
Elevation: 150m

Eyes – Dry Leaf – Small, Forest green, seaweed green, oily

Nose – Dry Leaf – Pumpkin seed, Umami, Butter

Nose – Wet Leaf – Strong Umami, Pumpkin seed, Buttered Spinach

Eyes – Liquor – Cloudy Pear yellow/white

Mouth – Texture – Thick

Mouth – Taste – Strong Vegetal, Umami flavor, Slight bitterness, Pumpkin Seed

Nose – Empty Cup – Pumpkin Seed, Sweet Potato

Mouth – Finish – Clinching, Slightly Drying, Light Bitterness

Eyes – Wet Leaf – Oily, Fresh, Dark Green Leaves

Effect – Energizing

205 Degrees F, Gongfu, 10 sec + 5 per infusion

A very pleasant, super smooth tea. Started to get a little dull after 5 infusions. Upped infusion time and was able to get 7 Infusions. I originally rated this tea at an 83, but I am taking it up to a 90. This is a tea unlike any other Ive tasted and I could drink this every morning.

Season: Spring 2018
Cultivar: Linking Region
Origin: Yunnan, China
Picking: Large Buds
Elevation: 2000 M

Eyes – Dry – Hairy, golden brown buds, a little black, dusty

Nose – Dry – Fresh Cut Hay

Nose – Wet – Buttered Biscuit, Brown Sugar, Medicinal, Menthol, Sour Grapes

Eyes – Liquor – Dark Golden Amber Brown

Mouth – Texture – Thick and Syrupy

Mouth Taste – Hay, Biscuits, Extremely Smooth

Nose – Empty Cup – Burnt Sugar

Mouth – Finish – Extremely Smooth, Refreshing, Lubricating

Eyes – Wet Leaf – Dark Golden Brown Buds

Effects – Mildly Energizing, Centered, Peaceful

210 degrees F, Gongfu 25 sec + 5 sec

Started out fairly one dimensional but pleasant. 2nd Infusion was very rich and delicious, but started to fall on its face on 4th infusion. I started extending infusion time on 5th infusion by quite a bit and ended up getting 6 infusions before it was dull.

I would recommend the tea but consider it an average Da Hong Pao. I prefer the Wild Da Hong Pao from Yunnan Sourcing.

SEASON: Spring 2018
CULTIVAR: Wu Yi Shan
ORIGIN: Fujian, China
PICKING: Median
ELEVATION : Unknown

Eyes – Dry Leaf – Medium leaves, Dark Brown with some lighter brown leaves, a few stems, picking a little rough.

Nose – Dry Leaf – Charcoal, Burnt Wood, Leather, Honey, Cherry

Nose – Wet Leaf – Charcoal, Brown Sugar, Honey, Butter, Peach

Eye – Liquor – Auburn, Gold

Mouth – Texture – Medium

Mouth – Taste – Floral, Peach, Charcoal, Rocky Oolong, A little Bitter, Strawberry Candy Finish,

Nose – Empty Cup – Whiskey Barrel, Honey,

Mouth Finish – A little Bitter with dry finish

Eyes – Wet Leaf – Large olive green leaves with very little brown. Many Broken leaves, Picking looks rough

Effect – Quite nice, I started the session in a somewhat foul mood. After about 4 infusions, I felt noticeably more relaxed and positive.