127 Tasting Notes
Quite spicy but unfortunately also very astringent. Mainly bitter, floral and vegetable notes. Note: The sample seems to be from the middle of the Bing, therefore not necessarily representative.
Images and more at https://puerh.blog/teanotes/2013-san-ke-shu-ys
Flavors: Astringent, Bitter, Floral, Vegetal
Preparation
Good bitterness and good body, however, also a certain degree of astringency without particularly noticeable Qi. Good endurance and good quality but nothing special, what would set this tea apart from others.
Images and more at https://puerh.blog/teanotes/2016-shan-hou-ys
Flavors: Astringent, Bitter, Heavy, Sweet
Preparation
Warm and soft with an intense woody note, beautiful sweetness and subtle bitterness and a slight sourness, which even gives the tea a slight aggressiveness with increasing infusions. Lots of endurance and very beautiful, large leafes – a perfect example of good Bangwei!
Images and more at https://puerh.blog/teanotes/2007-bang-wei-tu
Flavors: Astringent, Bitter, Sour, Sweet, Wood
Preparation
Significantly stronger and with more bitterness than the 2016 Han Gu Di with also very nice leafes, but also no very unique character, which would make this tea stand out.
Image sand more at https://puerh.blog/teanotes/2015-bang-dong-village-ys
Flavors: Astringent, Bitter, Fruity, Sweet, Vegetal
Preparation
The 2016 HGD seemed a lot stronger and bitter last year than it does this year. Not sure what’s happened, but it now seems quite balanced.
thanks for letting me know! gonna have to try the 2016 then – the 2015 is absolutely not a bad tea, just doesn’t have something special.
I’ve read mixed reviews for the 2016 Han Gu Di. I think proper storage and good water will help it shine. I agree that the 2015 Bang Dong is a consistently high performer. I’m kicking myself for having not purchased a whole cake when it was less than $60.
Good leaf quality, initially slight bitterness, otherwise mainly rather indefinable sweetness. Good but without an independent character or recognizable qi.
Images and more at https://puerh.blog/teanotes/2016-han-gu-di-ys
Flavors: Bitter, Sweet
Preparation
Rather soft with a noticeable moist note, but its origin dates back several years. The most prominent aspect of this tea is an astringent-leathery-acid fungal note, which is very long-lasting and increases as the infusions progress. Unusual but not bad, but the tea has a relatively light body.
Images and more at https://puerh.blog/teanotes/2004-cha-ma-gu-dao
Flavors: Astringent, Leather, Medicinal, Mushrooms, Sour
Preparation
Strong, heavy body with a very smooth texture and complex composition of bitter, astringent, woody, sweet, discreetly moist and a subtle acidity, all in all a very nice spicy flavour, which remindes me of the 2008 Bulang Ancient by EoT. In addition, there is an intensely relaxing Qi and surprisingly good leaves for a Factory Sheng. However, the storage was anything but “clean” and in spite of the age, the tea is still a little aggressive, which together gives some deduction regarding the rating.
Images and more at https://puerh.blog/teanotes/2006-pasha-mountain-gu-shu
Flavors: Astringent, Bitter, Heavy, Smooth, Sour, Spicy, Sweet, Wood
Preparation
Very strong leather note with present bitterness and a medically woody note. The rather humid storage is clearly noticeable, but is not at all musty but the good type of humid storage. Surprisingly intense, mainly awakening Qi and a very long lasting tea. Leaves range from very beautiful to catastrophic, though.
Images and more at: https://puerh.blog/teanotes/2006-changtai-tian-xia-tong-an
Flavors: Leather, Limestone, Medicinal, Wood
