OK gonna get all Proustian on ya. This was a gift from a new tea buddy “PUG”, and since I had a big day ahead and there’s snow all over, why not a shou. As if I need an excuse.
Dry tea has aromas of forest leaves happily decomposing on the forest floor. Used my 210ml shou yixing and 10gm tea. 2 quick rinses and left it sit in pot for 10 minutes while I took some pics of the snow. First steep was essentially in and out. Here it comes. In the vein of Sophia Petrillo, picture it…….. Wilkes Barre PA. 1964, Christmas, opening my presents under the tree. Etcha-Sketch for me, a new pair of boots for my uncle. I want the boots, so I go over and stick my feet in and they obviously don’t fit but I get this great smell of well oiled leather and 50 years later, its the same aroma in this tea. But there is something else jostling in the old noggin, oh now I know, its all the cardboard from that day as well. So there you go leather and cardboard. You’d think anyone with any sense, would ever think of drinking something with leather and card board but then I never had much sense.
The first 3 steeps gave the flavor of the leather, cardboard, smoke, decayed leaves, but it was so smooth and it tastes so good. Next few steeps were 5-10 seconds and now in addition to the a fore mentioned is slight plum, date and sweetness of brown sugar. Still very smooth and aromatic. At about the 8th steep come the cha chi and the húigān is so pleasant. I guess the name of the teas fit it just perfect, “Real Taste”, indeed.
205 °F / 96 °C
i do love leather notes in pu