Surprisingly unusual complexity found in this brick. The tea highlights the beauty of the leaf in repeated brews with full body and strong fragrances. Bold and flavorful is the best way to describe my overall impression of this tea. Clarity is found in the mahogany colored liquor. Built upon a base of musty wood as are many shu puerh but there is so much more here. Very smooth with a lovely berry sweetness. The taste of camphor is definitely found throughout the session and a light tangy citrus note comes forward in the 3rd or fourth infusion. There is clearly a bit of smoky tobacco in both the scent and taste but this subtle feature actually enriches the overall impact of the tea in a very positive way. (And I say that as one who is not particularly fond of smokiness in my teas.) The duration is on the shorter side with solid flavor throughout 6-7 infusions before thinning. Produced by the original Kunming Factory per Yunnan Sourcing. Carefully aged in the dry environment of Kunming. This is a wonderful example of a dry stored shu with nice age on it. Overall we have a sweet woody mouth feel with a mellow, sweet aftertaste that builds over a series of infusions. The flavor profile features notes of wet earth, wood, tobacco, berries, camphor and smoke all working together so very well. This blend is definitely done right and it is a very fine tea!
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One of my favorites. Only real complaint is longevity.
I agree but those first few are something to behold!
Yes. Very good stuff. I just had the 1999 Old Tree Ripe from them over the weekend. It has that camphor taste, but this tea is just much better!
I’ll have to try it again soon.
I love this one. So glad I bought it last year. I find dried persimmons in this shou
According to the website: ‘Back side is dimpled and majority of back side is chopped and fannings’. Can anyone comment on this?
tea123 – chopped and fannings?? I do not have any specific information to use in an answer; however, I did go back and look at the brick after reading your question. I see this tea as a high quality factory produced tea and as I find with so many factory teas, there are lots of bits and pieces (rather than whole leaves). It is the flavor profile that impresses and IMHO a factory tea brick worth owning and enjoying.
One of my favorites. Only real complaint is longevity.
I agree but those first few are something to behold!
Yes. Very good stuff. I just had the 1999 Old Tree Ripe from them over the weekend. It has that camphor taste, but this tea is just much better!
I’ll have to try it again soon.
I love this one. So glad I bought it last year. I find dried persimmons in this shou
According to the website: ‘Back side is dimpled and majority of back side is chopped and fannings’. Can anyone comment on this?
tea123 – chopped and fannings?? I do not have any specific information to use in an answer; however, I did go back and look at the brick after reading your question. I see this tea as a high quality factory produced tea and as I find with so many factory teas, there are lots of bits and pieces (rather than whole leaves). It is the flavor profile that impresses and IMHO a factory tea brick worth owning and enjoying.