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I got this tea in a sample from James when he first offered them on /r/tea, so full disclosure there, but honestly, when he said it was “the best tie guan yin [he had] ever tasted” I’ll admit I was a little skeptical. That is until I gave it my first few sips. He’s dead right, from the moment the first light and crisp vegetal infusions awaken your senses, through the middle steepings full of lychee notes and fruit, until they give way to an almost rose scented final three or four steepings, I was in awe. The tea is just SO complex. And once you get past the first few steepings, which I will admit are quite delicate, the middle few stand up to food parings quite well. They brought out the underlying spice in a few pork buns my girlfriend was snacking on, and we both agreed it complimented and cut through the thickness of the fatty flavor. Honestly I loved it, if you like delicate teas which cycle down into robust flavor and back up to delicate liquors, this is a great tea for you.

Deep and thick, the first few cups feel like drinking the results of boiling a delicious oak log, but it quickly yields to an almost sweet, rather fruity, cup after eight or nine infusions. Excellent for studying or trying to get things done!

Imagine if you will, that one perfect swimming hole. Deep in the woods, there might be a waterfall. You spent a summer visiting it and the feeling of the water, the sun on your back, the smell, and the atmosphere all are imprinted in your very psyche. That is how Dian Lu Eshan Mao Feng affected me the first time I had the pleasure of sipping it. It starts out clear and refreshing, with slightly vegetal notes and a sweetness, which while noticeable, was neither cloying nor overwhelming. As steeps continue the clear liquor slowly becomes more and more yellow, ending up for my last few steeps as a hay color, and tasted similarly. Despite there clearly being no mint in the tea, it almost seemed mentholated in its cooling qualities. It left me feeling refreshed and going back for more. Honestly I’d rate this 100%, but I’m leaving room for a perfect tea when I find it. This is however, the closest I’ve come.

Sampling at home required a little experimentation, as the first time I tried it I was in Dobra. But after a few tries I was able to get the right temperature down and the steep times. It’s honestly not the easiest tea to master, but I got it in the end.