From the Sheng and Shou TTB.
Prepared gongfu-style with a ceramic gaiwan. I followed Whispering Pines’ instrucitons: one five-second rinse, then steeping times at 30, 15, 30, 45, 120, 300.
I experienced the aroma the way Whispering Pines recommended. Earthy notes fill the hot bowl, after letting the dry leaf sit in the moisture for some time. Following the rinse, the wet aroma gives off loam, sugarcane, and a bit of mushroom. The sessions finishes with freshly baked raisin bread, and then finally raisins and plums.
The liquor is dark amber early on. Longer steeps yield a more coffee-like color. Right of the bat, this shou is thick and creamy, full-bodied, and incredibly rich. Because I had to rush the session, thereby drinking all six cups within a span of two hours, it made me feel sluggish, and my stomach felt really full. Not just because I’d want to savor it, but the next I drink I need to space out each cup so that I don’t feel like I’ve eaten a huge chunk of triple-layered chocolate mousse cake in fewer than five minutes. Wowee!
The first infusion is very sweet, tasting of pure sugarcane and a little earth, with a chocolatey finish. The second is more earthy, and mushrooms first appear in the third, where I envision toadstools, covered with some dirt, in the middle of a damp rainforest. Sweetness returns in the fourth and fifth infusions – maple syrups, caramel and cocoa. The session would have great to end there on those notes, since I’m a dessert last kind of person, so I was caught off guard when the mushrooms again make their appearance in the sixth and last infusion. I loooove cooked mushrooms. These ones at first were sauteed, and then were those from cream of mushroom soup.
The descriptions I read in the past are not a lie. The cake is genuine. And speaking of cake, when this shou going to be sold again, I’m grabbing one.
Preparation
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Glad you enjoyed this! The cakes aren’t going to be released until late fall, but I’ve got plenty of loose left! :-)
Ooooo really?? :O I can’t be in the market for some time…stash too big…but I can wait until fall! (sitting intensifies)
:D hahaha, I love intense sitting! ;-)
I have been wanting to try Whisoering Pines. Maybe this is the tea to order!
Glad you enjoyed this! The cakes aren’t going to be released until late fall, but I’ve got plenty of loose left! :-)
Ooooo really?? :O I can’t be in the market for some time…stash too big…but I can wait until fall! (sitting intensifies)
:D hahaha, I love intense sitting! ;-)
I have been wanting to try Whisoering Pines. Maybe this is the tea to order!