1 heaping TB for 500mL water, drunk bare (no milk or sweetener).
Left the leaves steeping merrily in the travel mug in this morning, as I needed to do the morning driving …
The faint peppery scent of mad hot Yunnan wafting up from a travel cup as I naviagte traffic on a rainsoaked morning — now THAT is a blessing to count. It got strong, of course, but not bitter, just very, very rich. One caveat: I wouldn’t dare drink it this strong on an empty stomach. Same goes for super-steeped Assam.
Rich and mysterious, like dark silk in winter: you wouldn’t think something normally so delicate and fine could keep you warm, but it does. The peppery notes seem to mute as the steeps past 6 minutes, but they fight back on the aftertaste. The honey and, well, Yunnan tea notes deepen. Gets a tiny bit smoky when it’s this strong, too.
A super-steep gives this normally light (not thin) bodied tea more of a medium body that drenches the taste buds.
This makes me want to bust out a yunnan RIGHT NOW!
Yunnan rocks. It’s an expensive little habit, though. (rolls eyes at self)