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Harvest July 2022
From TTB that was around in 2023.

Yep, another one I just took to try later and today is the day for this tea.

Prepared gongfu, more or less as vendor suggests

High marks for this jasmine tea! Lovely, fresh and strong jasmine notes with great base tea, that complements the flowers well. The base is, as SkySamurai notices a bit melon like, I could not notice any of the earthiness which is, definitely, a good sign.
Intoxicating (a good used word by vendor) aroma with fruity notes of the base, smooth and velvety in the mouth all 6 steeps long; while the last one was somehow weak in jasmine indeed and more of the green (really?, rather I think white) tea. It was so nice in mouth and so enjoayble… that I think I need more of this tea from Canadian company.

Sipdown prompt: A tea that energizes you — not a sipdown yet.

I have inherited a few teas from my brother who used have them in the office; but as he stays more at home than in the office, he decided to give me them. Afterall, it was me, who bought him this box called Colours of Ceylon and this is one of the teas there.

I don’t know if it is the age (I think it could be 2 years old, maybe even more!), or it was like this even fresh… but honestly from two sessions with this tea I can say that the strongest note is Ceylon tea base. And in quite a good way — very robust and a little nutty. On the other hand, chai flavours are quite weak, I think most noticeable were spice anise and cloves; while ginger wasn’t fiery nor spicy at all. But I had bits of it in my strainer for sure!

Though spices are weak, I was happy with this tea and its high caffeine content for sure… as it woke me up well. And tea base is fine as well, with little astringency and no bitterness.

Decided to steep western this shu puerh from Michelle — thank you!

I feel this is the best I got from her; creamy and smooth, with hints of dates and dried fruits. Highly enjoyable and high in caffeine, definitely a great wake-up tea.

Looking forward to try it gongfu!

Received a small pacakage from derk but saying it’s from Kawaii433 so thank you both and the latter one… I hope you are doing well!

Anyway, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but some sweet candy. And it is! And great tasting banana. I probably never had so real tasting banana tea!

Banana covered with caramel topping, I assume. I don’t get any chocolate, but I definitely don’t miss it. Great tea!

A tea from Leafhopper — Thank you!
Took tihs one, weighted — 6.7 grams = 1 session worth. Was the pouch more full and I took some for western steeping before? I have no idea. Anyway, now it’s gone.

Wet leaf aromas brought me to the orchard with red apples on some rock hill; as it was sweet as red apples but somehow wet rocks and mineral in the same time. A little woody as well, well those are trunks and branches of the trees in the imagined orchard I suppose. Some more tropical notes as the leaves absorbed a bit more of the humidity in closed gaiwan.

From my experience I prepare dancongs with rapid first steeps, with prolonged ones later in the session.

1st steep — 10 seconds
It’s much higher in the minerality than I thought, distinctive “wet rocks” and wood, some little sweet notes of red fruits and mostly its skins. Partially “pleasantly sour”.

2nd steep — 20 seconds
Previous notes, but stronger. A lot stronger. Viscous and oily, as Togo mentions.

3rd steep — 10 seconds
Still quite mineral but fruit notes are more present noticeable. Sadly, it’s the skins of the apples, not the fruit itself yet. Aroma is lovely though, somehow woody and floral. Spring fruit trees.

4th steep — 20 seconds
Unripe apple flavour with still high minerality. It’s like biting the apple and then licking the stone. Aroma is very same to previous steep. Long mineral mouthfeel.

5th steep — 30 seconds
Finally, fruity notes are here! The minaral aftertaste remains, but sips are pleasant and fine. Also I have noticed some floral notes in this steep in flavour as well.

6st steep — 45 seconds
Drank lukewarm, still full of flavour and very similar to previous steep too. The minerality isn’t that strong anymore and thus it is much milder for stomach as well.

7th steep — 1 minute
Definitely more light wood notes are here, minerality seems to be gone; smooth and mild flavours. Sadly, also apple notes are gone.

8th steep — 2 minutes
Mellow and somehow sweet? Sweet woody taste. Weird, but that’s what I am finding out in this steep. Some astringency in the background.

9th and last — 5 minutes
I ran out of water in my thermos and tea sounds a bit finished based on the previous steep flavours, so I call it done. I don’t recall when I had 9 steeps tea last time; moreover still with flavours!
This steep was again very similar to previous one. A more astringent though, but 5 minutes steep is loooong one.

Butter biscuits were great food pairing. Rating probably is impacted by that I am not really fan of dancongs. They tend to be so mineral or too floral to me. This is no exception.

Derk well, actually I forgot about this tea and requesting getting a sample! Thank you that you saved a bit for me, worth two sessions!

This note is about gongfu steeping — 3g/125ml/90°C. Steepings as vendor suggests — 25 seconds and 5 seconds increments.
Preheated gaiwan and leaves in. No rinse. Vanilla wafers indeed are here, a little of the chocolate as well, some rose floral notes.

1st steep
Aroma of wet leaves leave me impressed with notes of vanilla wafers, citrusy notes, some florals (again the rose), some hay and meadow notes. Flavours are somehow sweet-floral, citrusy (a bit pomelo-like), meadow and hay. Expected stronger notes though, considering quite long first steep. Wafers are in flavour as a backbone for the other notes. They’re noticeable if you keep the tea in the mouth for a little while and on the tip of tongue only.

2nd steep
Requested flavour profile (yes, the wafers) is more distinctive in this steep, along with stronger meadow/floral notes. It’s quite distinctly rose-y for me, but without the peppery note. Also the vanilla filling of wafers moved towards (milk) chocolate a little bit. Long mouthfeel with some creeping astringency. End of the cup was pleasantly sweet.

3rd steep
Nice and sweet steep. Somewhere between chocolate filled wafers and meadow scent in hot summer day. As it cools down, it’s more of the florals here and some chrysanthemum flowers are here.

4th steep
It goeds into floral spectrum → noticed chrysanthemum and rose, with long mouthfeel, thick feeling and little astringency.

5th steep
Chrysanthemum notes with astringency, sadly nothing much else. Also, weirdly short mouthfeel and watery feeling compared to previous steep.

6th steep
I am afraid this tea is finished as it is just plain and astringent somehow.

Derk definitely this tea is very interesting, but sadly the unique and interesting flavours doesn’t last long. I am happy that I could try it though and who knows, once I get some tea from this area that would last longer. The remaining amount I will keep for western steeping.

I took half of the leaves I have from derk; touched them, had them in my hand… somehow fuzzy, nice looking, interesting leaves. And crushed them. It has been roughly 2-3 grams. Lots of their resinous aroma appeared along with something that resembles me juniper a little bit.

It was a bit heart-breaking as those leaves are really interesting and so nice… but probably crushing them is needed to release the flavour, aroma and good properities.

No, I am not drinking this for medicine reasons (but welcomed, as I am… again sick, I have an appointment tomorrow and we will see if I will return to the work or stay at home).

When I was drinking it, it brought me memories of Yerba Santa that derk sent me a while ago; but weaker. Somehow strong medicinal, sap, resinous, aroma with similar flavour profile. But also very thick tasting liquid, again very resinous in mouth.

Steeped for 5 minutes; and even that was… when cold, somehow bitter of tannins. Those weren’t that much present in warm cup which is interesting as the steeping was already done.

In conclusion, derk again, I have to thank you for this tea — it’s definitely something I wouldn’t try otherwise; and I somehow like to explore blends and herbs not available over here. That’s part of me, as a curious person, and I get rarely disappointed, never been poisoned, so, I am afraid that one day I get something that horrible…

If you are reading this note and want to share with me any blend… just make sure it doesn’t contain any St. John’s wort. Thank you!

A sipdown! (M: 4, Y: 24) Note #1800
A big thank you for this tea Leafhopper! It is an amazing tea and I happy I had two sessions of this tea (while I have no memory of the first one).

I preheated the gaiwan and added dry leaf — I got strong whiff of cacao, sweet notes of caramel and dark malts.
I let it absorb a bit of humidity — quick rinse with little water; and sweet notes are even more pronounced. Caramel was probably the strongest, but maybe I would rather say toffee as it is a bit creamy as well. Or it has been a chocolate syrup? I would love to native speaker to tell me.

1st steep, 15 seconds
Chocolate notes with oolong sweetness, brown sugar, baked goodies. Not so long mouthfeel, but it was short steep nevertheless.

2nd steep, 30 seconds
Stronger chocolate notes with brown sugar and baked goodies flavour. Long mouthfeel with hints of florals and barley.

3rd steep, 30 seconds
More of the brown sugar and baked goodies, in aftertaste distinctive floral notes and barley body. Long mouthfeel.

4th steep, 45 seconds
Chocolate syrup for sure in this steep with brown sugar aftertaste, sadly the baked goodies disappeared; some barley in the body and aftertaste too. Medium mouthfeel.

5th steep, 1 minute
Smooth and creamy chocolate, with brown sugar aftertaste, barley body and aftertaste. Mouthfeel again a bit shorter.

6th steep, 90 seconds
Now it’s weak in chocolate and brown sugar, rather a bit malty and woody; weak body and aftertaste — short mouthfeel as well.

Definitely it’s a wonderful tea and somehow good when you’re craving sweets. In those times it’s perfect to pick up tea, which havve requested flavour-profile, but you don’t get any calories form it! Moreover, it hydrates you. Is there something more to wish for?!

A sipdown! (M: 3, Y: 23)
It seems I have too lots of sachets and tea bags; as I was craving flavoured black today morning and I have found lots of different EGs, a load of blackcurrant + mint tea, but some tea with fruits? It seems this is only one I have there in the box.

Actually it was really fine and I am surprised I have rated it only 61. Juicy grape flavour with fullbodied black tea and some floral — rose aftertaste. Fine, to keep in cupboard when craving fruity tea. Raising rating to 70.

A sipdown! (M: 2, Y: 22)
Gongfu, 7g/125 ml, 80°C.

Rinsed leaves have a wonderful creamy aroma, with meadow flowers and somehow weird note of tomato leaves or vines.

1st steep — 30 seconds
Smooth and mellow, creamy and meadow flowers in taste… sweet nectar, but honestly quite short aftertaste in my books, considered such long first steep! That aftertaste isn’t for everyone either, they say it is chalky and woody and with the first word — chalky I have to agree. It is kind of weird.

2nd steep — 40 seconds
Second steep with some extra time brought very similar results to first one, with one exception, tea was sweeter and more nectar-like.

3rd steep — 30 seconds
Chalky aftertaste gone and now full of nectar sweetiness. Yum.

4th steep — 45 seconds
Oh, what a fade away. Previous steep was lovely and swet and now I think it’s gone — not distinctive anything.