Semi-sipdown. I have now last 5 grams to be tried western; but this note will be about gongfu brewing.
Parameters: 5g / 125 ml gaiwan / 90°C water / quick rinse
Steeps: 7s, 15s, 20s, 33s, 45s,
Even dry, this tea is burst of tropic fruits, florals, a little of green oolong. When rinsed, the aromas were even stronger, making me feel I am in a botanical garden greenhouse with all the tropical flowers around.
1st steep
Very smooth and round mouthfeel, a little oily, sweet and again full of the tropic flowers which later changes on the roof of the mouth to tropic fruits and some local ones; as derk notices… peaches, sweet and very ripe pineapples, mango, papaya. Later aftertaste of honey and creamy vanilla, almost custardy like. Mouthfeel lingers for very long even steeped this short.
2nd steep
Before adding water, I did very fast smell of the used leaves and boy they are so fruity! The fruits mentioned above, with a stronger floral note; intoxicating smell that brings me into some tropical islands. That’s weird, never been in those.
All above as in first steep, but double the strength. Heavy especially in the florals, I wish I could recognize them, but rose. Again… very long mouthfeel and amazing relaxing and calming capabilities.
3rd steep
Yes, it gets a little rougher. Not so honey-ish flavour, but instead there is light roasted, curled, green, oolong, maybe bug-bitten. It’s a little different sweetness.
4th steep
Intended 30 seconds steep, however I was made some error when doing countdown and…
It still gives me a lots of florals and less of the fruits, which isn’t a flaw. The vendor mentions the oolong notes, and I do agree with them. The fruits tends to be more citrusy, instead the tropical fruits, as mentioned in previous steeps. But not sour or anything, just peel of the citruses, it is pomelo and grapefruit (a really tiny bit of bitterness). Hints of vegetal notes in aftertaste (maybe it’s the oolong).
5th steep
How I wish having a bigger gaiwan to see all the leaves floating; well that means I would need also a glass gaiwan. They are so gorgeous. Derk is right!
The flavours are not so intensive anymore, however it still gives me good impressions, definitely not washed out. I could drink it all afternoon (oh well, I did).
This tea has a great qualites, lasts long, lots of interesting flavours, definitely worth every penny spent. Maybe I have missed out this year harevest, but if you come across Nepalese Shiiba, I can highly suggest getting it. Because it gives impressions of fruit tea, while it’s plain tea. Lasts long and it is also very versatile, as… I had similar impressions of that fruity line even when steeped western. I will write a separate note for that steeping method.
Later steeps are more oolongy, which can be welcomed by some tea drinkers and again, it shows me how not correct can be “labelling” teas of their type. This is offically labelled as a black tea… but in terms of flavours it definitelly isn’t, as you could read in this note. Of course, first two, three steeps are the best; but as I wrote… it keeps giving and while 5th steep was somehow weaker, it wasn’t done for sure. I will keep steeping — but I will end the note here. I assume that you know that you can steep many teas many times, but writing the impressions about every single steep is tiring and also boring.
Thank you for sharing such a beautiful tea!