141 Tasting Notes
It’s been awhile since my last tasting of this tea and based on the subtle changes, the rating must go up. There are some definite yabao-likeness as it has mellowed out in the smokiness and turned more camphor in its brew. Very nice thickness and calming impact on the body. I’m really, really surprised and love what this has evolved into. Good stuff!
Flavors: Campfire, Cedar, Pine, Smoked
Preparation
The dry leaves’ fragrance of sweet tobacco, brews into a liquid that makes me think of raisins and pink cotton candy fused together. No joke! There is some medium astringency that lingers after the sip, however I find this to enhance the complete experience. You certainly can associate it as an Assam from the Sun Moon Lake region. The taste is unmistakeable, yet this one is unique in its sweetness. Very easy not drink cup matter cup. Thankfully the very large leaves are of quality and last many different steepings.
Preparation
Thick, brothy and extremely savory, with lingering camphor notes. This is a tea that evokes warmth throughout the body and provides excellent clarity of mind and focus. This is one of the best Yabao that I’ve tried anywhere. Its one of my favorites!
Preparation
i love this one in latte form before bed….
Wow, that sounds very nice. Do you follow a certain recipe? This sounds like something I need to try!
hmmm, usually overleafed, mostly because i have yet to have a negative result with the silver yabao doing that, leave it for 7-8 mins in water, then add a ton of milk. what i’ve been meaning to do is to steep the yabao in a pot of hot milk slow style and then add nutmeg and sugar…. haven’t gotten to it yet though, lol.
Very nice! I agree, I haven’t seen any harshness or negatives to longer steeps with this tea. I’m sure this helps with the thickness, not being overpowered by the milk addition. Definitely going to try this. Thanks for the info!
=0) i find this one very comforting, myself. i never did the warm milk thing at night when i couldn’t sleep, but i find this an acceptable substitute!
what overtones do you get from the yabao, Pureleaf? i get sweet grass and fresh bamboo… you?
Certainly sweet grass, but also a savory spruce pine resin. Very comforting and relaxing.
pine resin…. cool!
Its sweetness and strong YiWu fragrance has matured over the past year and a half to a darker, more earthy sweetness. You can still taste some of its region of origin towards the end of the sip, however it certainly changing to a thicker cup. The liquid has darkened a bit as well. I’m definitely going to hang on to enough of this one, in order to observe its continued development over the next couple years.
Preparation
Soy sauce – that’s what the dry leaves smell like (not as pronounced after the leaves are steeped). While I’m on the subject of the leaves, they are very large and hand rolled (barely fit in the 100ml gaiwan when dry). Quite interesting how the dry leaves speak soy sauce, yet the liquid is more gingerbread. The cup is very tasty with its thick, savory and very sweet broth. Deliciousness in every sip!
Preparation
Nice sweet sheng with deeper oak notes. This one reminds me being in a forest of recently harvested trees after a rain shower. Its like inhaling the dampness and being refreshed by the clean air, with the extra aromatic fragrance of the sawdust. Great cup of warmth and memories.
Preparation
The marriage of honeysuckle nectar and clover honey. Sweet and refreshing. Very light and easy to sip quickly. The leaves are very tender and remarkable good quality.
This is a nice greener oolong and complements other more oxidized and roasted types of teas. I like drinking this one along side a sweet Sun Moon Lake black. Sometimes nice going back and forth between the two, fully absorbing the complexity and contrast of the different class of teas. Nonetheless, this tea can be certainly drank by itself with great pleasure.
Preparation
Chose to gongfu steep this one. Wow – this tea brew a nice clean, thick liquid. The aroma is spicy in its chai-likeness, yet has deep hay notes and a sweet molasses and oats thickness. This tea is pretty remarkable in how it continues to produce several cups without weakening. I may load up on this one on my next purchase. Thank you, Silk Road Teas for including this generous sample with my purchase!
