This is a very nice semi-aged, medium bodied tea with many subtle notes. It seems that the price has gone up considerably in the last few years, but I would say that it’s still a very good value.
The smell is not too strong, but pleasant nonetheless. It is quite cooling and I could find some thyme, petrichor, wet wood and ash aromas, plus a little bit of mushroom/moss after late steeps. The taste is a mix of sweet and bitter, with the main flavour I am getting being dried fruits, probably dates would be the closest approximation. The first few steeps seemed sweeter, while the middle of the session was fairly bitter actually. Other notes I get are those of dry wood, thyme (and other floral ones), mushrooms and camphor, the latter mostly in the aftertaste.
There is some nice astringency that helps the liquor, which is not too thick, even though it coats well.
Compared to another popular option from YS in this price and age range – the 2007 Pin Xiang “Bu Lang Shan Tuo” – this tea is definitely sweeter, more fruity and less herbal.
Flavors: Ash, Astringent, Bitter, Camphor, Dates, Dried Fruit, Floral, Herbaceous, Moss, Mushrooms, Petrichor, Sweet, Thyme, Wet Wood, Wood
