This is a very temperamental tea, as others have pointed out as well. Finding the right brewing parameters is a challenge. This time I used half a cake (about 4g) in a 180ml clay teapot to retain the heat. I did 4 infusions with progressively extended times. First one started at about 1.5 minutes, which was a little too short in retrospect given that I didn’t do a wash.
The tea started off very light-bodied and thin. I only got a vague grassy and fruity notes and constrictive, milky mouthfeel. Later infusions fared bettter, but still I would say the tea was fairly light tasting and thin, especially the second one. The mouthfeel did become more coating and somewhat powdery though. I got a mix of fruity notes like banana & pear and vegetal/grassy ones. The aftertaste was quite long, fragrant and cooling, with a touch of coffee bitterness. It also induces a burning sensation in the throat. I enjoyed the aftertaste a lot. In the last, fourth infusion, the taste changed again, displaying more of its nutty side.
Not a bad tea at all once it gets going, but I have a feeling the price is a little too high for what it has to offer.
Flavors: Coffee, Fruity, Grass, Nuts, Pear
