I am not sure how pleasant I find this tea. I think it’s less tasty for me than some other recent Scott’s shou blends. What it has going for it though, is that it’s fairly unusual. I also think it can improve quite a bit in the next few years. All things considered, I could see it grow on me, but at the moment I am not planning to get a cake.
The smell is deep and fruity with the main note being blackberry with a light brownies aroma in the background. Taste has very little sweetness. It is smooth and fruity with flavours like blackberry, dark cherry, blue grape skins, char, bread crust and camphor. The aftertaste is quite different and presents some sweetness. There are some umami notes too, like cheddar, as well as decaying grass and porter ale.
The mouthfeel is oily, viscous (while not being very thick), lubricating and a tiny bit powdery. I find the cha qi to be very strong and unusual for a ripe pu’er. It’s somewhat heady and uplifting rather than rushy.
Flavors: Alcohol, Blackberry, Bread, Camphor, Char, Cherry, Compost, Fruity, Grapes, Grass, Umami