I got this cake blind because I haven’t heard of this area before, I tend to like Lincang tea, and the price seemed right. Overall, I am definitely not disappointed. The tea is indeed somewhat mineral as the description mentions. It is also very sweet for a fresh sheng, has no astringency. The flavour profile is somewhere between citrusy and floral with a substantial bitterness. It actually feels a bit like a sweeter version of a blend of Mengku and Naka to me, which is fine with me because I am a fan of both of those terroirs. I think it’s one of those young shengs that is totally ready to be drunk now. However, you have to be ready for a fairly strong cha qi, which is quite heady and stoning. I also detected warming sensations throughout the body, most notably in my face.
I like the mouthfeel as well, which I would describe as soft with average thickness. It never gets astringent, but it is somewhat numbing. Specific notes include a nettle aroma in dry leaves as well as flavours of sage, thyme and vanilla in the first couple of infusions. Later steeps have a milky sweetness, floral bitterness, and an oily aftertaste with thyme note to it.
Flavors: Bitter, Citrusy, Floral, Milky, Mineral, Sage, Sweet, Thyme, Vanilla
