Xinghai

We got a sample of this from Stone Leaf Tea House and I, apparently, first sampled it back in January but forgot to note it here. Drank it again this past Saturday evening, however, so I have gotten a fresh take on it.

The mushroomy aroma of this one had been calling to me for a while. Perhaps it was trying to call me back since I’d already had it! This was already broken up into pretty good serving sizes in the bag, so I just took out one of the last two remaining chunks, tossed it in the gaiwan and rinsed. It broke apart pretty easily and the first steep yielded a nice, dark liquor.

I didn’t get super distinct flavors out of it, but I wasn’t paying as much attention to it as I could have. It was rich, creamy and smooth in the mouth, though. Very inviting and easy to drink. I didn’t finish my session up, so I continued with the same leaves the next day, and the brew remained creamy and smooth with a distinct sweetness that I’m not sure I picked up on the day before. Perhaps this is a shou that benefits from a good rest after rinsing or sometime mid-session.

Ru yao dragon teapot gongfucha:

Dry leaf: musty
https://www.instagram.com/p/BDGi_5Bp40h/

Wet leaf: earthy/fermentation.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BDGkYIKp43s/

2 rinses: 1 long, 1 medium.

Light steep: I taste/smell; light earth/fermentation, old books, pine, mud, Forest floor, sweetness and autumn leaves. Slight camphor
https://www.instagram.com/p/BDGkUfYJ43g/

Medium steep: I taste/smell; light to medium earth/fermentation, mud, old books, forest floor, autumn leaves and sweetness. Light pine and camphor.

Heavy steep: I taste/smell; medium to strong earth/fermentation, mud, old books, forest floor, autumn leaves and sweetness. Medium pine. Light camphor.

All in all an amazing yummy tea! I rate 100 and recommend.

http://yunnansourcing.com/en/ripepu-erh/1121-2009xinghaidragonripepu-erhteaminicake100g.html

Bonus photos:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BDGixDhp40G/
https://www.instagram.com/p/BDGiqDnJ4z9/

A nice little cake. Fairly loose compression, tiny leaves (I mean really tiny). After a 20s rinse, the tea broke open FAST! I did 5-10s steeps, but could have gone with 2s the tea brewed so fast. Dark, dark color with a cocoa, earthy, leathery, raisin flavor. Being such a fine grade leaf the tea steeped out in 5-6 steepings, but they were delicious! A good one for a daily drinker.