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derk drank Wild Style Black Tea - Premium (2017) by Old Ways Tea

1548 tasting notes

A really nice, complex and light Wuyi black tea. Aromas and flavors of honey, peach, rose, sunflower, pomelo, lemon, malt, almond, leather and pine. Aftertaste of rose, sunflower and citrus turning into a long-lasting impression of peach butter spread on a Hawaiian sweet roll. Sparkling, clean minerality. Good mouthfeel with only a very slight astringency and some nice tongue-numbing. There was an interesting effect with my saliva… it was almost effervescent or hm, foamy/fluffy? It reminded me a little of eating some foaming, sour hard candy from my childhood. I think they were called Tearjerkers?

This 2017 Wild Style Black was very similar to the 2018 though more complex. I’d probably reach for this one over the 2018 but they’re both excellent teas.

(5g, 100mL gaiwan, 200F, flash rinse, 12 steeps)

Preparation

200 °F / 93 °C 5 g 3 OZ / 100 ML

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2 comments

Mastress Alita
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I was such a wimp with Tearjerkers… and even worse with Warheads.

derk
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Unfortunately my mouth is full of crowns, attesting to the amount of candy I consumed as an unsupervised hellion. I loved that sour stuff as a kid but wouldn’t touch it now.

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Comments

Mastress Alita
Delete

I was such a wimp with Tearjerkers… and even worse with Warheads.

derk
Delete

Unfortunately my mouth is full of crowns, attesting to the amount of candy I consumed as an unsupervised hellion. I loved that sour stuff as a kid but wouldn’t touch it now.

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This place, like the rest of the internet, is dead and overrun with bots. And thus I step away.

Eventual tea farmer. If you are a tea grower, want to grow your own plants or are simply curious, please follow me so we can chat.

I most enjoy loose-leaf, unflavored teas and tisanes. Teabags have their place. Some of my favorite teas have a profound effect on mind and body rather than having a specific flavor profile. Terpene fiend.

Favorite teas generally come from China (all provinces), Taiwan, India (Nilgiri and Manipur). Frequently enjoyed though less sipped are teas from Georgia, Japan, Nepal and Darjeeling. While I’m not actively on the hunt, a goal of mine is to try tea from every country that makes it available to the North American market. This is to gain a vague understanding of how Camellia sinensis performs in different climates. I realize that borders are arbitrary and some countries are huge with many climates and tea-growing regions.

I’m convinced European countries make the best herbal teas.

Personal Rating Scale:

100-90: A tea I can lose myself into. Something about it makes me slow down and appreciate not only the tea but all of life or a moment in time. If it’s a bagged or herbal tea, it’s of standout quality in comparison to similar items.

89-80: Fits my profile well enough to buy again.

79-70: Not a preferred tea. I might buy more or try a different harvest. Would gladly have a cup if offered.

69-60: Not necessarily a bad tea but one that I won’t buy again. Would have a cup if offered.

59-1: Lacking several elements, strangely clunky, possess off flavors/aroma/texture or something about it makes me not want to finish.

Unrated: Haven’t made up my mind or some other reason. If it’s pu’er, I likely think it needs more age.

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