I love a good Wuyi zheng shan xiao zhong. It seems like this style of richly flavored, mineral and structured red tea has increased in popularity since I started drinking loose leaf 4 or 5 years ago. I see it offered now by most online vendors.
This tea has fallen flat in its 4 years of existence. The floral notes I love have vanished, which is common with age. It really needs to be pushed with heat and time to get that rich cup I crave from ZSXZ. The typical for me notes of lychee, apricot, honey, cinnamon and cream are watery. Chocolate does make a nice appearance when pushed but to the detriment of a cedary woodchip bite in the throat.
Well, this is the last tea from a Leafhopper swap. Your generosity, Leafhopper, has made this stupid year bearable! I got a lot of older teas, which I’m absolutely not knocking you for (my own collection has some age-related issues). Instead, with your unwanteds, I was able to find some treasures, like a few 5-6 years old green teas (who knew!). And you were so kind to share some of your more valued teas, like a few immensely flavorful Darjeeling second flushes and my favorite green Shan Lin Xi oolong to date. Thank you, thank you <3
Flavors: Apricot, Biting, Cedar, Chocolate, Cinnamon, Cream, Honey, Lychee
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I’m sorry to hear that the Lapsang degraded with age. It smelled good when I took it out of the bag, so I thought it would be okay.
I enjoyed reading your reviews of the teas and apologize for how many older ones I included. I really do have issues with my “tea museum!” It’s too bad I hadn’t opened my Wuyi Origin teas and all those 2021 oolongs before I sent that package. I’m glad those older green teas found a good home!
“Tea museum!”—absolutely accurate in my case. Adopting this phrase if I can recall it as needed.
No need for apology! I agreed to try some old ones out of curiosity :) How are the sipdowns coming along? Any reduction of artifacts?
Evol Ving Ness, thanks, I like that phrase myself. It’s disturbingly accurate.
Derk, a few artifacts have been removed from the collection, but they’re always being replaced! I’ve been on an oolong kick lately, so my spring 2021 oolongs may not be joining the permanent archive. :) I’ve found a cache of your samples that I’m also sipping down. Do you have any idea how to brew that Japanese black tea from Liquid Proust?
Glad to see your 2021 oolong are getting the love they deserve :)
Fair warning, I’m totally clueless with Japanese teas!! I did 1g:100mL western style which is my standard for red teas. 90C since it’s a ‘Darjeeling’ for 4 minutes. Maybe start with 3min if you want 2 steeps? It seemed to brew out quickly, so a 4min steep was plenty flavorful but I don’t think it left anything for second steep.
I’m sorry to hear that the Lapsang degraded with age. It smelled good when I took it out of the bag, so I thought it would be okay.
I enjoyed reading your reviews of the teas and apologize for how many older ones I included. I really do have issues with my “tea museum!” It’s too bad I hadn’t opened my Wuyi Origin teas and all those 2021 oolongs before I sent that package. I’m glad those older green teas found a good home!
“Tea museum!”—absolutely accurate in my case. Adopting this phrase if I can recall it as needed.
No need for apology! I agreed to try some old ones out of curiosity :) How are the sipdowns coming along? Any reduction of artifacts?
Evol Ving Ness, thanks, I like that phrase myself. It’s disturbingly accurate.
Derk, a few artifacts have been removed from the collection, but they’re always being replaced! I’ve been on an oolong kick lately, so my spring 2021 oolongs may not be joining the permanent archive. :) I’ve found a cache of your samples that I’m also sipping down. Do you have any idea how to brew that Japanese black tea from Liquid Proust?
Glad to see your 2021 oolong are getting the love they deserve :)
Fair warning, I’m totally clueless with Japanese teas!! I did 1g:100mL western style which is my standard for red teas. 90C since it’s a ‘Darjeeling’ for 4 minutes. Maybe start with 3min if you want 2 steeps? It seemed to brew out quickly, so a 4min steep was plenty flavorful but I don’t think it left anything for second steep.