drank Blind Samples by Yunnan Craft
1617 tasting notes

Yunnan Craft out of kindness sent 5 blind sheng puerh samples with my first order 4 years ago. They wanted to know my thoughts. Several years later (such is the life of a tea hoarder)…

I present Exhibit A.

Observe the leaf — strong and healthy, fuzzy. Colors range from almost black to to silvery fawn. A mix of leaf and needle. Further inspection of the wet leaf halfway through the session yields a mostly 2 leaves and bud picking, large leaf variety.

This is an easy drinker, mellow. At first it is sweet and oily, medium-bodied and fluid, rather mouthwatering with a pleasantly strong tingling on the sides of the tongue. This texture transitions to some easy bitterness with brassy character midway through the session and ends as a sweetwater brew.

The taste does not vary too much. It starts out fruity-sweet with apricot and a general tone that is a mix of grass-hay-yellow apple-chrysanthemum — mostly a mild brown-tinged gold affair like the color of the liquor. A hint of clove.

With the first session in a cheap-ass ‘yixing’ clay pot, I don’t seem to pull much aftertaste. However, in a tiny-ass duanni clay pot, the sweet date-brown sugar aftertaste and returning sweetness emanating from the very back of the mouth are not shy. Also, in the cheap pot, the liquor is more refreshing and I notice much more of a citrus zest tingly bitterness. Tonight with the duanni, it is more fragrant and fruity in the mouth. Interesting, since duanni is supposed to mute aromas. Neither clay seems to affect the mild expression of mouth-cooling, nor the warm spice felt in the chest.

Overall, this is a very easy tea. It is one I would recommend to anybody who enjoys sweet but not syrupy young sheng and is looking to avoid a gut bomb of astringency. There’s a certain elegance and balance to this leaf that goes somewhat unannounced. It is not a bold and brash brew.

If I am to take a guess, I’d say this is Lincang region tea 4-5 years old (could it be autumn?) and Kunming stored for a brief amount of time before it landed with me. I’m probably way off! Too bad Yunnan Craft at this point probably has no record or recollection of what was sent to me.

4 more blind samples to go :)

Flavors: Apple, Apricot, Brown Sugar, Chrysanthemum, Citrus Zest, Clove, Compost, Cotton Candy, Dates, Grass, Hay, Metallic, Mineral, Oily, Peat, Pine, Spicy, Sweet, Yogurt

gmathis

I’d enter you in a professional competitive blindfold taste test tea-off if such an event existed!

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gmathis

I’d enter you in a professional competitive blindfold taste test tea-off if such an event existed!

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This place, like the rest of the internet, is dead and overrun with bots. Yet I persist.

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.

Favorite teas generally come from China (all provinces), Taiwan, India (Nilgiri and Manipur). Frequently enjoyed though less sipped are teas from Georgia, Japan, and Nepal. 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, possesses off flavor/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 puerh, I likely think it needs more age.

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