Sipdown, 124. Sheng day continues.
This sheng, too, is rather smooth, with a fairly creamy texture. It leaves a bit of tingly sensation in my mouth. This one is less leafy, although it’s hard for me to figure out exactly what the flavor is. Perhaps a bit asparagus-y. Bitter salad greens (some of the later steepings are getting a slightly sharp edge). At first I thought the idea that the aftertaste was “exactly like vanilla” was crazy, and that I’d never be able to taste it, but then, in the third steep, suddenly the whisper of vanilla was there, playing on my tongue. The power of suggestion, perhaps, but sometimes that’s what it takes to start tasting those things in teas. Who knows, maybe one day I’ll taste the fig, clove, raisin, and tangerine notes too. Haha, but not today.