Had a sample of this in my stash for 1.5 – 2 years in pretty lazy storage so very young. Gaiwan, 1g:15ml. Did 8 solid steeps, then one where I forgot about it for 15min or so.
Big aroma throughout: citrus zest – grapefruit?, dampened dried wild grasses & flowers, slightly woody like hardwood in the later steeps. Reminded me of late summer nights when the damp night air rehydrates the dried grasses and flowers and it’s got that heady floral quality.
Flavor was pretty solidly young sheng: crisp greens, artichoke, toasted grasses, and some fruitiness. Not a total gut bomb, definitely still bitter and astringent but manageable. Good sweet aftertaste. I could drink this, but I wouldn’t pick it often.
The last “wildcard” 15min steep was a real winner, big stonefruit/apricot aroma and flavor, hardly bitter. Was very light though, not sure the tea had much more to give.
I’m not really familiar enough with (young) sheng to really confidently evaluate it or how it might age, just trying to write more tea notes.
Flavors: Artichoke, Citrus Zest, Hay, Lettuce, Stonefruit, Wood
