203 Tasting Notes
WOW this is sooo good. Free sample included in my recent order from OWT and I am very impressed. This is also referred to as “unsmoked LS” as it is using the same cultivar, but is not smoked as in the traditional LS (called “Li Shan Xiao Zhong”). I think I prefer this better than the LS I’ve tried before! Like drinking dark chocolate and citrus mmmmm.
The ONLY thing keeping this tea from a >95 rating is that the flavor seemed to drop off a good bit after 6th infusion. Still there, but definitely weakened faster than I would like.
Low astringency, no bitterness.
Harvest: Spring 2022.
Dry leaf: Fruity.
Wet leaf: Chocolate, malt.
Flavor: Chocolate, caramel, citrus.
Flavors: Caramel, Citrus, Dark Chocolate, Fruity, Malt, Sweet
This is my first time trying Shui Jin Gui, or Golden Water Turtle. However, to me, this tea is best described as “weak.” The smell of the dry leaf is wonderful, but the flavor of the liquor is a bit of a let down. It is certainly smooth, but with no mouthfeel, low astringency, and a very very mild flavor, even when brewed with boiling water and longer times.
Harvest: Spring 2021.
Dry leaf: Chocolate.
Wet leaf: Malt.
Flavor: Sweet, spice, smoke.
Flavors: Chocolate, Malt, Smoke, Spices, Sweet
Shui Xian, or Water Sprite, has surprised me with how flavorful and balanced it was. I was expecting it to be fairly intense and not to my liking, but I was proven wrong! Quite an enjoyable and relaxing drinking experience.
Full mouthfeel with medium astringency. Brewed lighter than other Wuyi from the start. Temps 190-200 F; times: flash – 25 sec. About 6-7 infusions.
I can definitely see repurchasing this tea come next autumn/winter.
Harvest: Spring 2021.
Dry leaf: Charcoal, fruity.
Wet leaf: Mushrooms, autumn leaf pile.
Flavor: Nuts, sugar, bitter, vanilla.
Flavors: Autumn Leaf Pile, Bittersweet, Charcoal, Fruity, Mushrooms, Nuts, Sugar, Vanilla
As part of my quest to better understand Wuyi oolongs, I am attempting to sample each of the Si Da Ming Cong. Bai Jiguan, or White Cockscomb, is the most uncommon and perhaps most unique of these cultivars, so I am glad that OWT stocks this tea.
Given that it is less oxidized than most other Wuyi, it has quite a distinct appearance, smell, and flavor profile. This tea also has undergone a lighter roast than most Wuyi. Mouthfeel is fairly full and astringency is medium low.
Harvest: Spring 2022.
Dry leaf: floral.
Wet leaf: nut, wet wood.
Flavor: nuts, cream, honey.
Flavors: Cream, Floral, Honey, Nuts, Wet Wood
A bit let down by this tea. I have heard that OWT is pretty good with Rou Gui. As this is my first time trying Rou Gui, I have nothing to compare to. However, it does not have the “classic” flavor profile for RG that I read about online. Furthermore, the tea is fairly bitter to my taste. Not much complexity to most of the infusions for me either. I might try brewing the other half of the 8g sample at a lower temperature. Perhaps this tea needs to breathe a bit? Might try the second half of the sample after 3-4 weeks of opening the pack.
For me, the smell is the best part of the tea.
Harvest: Spring 2020.
Dry leaf: Charcoal, fruity.
Wet leaf: Malt
Taste: Bitter, spice, woody.
Flavors: Bitter, Charcoal, Fruity, Malt, Spices, Woody
So after trying a DHP from TeaVivre and hating it, I thought there had to be something I was missing. I decided to give a DHP from a specialty shop a try and I can say that I think I now understand why people like it (and Wuyi oolongs in general) so much. It is very complex indeed, but perhaps not my style at the moment. I can see my tastes evolving to where I like this tea quite a bit at some point in the future. It is also seems well suited to colder temperatures of fall and winter. Definitely not over-roasted like the one from TeaVivre. High astringency. Mouthfeel is as if the tea is “blooming” with flavors while in your mouth. The flavors develop and leave a spicy, dry aftertaste that lasts quite a while. Very complex tea!
Harvest: Spring 2020
Dry leaf: Charcoal.
Wet leaf: Malt, wet earth.
Taste: Bitter → sweet, cacao, nutty, spice.
Flavors: Bittersweet, Cacao, Charcoal, Malt, Nutty, Spices, Wet Earth
Smooth tea with a bit of bitterness starting at the third infusion. Very nice smell and flavor throughout. Medium-thick mouthfeel to first infusion.
Dry leaf: Floral.
Wet leaf: Earth, floral, wood.
Flavor: Floral, honey, citrus.
Flavors: Citrus, Earth, Flowers, Honey, Wood
Wonderful tea with a thick mouthfeel, especially on the first infusion. Will be reordering some of this when I run out for sure! Started smooth as ice and became more astringent as the infusions went on.
Dry leaf: allspice.
Wet leaf: wet earth.
Flavor: honey, cardamom, honeydew.
Flavors: Allspice, Cardamom, Honey, Honeydew, Wet Earth
Many thanks to Alistair for this free sample! Loved this tea and definitely want to get some more eventually. I feel like this tea’s flavor evolved for me more than most others I’ve tried over the course of the infusions. First infusion was spinach, cream and cucumber. Second infusion lost most of the spinach flavor. Third infusion introduced honey. Fourth and fifth infusions had a back note of peach.
Dry leaf: vegetal.
Wet leaf: spinach.
Flavor: spinach, cream, cucumber, peach, honey.
Flavors: Cream, Cucumber, Honey, Peach, Spinach, Vegetal
