A very smoky tea for it’s age (I thought). Quite enjoyable, although I tried it in the early spring and I think it would be more suitable for fall weather drinking.
Here are my notes from my first steeping. I did the session over two days at my desk and got 17 good steeps in:
Leaf: 6g
Brewing Vessel: 90ml Gaiwan
Rinse – 3s
1: 5s
Very smoky! Slightly astringent. Dry leaf has a ripe fruity smell. Something between apricot and pear.
2: 5s
Even more smoky… very interesting. I was not expecting this from a 5yr raw.
3: 7s
Less smoky, but still a big smoky aftertaste. A warm, vegetal mouth-feel. Still not fruity.
4: 8s
Much lighter now. Quite good, although not much sweetness. Has a very dry finish.
5: 10s
The smokiness is definitely in the background now. A warm flavor. This would be an excellent fall tea.
6: 11s
Very light flavor. Should have added more time. The vegetal flavors are really coming through more and there’s not much smokiness.
7: 15s
Very bitter. Not bad, though.
8: 15s
Much more of the sweetness. Tasting more like the raws I’m used to
9: 18s
(note from next day)Don’t remember, but it was probably good and I probably chugged it…
NEXT DAY
10: ~20s
Warm with sweet vegetal hints. Much lighter. Perhaps it will “wake up” after this and come back in strength for the next steeping.
11: 26s
Floral hints coming through. Vegetal taste and mouth feel. Wet leaf smell moving much towards apricot.
12: 39s
Very smooth. Still a light body. Not quite sweet yet, but there is definitely an idea or a hint of floral sweetness. Good viscosity. Dry finish. Overall, pretty flat steep.
13: 45s
Getting a very apricot / fruity sweetness now. Very good.
14: 70s
Wet leaf smelling a little flat now. Not nearly as much flavor remaining. Less viscous, but still decent body. A slight dustiness. A bit of dried fruit aftertaste.
15: 120s
Very smooth and sweet.
16: 180s
Delicious. Much sweeter and smooth.
17: 240s
Quite good still. Much more dry, but smooth and sweet. Hardly a hint (if any) of the smokiness remains, although there is somewhat of a pleasing earthiness hinted in the finish. I think I’ll call this the last steeping. I have to head out early today.
Flavors: Floral, Smoke, Vegetal, Wet Earth
