Bitter and astringent with nothing very interesting to compensate. Leaves appear entirely unaged and green despite the 13 years on this now. Not really objectionable but there are plenty of better dry aged teas out there for the price Interesting scent of Kaffir lime when grandpa brewing the leftover leaves.
Novice-Intermediate tea drinker (3 years serious tea drinking). Mostly sheng pu-erh, some oolong, the occasional black western style.
Try to avoid nonsense, hyperbole, and reading too many flavours into a tea. Red wine tastes like fermented grapes most of the time, tea tastes like boiled leaves most of the time. The question is: are they good fermented grapes, are they good boiled leaves?
Rating Scale:
0-25: Throw it out! Not even worth drinking at any price and cannot be gifted in good conscience.
25-50: Would not buy (again), unlikely to drink. Might be worth gifting to friends/family with lower standards (and western brewing only).
50-60: Would not buy (again), just drinkable.
60-70: Would consider buying again at a good price. Interesting or good enough to drink once in a while. Also, teas which I do not personally like but which I can see the objective merits of and might please others.
70-80: Would buy again, daily drinkers.
80-90: Definitely buy, excellent quality.
90-100: Buy at any price, the best of the best (I have never drunk anything this good…).
Australia
