Sipdown
To my surprise there was enough Ming Hong for one last session. This time I was determined to follow the recommended brewing times.
Western style: 7.2g / 8 oz / 203*F / rinse, 20, 35, 50, 65 sec. without sweeteners, milk, or cream.
20 sec.: This cup was identical to the first cup from yesterday: http://steepster.com/looseTman/posts/295565.
35 sec.: This cup is identical to the flavor profile of the first steep, but it’s definitely richer . It’s very full-bodied without any astringency or bitterness. Wow, the second steep is a very satisfying morning cup! I suspect the rest period after the short 1st steep allows the wet leaves to produce a richer 2nd cup. As I near the bottom of this cup, the caramel finish now includes cocoa and persists long on the tongue. The final sip of the now cool mug has a hint of green beans.
50 sec.: This cup has the same flavor profile but is less full-bodied than the first cup and not as rich as the 2nd steep. As I near the bottom of the cup, the mild caramel finish no longer includes a strong aftertaste of cocoa.
65 sec.: The fourth cup had the same flavor profile as the 3rd steep, but was light to medium-bodied and definitely not as rich. As I near the bottom of the cup, the mild caramel finish no longer has a cocoa aftertaste. The leaves are now fully open, so I’ll stop here.
Comparison to yesterday’s results:
By following the recommended brewing times, the flavor of the leaves was better divided over the four cups. Additionally, the recommended times yielded the optimum balance of all the flavors, especially in the second cup. The dark chocolate didn’t overpower the other flavors of the second cup today as it had yesterday, which allowed me to fully appreciate the superb richness of today’s 2nd cup. It’s a shame that this is the end of my 4 oz. stash. I’ll be definitely watching Yezi’s sales.
Impression: A very complex-flavored creamy smooth tea that’s not to be missed!
Thanks to Boris of Yezi for his brewing recommendations of this superb tea!
Method:
RO water re-mineralized with an Aptera filter http://steepster.com/teas/teaware/39532-puregen-aptera-alkamag-water-filter
http://steepster.com/teas/teaware/37731-my-weigh-durascale-d2-660-digital-scale
Brewed western-style conveniently using a digital variable-temp electric kettle in a tempered tea mug with a brew basket:
http://steepster.com/teaware/bonavita/39130-1-liter-variable-temperature-digital-electric-gooseneck-kettle
http://steepster.com/teaware/royal-albert/45581-old-country-roses-afternoontea-mugs
Flavors: Bread, Caramel, Creamy, Dark Chocolate, Grain, Green Beans, Malt, Sweet Potatoes
