2010 Gu Ming Xiang “Lao Ban Zhang Gu Shu” Sheng Pu’erh
Dry leaves smell of herbs, grass and smoke. Wet leaves have a pungent, smokey hay aroma.
10s rinse/10m rest.
Steep/Time: Notes
1/10s: Light, honey-like sweetness. More sweetness at the back of the throat. Pleasant full mouth feel that’s more noticeable in the aftertaste. I’m always a little uncertain when I detect that first bit of cha qi, but this one is noteable.
2/10s: Sweetness much more pronounced in the mouth, back of the throat and aftertaste. Tastes of grass and honey. Cha qi developing as a slightly light headed alertness. Wow! Good qi! I pushed this just a tad too long as I can detect a tiny bit of bitterness.
3/10s: This tea as a really interesting mouthfeel. Almost as if your tongue is being coated with a very light weight oil or wax that vanishes a few moments later. The finish is only mildly dry. Sweetness has mellowed just a touch in this pot though still very noticeable at the back of the throat. Ok, I think there’s something to Lao Ban Zhang teas when it comes to qi. Wide awake right now and super focused… though not always on the right thing, LOL!
4/20s: Very good tea. A bit of what I can best describe as tanginess now going along with the sweetness. I have to test a Lao Ban Zhang without my moring coffee. That may be why I end up so reved up with this tea.
5/30s: Love the sweet after taste. Have to be careful though not to push this tea too hard. Otherwise there’s a bit of a bitter note when the tea first hits the tongue.
6/30s: A little of the honey like taste is tapering off.
7/45s: Good, but I’m thinking this tea will end around 10 steeps. Still has that nice sweet after taste. Not noting any new flavors or anything.
Flavors: Grass, Honey
