Working this one up tonight. I bought this after tasting a sample of it a while back. Mengsong material is usually pretty decent.
I grabbed 11 grams out to start with and gave it a rinse and a little sit time.
Wet leaf you can pick some hints of floral but subdued and there is some smoke in there as well. The tea brews a nice aged golden color in the cup.
It starts out fairly thick and seems to rattle around in the mouth a bit. It is a pretty strong brew with the mintyness and camphor and bitterness rolling around in there. It is not as strong as a Bulang area tea but it is quite strong. Letting the cup cool a bit the bitterness can really come to the front. I see this one doing quite a few quick steeps as I am already 8 in and the leaf keeps giving. The aged profile of this will make you think it is a few years older than it actually is.
Flavors: Bitter, Camphor, Floral, Mint, Smoked
Preparation
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Comments
Better than the 2008 Bulang? ;)
I never had the chance on that one. It was gone away I heard good reviews of it though.
I think after comparing your sample with the newly arrived one I’ve convinced myself to grab a cake.
I think it is a good cake for the price.
Have you tried Teaurchin’s Baotang?
@tanluwils I have. I have a cake aging away. I may need to put it side to side. I think the EoT was a bit more punchy if I remember right.
I bought a cake of this and it certainly is punchy!
@tea123 there is another one similar to this one…..
http://steepster.com/teas/menghai-tea-factory/67819-2015-menghai-dayi-legend-of-taetea-raw
Thanks. Yes I remember now commenting that you said it was similar. Very interesting.
I have a good hookup on a good price on this one too.
205 °F, 15 SEC, 11 G / 10 OZ: Understood. So 15 sec for the first steep, & then … ? Thanks!!
@looseTman I would go about 5 seconds on the first and adjust from there. I should go back and re session this one in the future.
I approach this tea with caution.
@tea1123 I really like this one. I think 3 cakes worth at least. Well maybe 2 1/2. I have drank a lot and shared as well.
This one has acclimated nicely to my tupperware storage. No more of that awkward prune and a bit more sandalwood, camphor, leather, and fig.
Hi mrmopar, Yes, I thought 15 sec sounded longer than you typically recommend for a first steep. I will look for your update. AllanK’s 5 sec, 5 sec, 7 sec, 10 sec, 15 sec, 20 sec, 25 sec, 30 sec, 45 sec, 1 min, 1.5 min, and 2 min seems works well for Baotang.
@looseTman how are you liking it? I am hoarding it.
Better than the 2008 Bulang? ;)
I never had the chance on that one. It was gone away I heard good reviews of it though.
I think after comparing your sample with the newly arrived one I’ve convinced myself to grab a cake.
I think it is a good cake for the price.
Have you tried Teaurchin’s Baotang?
@tanluwils I have. I have a cake aging away. I may need to put it side to side. I think the EoT was a bit more punchy if I remember right.
I bought a cake of this and it certainly is punchy!
@tea123 there is another one similar to this one…..
http://steepster.com/teas/menghai-tea-factory/67819-2015-menghai-dayi-legend-of-taetea-raw
Thanks. Yes I remember now commenting that you said it was similar. Very interesting.
I have a good hookup on a good price on this one too.
205 °F, 15 SEC, 11 G / 10 OZ: Understood. So 15 sec for the first steep, & then … ? Thanks!!
@looseTman I would go about 5 seconds on the first and adjust from there. I should go back and re session this one in the future.
I approach this tea with caution.
@tea1123 I really like this one. I think 3 cakes worth at least. Well maybe 2 1/2. I have drank a lot and shared as well.
This one has acclimated nicely to my tupperware storage. No more of that awkward prune and a bit more sandalwood, camphor, leather, and fig.
Hi mrmopar, Yes, I thought 15 sec sounded longer than you typically recommend for a first steep. I will look for your update. AllanK’s 5 sec, 5 sec, 7 sec, 10 sec, 15 sec, 20 sec, 25 sec, 30 sec, 45 sec, 1 min, 1.5 min, and 2 min seems works well for Baotang.
@looseTman how are you liking it? I am hoarding it.