Received a sample of this from Lion (Thanks!).
I didn’t get a very strong scent from the dry leaves. I brewed this in my gaiwan, just under boiling. After the first 15 second steep, the wet leaves smelled heavily of wet hay. The liquor was a nice caramel brown and had a slightly malty, slightly fruity scent. The taste in the first steep was a bit weak but I kind of suspected that would be the case.
Second steep, 30 seconds. Now the flavor of lychee, malt, and mineral comes to life. Rather enjoying the lychee as I have not had much experience with that flavor.
I continued with steeps of 45s, 1m, 1m30s, and 2m30s. The lychee flavor stayed well through the first 5 steeps with it finally fading a bit on the 6th and last steep. I would describe the last steep of 2m30s as watery, mineral, and slightly floral. I’m sure I could get another steep or two but overall it tasted done to me.
I am pleasantly surprised with the fruity/lychee flavor and coating lingering on my tongue and throat. This wasn’t a strong bold tea but a very subtle tea that presents its flavors to those who stop to look for them.
Flavors: Floral, Fruity, Lychee, Mineral
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I really like this tea too. Lychee is one of my favorite fruit flavors because of its slightly floral character. Some friends of mine were trying this tea together with me and we decided that it definitely reminds of lychee if you have it on its own, though compared side-by-side with lychee flavored foods, it isn’t as lychee-like. I also just got to try fresh lychee this week thanks to finding some at a local Asian market (heck Whole Foods even had some this week!) and I would say this tea reminds me more of the fresh fruit than the sweetened canned ones or lychee-flavored foods. I like it either way!
I really like this tea too. Lychee is one of my favorite fruit flavors because of its slightly floral character. Some friends of mine were trying this tea together with me and we decided that it definitely reminds of lychee if you have it on its own, though compared side-by-side with lychee flavored foods, it isn’t as lychee-like. I also just got to try fresh lychee this week thanks to finding some at a local Asian market (heck Whole Foods even had some this week!) and I would say this tea reminds me more of the fresh fruit than the sweetened canned ones or lychee-flavored foods. I like it either way!