75 Tasting Notes
Running low on fu… Great time to sample w2t’s offerings. I had the Double Smoke Fuzhuan already – it was fine but not what I’m looking for. Sun Fu a little too green for me. I’ll try these again though.
This one had superb energy. I felt relaxed yet zippy, kinda switching back and forth at will. Useful for the on/off nature of my daily tasks! I forgot this was a heicha/sheng blend and didn’t ponder the name until after the session was over, but it clicked into place eventually.
Not super thrilled about the taste. It’s alright but the sheng throws me off a little, particularly in the middle steepings. Maybe it’d benefit from 97-98°C next time.
Regardless, I am considering getting a brick.
Haven’t been on here in ages. Still steeping though!
Ugh this was good, sad it’s gone. Buttery, floral, summer grass, bit peppery. Smooth throughout, maybe a touch astringent after pushing steeps longer and hotter but surprisingly enduring, got a lot of cups out of this one.
Preparation
Blind bought this cake a few months ago and was unimpressed with my first sampling even after a brief rest. This is my only black tea cake and I didn’t think it was worth getting a storage box for just one cake, not yet at least, so I threw it into my white tea cake box. I thought the aromas matched up really well.
Looks like the longer rest and storage improved it a bunch! I enjoyed it a lot more this time. Sweet honey, deep chocolate, and blueberries.
Happy one year gongfu-nniversary to me! It’s been about a year since I started brewing gongfu style. Looking forward to many more years of tea drinking.
Preparation
I’ve been having this for the past three days. So many steepings! Like… around 40 or 50. The square opened up very gradually. Flavors were light for the first few steepings, but then remained creamy and floral-fruity without faltering. This is just perfect for when I want to sip a warm drink endlessly while getting some work done.
Preparation
Finishing off my sample. This was my drink of choice for my brief fast after Christmas dinner. The energy here is special, very mindful and sensory. The 6th steeping continues to hit like a truck. My awareness is forced toward only the thing I’m currently focused on, and everything else just barely exists. I had this in the evening and went to lie down in bed soon after ending the session to listen to some music. I was half-dreaming while still awake for a while, which isn’t totally unusual for me but was definitely influenced by Gas. I left a song on repeat for like two hours, literally had a one-track mind.
I took advantage of the free shipping sale yesterday to order a cake.
Listening to SKETAMINE by Dean Blunt.
Preparation
One of my favorite David’s Tea offerings. Glad to have stocked up on it again after a while.
We were visiting Chicago in 2014 not long after we started dating and saw a David’s Tea store for the first time and got a whole bunch of samples. We both loved this one the most.
Still saddened by the closure of their US locations. It was always such a fun place to go.
Preparation
Old Ways Tea December box.
Mmmm. Tea drunk. Feeling weightless. When I close my eyes it feels like I’m drifting on a cloud. I could barely utter complete words.
Viscous, as was the Shui Xian in the same box that I forgot to write a note on, oops.
I think of funnel cake and Pennsylvania(?).
Preparation
Packs a punch. Swirling, stinging, clarifying. Sweet at first, then bitter peppery astringency with a tiny bit of smoke.
Zipped and zoomed around the apartment sliding on my socks, to give you an impression of how I felt afterward. Felt like a child in all the best ways.
Considering getting two cakes at this price, one to age, one to drink soon. Could be special if it produces an energy like that reliably.
Preparation
Soothing smoky peaty sweetness. Later woodsy, slightly fruity. Delicate bitterness that never overwhelms. Cozy as hell.
I should have added more of this to my Black Friday order. I still have like 90g left so I have time but meh. I always forget something.
Welcome back! Have you been enjoying lots of tea?