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Vastly prefer the 2001 Te Ji grade Chen Xiang. I’ve been spoiled by that one.

But I wasn’t disappointed by this session. It stood in as a sort of ghostly memory of the former’s taste profile and progression, though it lacked the energy. It was enjoyable to discover this.

Hmm… the things I enjoyed in this tea were so fleeting. First few steepings were nice and creamy with a fruity, juicy aroma but that just didn’t stick around long enough, not even to remember the sensation on my tongue. Later steepings were pleasantly bitter with a sweet aftertaste reminiscent of… bubblegum?

It could have been a dud session but so far not feeling this one.

Too strong, TOO STRONG! I cracked this one open blind, totally forgot it’s supposed to be bitter smoky, shoulda used way less leaf. It’s also packed very tightly, so misjudged the amount (and nearly stabbed myself a dozen times).

Tasting notes are obfuscated by the incredible dryness in my mouth. But loving the smells throughout the session. I’ll revisit this one shortly enough anyway.

Similar caffeine effect to coffee, sans jitters. Feeling kinda groovy and wanting to dance.

Impulse buy at the grocery store. The tin is very pretty.

Anyway this is a nice sleepytime blend. Plenty sweet on its own and didn’t see the need for honey. If you ask me the “strong” hemp smell is overstated in other reviews. It’s fine. My nose picks up on the goji, basil, and coconut more. Rich, thick, and goes down smooth.

This one knocked me around. More focused on the energy than the taste. But initial wet leaf smell reminded me of a steel pot after stewing cabbage, somewhat like plastic, seemingly noxious. Youthful, green taste throughout session. Steeping (1) bittersweet, thick, vegetal, notes of weed vape, head feels heavy (2) muscles relaxing deeply, bitterness ramping up, drying, somewhat astringent (3) lasting huigan beginning, floral, very dry, feel coating on my teeth (4) piercing bitterness, feel energy in my feet, vision is vibrating (5) tingling feeling on tongue (6) rounding out, feeling very content, serene (7-8) blast of sweetness (9-12) tingling in head (13-14) breathing in and out feels like I just chewed some mint gum (15) rushed to finish this steeping before heading out, felt extremely energized for a couple hours after.

Really great experience. Maybe it’d be worth buying a cake to age…

Great complexity. Some wet pile in the first steeping, like seafood broth, in the most pleasant way. Then sweetness like blackcurrant juice. Next a cocoa bitterness. Oily but not thick. Wet leaf reminds me of stale popped corn and sawdust. Flavors let up after eight steepings while the aftertaste starts to shine, which I’d describe as a mineral fruitiness that tingles the chest.

Nice revitalizing energy. Had a terrible mental health day and I found solace in this tea.

Listening to Sport Mode by Lyra Valenza.

Gonna need a cake of this. Brings me back to the stairwell in my aunt’s god-knows-how-old house in Poland. That perpetual wet wood and cigarette smoke smell baked into the walls. I love that fucking smell so much, and it’s here.

Just wish my esophageal spasms would go away. Sometimes tea helps, never hurts, did nothing in this case. Can’t wait to enjoy this on a better day.

Listening to Lei-tzu by Lloop.

Yummy. Got 25g of this and Lumber Slut to compare. Maybe not as camphorous as I expected it to be but still has that wet, woodsy shou profile that pleases me so.

Was intrigued by this so I got a sample. Bitterness isn’t as crazy as I thought it’d be but I like how it progresses. It’s still intensely bitter. In between cups is like honey. Well, very bitter honey anyway.

This does have a sort of noxious, mind-dumbing quality to it. Haven’t been doing too much blinking. My evening chores are delayed as I really, really don’t feel like getting up.

Duncan was very carefully watching my tea brewing. He wanted to sniff each cup.

[Photo] https://i.imgur.com/f5C6rKN.jpeg

Listening to Drop It on Em by Rimbaudian.