338 Tasting Notes
Andrew said he is finding it hard to describe why he likes this, me too, but i’ll try.
Ok, so this one isn’t for those like it tame. It starts off bitter. I mean, not normal bitter or strong, for that matter.. But its a bitter tea. Tongue is dancing, mouth has puckered. dried. I’m actually refraining from saying what I think it tastes like because I know Andrew really likes this and i’ve had tea spoilt when someone added another angle of it and I couldn’t unthink the taste easily.
so, its a bitter first steep.
And bitter second steep.
And third, you get the idea. But in-between these I start taste fruit. Then a wave of warmth comes over me, and as I carry on it changes into this wondrous medley of grapes, strawberries, passion fruits, all made into jam in my head.
Later more steamed stuff/fruit, more bitter leaf taste, more waves of warmth. Its got a lovely qi to it. Oh my, that huigan makes me close my eyes.
Its amazing, I like it a lot – for serious pu’er heads due to the profile though. – , for example I would love to give this to my girlfriend but she would probably not appreciate it yet. I even struggle with the bitter taste a bit, but then, some alien fruit taste enters my head & Its all better again. Its also dependent on what you’ve eaten before (or lack thereof) – do it on an empty stomach or fruit or something, imho of course.
not garlic. Never garlic
Flavors: Bitter, Passion Fruit, Strawberry, White Grapes
Soft & gentle roast, honeyed sweet body. I found it fairly light with the orchid perfumes but there is a gentle hint of fruits in the background, I have found this with other WO teas. Its a good thing having fruit flickering in & out (especially for me who likes fruit-forward in everything), even if verrry subtle on this one.
The roast fades pretty quickly over the session into really subtle soft perfumed wuyi leaf oolong. Dark greens, good looking leaf.
‘it is quite welcome by most of the tea friends in China’ on the website, and ‘most approachable’ mentioned here. I think that sums it up.
‘The tea is perfectly balanced and is very stable through many infusions. Bitterness, astringency, sweet, spicy and floral all at once with long lasting taste and feeling in the mouth, throat and body long after drinking it.’
Couldnt have put it any better. Oh, it’s bitterness is very elegant, and the fruit is quite a good one too. everything is melded together in a really nice way.
Flavors: Bitter, Floral, Fruity, Sweet
Have you tried previous harvest years of this tea? How would you compare them?
I only had it in the tea club so I cant compare unfortunately. I was actually racking my brains last night trying to think about how i rated it & cant find a review, steepster may have eaten it. Also the autumn version I have no recollection.
You should try it – the balance is so that nothing sticks out as being its flavour, but it still just tastes really good. maybe berries as the fruit but the others I cant tell yet
I have sampled the 2015 spring and purchased one 2016 cake. I found the latter more pungent and concentrated, while the former was more watery. It’s a real value buy. Since the 2016 is superior in this respect from the 2015 pressing, i’m keeping an eye out for reviews. However, I now realize that it might be too soon, as these teas only really settle after 6 months of their pressing.
Thats interesting, because I have been thinking this one must be better than last years because it tastes so good. Although I have no way of proving this because I cant find my review
Really nice stuff.
There is a dry bitterness which creates a medium-upfront flavour, but then there is a fruity fragrance which creeps around this and up your nose and down the sides of the tongue. Its really nice stuff if you like the kuwei thing – YS says its a vegetal bitter, but I didnt think of it like that, or maybe i’m just drinking too much fruity sheng it has all become part of a fruit for me, leaves included?
Flavors: Bitter, Floral, Fruity, Grapes
I also think often adding flavor notes to it makes it difficult to “unthink the taste” for many sheng pu’er. And yes, garlic will make it difficult to taste the tea.
How does this one compare to other Kunlus like Essence of Tea Kunlu Bitter Wild or Crimson Lotus Tea Slumbering Dragon, which are super bitter (and that’s what I love about them)?
DELETEless than a minute ago
Never tried either of them, but have the ancient kunlu wild on the way from eot. Along with two other wild teas, the Jingdong and Wuliang.
This is super bitter with the juiciest gorgeous huigan. It’s like bitter grapes then grape gummy candy.
Really good stuff
Thanks, inthis case I have to try this one too – love those super bitter ones :)
BTW: The two others you orderd are good choices too, despite beeing not so bitter. The Jingdong is a really fruity one (love it!) and the Wuling is a much more mellow and calmer wild Sheng.
unfortunately its out of stock! Try emailing them they might have some left or able to get it again. Its so good