Re-reviewing this tea as I now have worked out how to steep it to my tastes, now, when using 1/2 the gaiwan full of leaf and flash steeping, the tea is making me happier.
Before, I was getting a watery liquor with a lot of charcoal.
with more leaf and flash steeps, the charcoal seems to have hit a ceiling and the body is now coming up to meet it, resulting in a much better cup.
It is still very dark chocolate, but nice dark chocolate instead of not.
also, it is easy to overbrew this one, resulting in bitter dark chocolate. again, with the flash steep method its still nice bitter dark chocolate rather than not.
Im finding it hard to get over the image of a burnt forest whenever I drink this. It still hasnt got the butter or oil of my other oolongs – really is somewhere on its own when my brain categorises it against my other wuyi or dancong. But it is very moreish. a slight sharpness and life bounces on my tongue during the huiguan, making me want to have another cup. – sometimes this sharpness is really forward if overbrewed
With a bit of time taking to get to know it, it is a nice tea for lovers of 80%+ dark chocolate, bitter chocolate & dark, burnt woods. its totally bold in this, a good horror novel tea perhaps?
Also, the price is very reasonable, maybe a good choice for someone who likes to age their tea, thus mellowing it a bit. – I dont have any experience with this, from what understand, this bold, sometimes slightly bitter-chocolate roast is the part that will mellow over time
Synaesthetic note: Blackened Burnt forest after rain
Flavors: Chocolate, Dark Chocolate, Dark Wood, Roasted