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I had a sample of this tea when I became interested in Shue but didn’t care for it at the time, I forget why.

Since then my tastes have changed so I thought I’d give it another go.

When W2T had a free shipping sale I put a brick of Brown Sugar into the cart. Sure enough this time around I have a different take on this tea. I find it creamy and smooth leaving a sweet mouth feel.

Each day I have filled a houhin teapot and added water off the boil until all flavor is gone. I don’t think about it very much, for me it isn’t that type of tea but it’s very easy to brew and enjoy.

When this brick is gone I have the 2016 to try.

Smooth and sweet daily drinker, this light ripe would be a good introduction to shou.

For me this rich tea sample was notable for its red wine, cocoa, mushroom and clean mineral notes.

It is also quite warming. The memory of this tea grew on me, I may order a cake.

Edit: Several months later I did buy a cake.

I had a 14g sample and used half in a 170 ml gaiwan, which in hindsight was too large, especially for my usual flash steeps.

The result of not following the instructions was that I couldn’t get a sense of the tea which was tasting like hongcha.

After three steeps I put the rest of the 14g into the pot, ah that was the ticket.

Clean soup, smooth, nutty, bittersweet chocolate and brown sugar.

Made for an enjoyable long session on a chilly morning.

I like this Yunnan Black and down to the last drop of the 2016 I placed an order for the 2017 spring release.

If I like this year’s I will order more.

My cake is long gone but so that I remember.

Black teas made with large leaf pu-erh varietals can be hit or miss for me but I did enjoy this nice malty leaf.

Another enjoyable Yunnan tea I like to keep in stock.

I am looking forward to tasting the 2017 which is on my wishlist at YS.

I enjoy this tea, refreshing , floral, sweet, malty.

For me it is a quality inexpensive tea which I keep a stock of in the cupboard.

Edit
Warmed my pot and added dry leaf then closed the lid for a few seconds. Sniff test…. wonderful scent of plums.

This was in my third order from Chawangshop.

The Bulangs I have tasted, (different vendors) have been variable and enjoyable. I found this cake to be smooth and sweet with Bulang personality.

I bought two 100g cakes, I will keep one to age and drink down its companion.

The W2T description for this tea is right on, my sample held no surprises.

If I pushed the steep a slight bitterness crept in, otherwise it was fairly sweet.

The tea soup is dark but clean and left a nice cocoa taste, I think it is a good buy.