2004 Private Order – Essence of tea
Price: £7 ($10.54) for 25g (28p ($0.42) /g)
8g in gaiwan.
76/100
Summary: Heavy smoke has become rounded and smooth, and the flavours are ok, but there is nothing special here. Average tea, heavy smoke has been aged, that’s all. Bacon smoky.
Note: I can’t find this for sale anymore.
Dry: Dark brown, flat chunk, med/high compression. Looks like 2000 Green Stamp… Smoky cheese aroma.
https://www.instagram.com/p/-11RCbIDvHX0H58ZiACf0hNrLE4J53f3t5IBg0
Rinse: Med golden brown.
Wet: Med smoky. Electric smoke and log burning smoke.
https://www.instagram.com/p/-19FqAIDuxyak_ED3waJ6ZnmXPQv4Qz6TpSlc0
10s – Med golden brown. Faint log burning smoke. Aftertaste is log burning smoke. Body is ok. Thin.
15s – Dense med golden brown. Another sheng from Essence of Tea with the bitterness worn down, and the smoke has softened. Both components are well integrated, but it is lacking bite. Thicker.
25s – Dense med golden brown. Slightly astringent grip; slightly drying. Log burning. Not as good as 2000 Green Stamp. A tiny hint of Beef Space Raiders….
30s – Med golden brown. Smoke is staying strong, but the tea is fading.
35s – Med golden brown. Very strong, thick smoke: it has softened, but it is still very heavy.
1 minute – Med golden brown. The smoke is well rounded and heavy, but the tea underneath is average.
1 minute 20s – Less dense. Med golden brown. Watery, base sheng with a tonne of smoke still.
Flavors: Smoke
I wouldn’t go as far as saying not recommended but I do agree this tea adds nothing to the collection :P