2010 Wuzhou TF Large Leaves "05307" Liubao Tea

Received this as a free sample with my recent order to Chawangshop. Liubao Tea is not a sort of tea I am in expert in. This one was enjoyable. It had what I would describe as a strong note of bamboo. Some might describe this note as wet wood but I think bamboo is a better description. It seems to be a common flavor in Liubao tea from the few I have tried. In this case it was not overpowering. It largely but not completely dissipated after around four steeps. It also had distinct notes of spicy in it. It was as if I had steeped the tea in a red chili. The spice was that prevalent. This is probably not a tea I would end up buying although I do want to order some Liubao the next time I order from Chaawangshop. If a teas qi is related to the effect it had on you this one has a mild but noticeable qi. I definitely feel an effect from this tea and I did not drink that much. Because I was drinking tea later than usual I only steeped this eight times in a 60ml gaiwan. This is not a huge amount of tea. It seems to have a warming effect on me. I don’t know if Liubao is supposed to be warming or cooling but that is the feel of it to me. I am happy that the taste of bamboo was not too strong as I am not overly fond of that note in tea. Again I think bamboo is a better description than wet wood. I don’t know that this tea was wet stored or dry stored. I don’t even know what part of China Chawangshop is in. I definitely want to buy more Liubao teas from their large selection.

I steeped this tea eight times in a 60ml gaiwan with 4g leaf and boiling water. I gave it a 10 second rinse and a 10 minute rest. I steeped it for 5 sec, 5 sec, 7 sec, 10 sec, 15 sec, 20 sec, 25 sec, and 30 sec. Judging by the color of the leaves I think I would get at least another four steeps out of this should I continue.