2005 Shan Zhong Chuan Qi

5.5g, ZZZ, water mix

KL wong calls this the big bang somewhere so safe to say I went in expecting a lot.

wet leaf: citrus, medicinal, vanilla

1. slight bitter, woody sour, medicinal, sweet floral on finish.

2. similar taste, deeper floral lingers in throat in finish that seems to be common across the CYHs i’ve tried.

3. tastes like earl grey, but with an exceptional floral finish. not sure if the chunk I pried off was just bud heavy or sth

4. similar earl grey. Had to stop here.

The tea could’ve kept going, but somatic effect wise, very much uncomfortable. I had a somewhat lighter lunch than usual so maybe my fault, but tried finishing a circuit workout a few hours later and almost collapsed. The leaves definitely look aged and fairly reddened, and taste is not especially young but the feeling needs a lot more time to settle.

I bought my cake from Jade leaf several months back for $570 or so I think, so not cheap. Not that this has ever been a particularly cheap cake, but generally westerners buying more expensive cakes seem to be looking for things hinging on ready to drink. The description mentions that “This tea has mellowed into a satisfying deep and dark woody profile.” and if it’s the same source, I would caution anyone thinking it’s a drink-now type of tea. I don’t know what TWL’s source now is like either, since I bought a QC a long time ago and now I can’t remember where I left it. Apparently they’ve offered several different ones as well, so sometimes just a roll of the dice.