A sipdown! (M: 4, Y: 81)
Happy to manage another sipdown, and this is a gongfu sipdown. I had 6 grams left, so two weaker western steepings or one gongfu; so I have decided for the latter. I read my previous note and read it needs a bit colder water than usual, so I have used roughly 70°C.
Short steeps. Starting with 10s, adding small increments like 3-5 seconds.
Preheated gaiwan notes — well, astringent. Sheng maocha I had is weak considering this. Quite unpleasant.
Added water, spilled it shortly after (not a rinse per se). Well, very same notes but even stronger, strong hay notes and a little bit acrid.
First steep was somehow weak with strong dry notes and drying the mouth as well. Second steep was less astringent and seaweed notes came, with lots of salinity, hay-like and aftertaste of “steeped hay” (at least that came across my mind, but I never tried that!). I tried another 15 seconds steep (as the second), but it seems that I am just not a fan of this tea. That salty note is making me feel thirsty and it’s not refreshing at all. I just don’t like it and I give it up after 3 steeps.
Lowering the rating from 76 — today session is roughly 35, so average being 55.