Zheng Shan Xiao Zhong Smoked Wuyi Black

Brewed semi-Western style with a glass test tube steeper. Steeping times: 30, 15, 20, 40, 80.

Overall, this a complex ZSXZ. The dry leaf aroma smells like a small, controlled fire that has died out for a few minutes: a gentle smoke, different evergreens and needles burned together. In contrast, the wet leaf aroma is heavy with gray smoke and charred wood. My favorite: The aroma rising from the steeper after I have poured out the liquor is honey-glazed Christmas ham.

The liquor is dark amber in color, clear, and full-bodied. The first infusion resembles inhaling enough smoke that you can taste it and it sticks to your nostrils. A second, shorter steeping – and the subsequent infusions – are still smoky (of course) but much lighter, with a cedar note and cooked meat aftertaste. I could swear I had finished eating BBQ’d pork. Sweeter and sweeter it becomes. A note of maple syrup emerges. The sessions ends with equal smoke and maple syrup.

Backlog from last night – another tea from the GCTTB4

I had 2 steeps of this last night, and there’s still a smidgen of leaf left for others further down the lineup of the box.

The taste of this was actually quite similar to the hei cha I had yesterday morning from Tao Tea Leaf. It was a very earthy sort of flavour, and although I could taste smoke, the smoke was not the predominant flavour.

The second steep was similarly earthy, but I got a hint of sweetness like pine sap or eucalyptus at the back of my mouth.

This was decent, and I know Verdant is one of Steepster’s darlings, but I didn’t ring my bell compared to some of the other teas I’ve tried. It was a nice way to relax and focus in the evening, though.

Tried this tea this morning. It’s such an “out there” tea for me since I normally drink the lighter teas. I did try one lapsang souchong that I enjoyed before so I thought I would give it a try.

I got sweet, smokey, leathery & tobacco. Smokey is good but leathery and tobacco are not flavours I would search for in a tea. However in this case it really worked good together. I did enjoy this tea but wouldn’t add to my cabinet unless it was only sample size.for that odd ball time I would have it.

Smokey incense wafts through living pine. While casually sipping away at warm vanilla cocoa, one strolls through this fertile, pungent evergreen forest, salty sweat on their brow. Yes, I know they are sweating on a slow walk. This individual is clearly out of shape and it’s hot out. Maybe the latter is connected to the smokiness. Who knows (place inquiries with the tea).

So I’m terrible at conveying how easily this tea sweeps me up in daydream and picturesque fancies, but I had to try. It’s a delicious tea, reminiscent Whispering Pine’s indulgent Port.

I know some will find more dirt along the path than chocolate, and may even view the smoke as an indicator of a giant forest fire. For me, it hits all the sweet spots.

1.5 tsp for 300mL water @95C, steeped four minutes 30 seconds.

Dry leaf smells of rocks, pine, woodsmoke, salt, cream, and something sweet. The smoke does not overpower. Leave are long, dark, and twisted (like my favourite stories).

Wet leaf remains twisted, if less so, and smelling more of minerals than anything else.

Liquor is bronze with some down.

Smoke, yes, but a gentle smoke, with lots of China black tea characteristics coming through. There’s an elusive taste of cream, too. Plenty of sweet mineral notes. I know thi sis a smoked black tea, but it behaves much more like a dark sweet oolong.

This is really frigging good.

I got sent this in the Verdant TotM club a while ago and, I confess, I was seriously reluctant to try it. I’ve only ever tried one Lapsang Souchong before – it was a cheap bagged variety and, the way it was brewed, it totally overwhelmed me. It just was not for me. Even though I knew the quality of this would be FAR superior, the memory of that other tea just would not let me try this one…

I read a review from Sil, talking about brewing this Gong Fu, and it sounded awesome… It just kept playing on my mind… And then last night, the cravings defeated me and I set this tea as my Monday-morning treat. When I opened the bag of leaves, the smell almost made me regret my choice – I felt nauseous immediately. Still, all of those reviews couldn’t be wrong, surely?? Well…

My goodness. What a tea.

This has got to be one of the most incredible black teas I’ve ever tried. It’s sweet, it’s rich, and it is sooooo fragrant. But in a totally good way. In the liquor, the smokiness is a rich-yet-mild fragrance that makes a perfect background to the sweet vanilla notes. I enjoyed a good 8 or 9 steeps (3 in the morning and 5-6 tonight).

’nuff said.

If you like naked black teas than this is good one.

I’m still figuring this tea out. I’ve had 5 sessions with it and still cant fully grasp it.
I just cant get this one flavor out of my mind when i drink it…..

Mint Skoal chewing tobacco. :-S

Hope i didnt ruin this tea for anyone. haha

ZSXZSW black tea was nicely sweet and smooth. Even though moderately smokey (bit of charcoal, pine, sandalwood incense), the tea is still smooth. There are also cedar notes early on. Later infusions ZSXZSW black tea smokey wanes and becomes chocolaty with a hint of floral in the background. A great tea to experience a gong fu journey with!

Full review on Oolong Owl http://oolongowl.com/zheng-shan-xiao-zhong-smoked-wuyi-black-tea/ bonus cute tea owl in tea cup!

You know, I’m not entirely sure I consider this tea a 97 anymore… I remember it being good, but I never really reach for it, because it’s generally a bit much for what I want. I’ll leave it for now, at least until I have another hot cup of it, in case I’m misremembering.

Anyhow, iced this tea as well today as I thought it would be a good way to use it up (this is again along the theme of this tea being good but not a favourite). I was hoping the smokiness would be tamed a bit more, and I’d end up with more roasty chocolate goodness. Turns out I was right, and I did enjoy this iced, though not as much as Plum Rooster, and the smokiness comes right back once it warms up at all. Not that it’s terribly smoky, but sometimes that’s just not what you want.