We don't know when or if this item will be available.
“The tea is very tightly compressed. As a relative newbie, I had difficulty chipping the leaves off. First steep, DAMN that’s bitter. Not the most bitter that I’ve tried, but it definitely has...” Read full tasting note
The 2016 Dogs is a blend produced by white2tea, which can be brewed alone, or with the 2016 Cats (available exclusively via Crimson Lotus Tea). Both blends were produced in collaboration and are meant to allow tea drinkers to experiment with blending proportions and explore the two teas on their own or as a duo. The proportions of the blending are entirely up to the drinker.
The Dogs blend has a lasting huigan [lingering sweetness] in the mouth and a heavy body.
The tea is very tightly compressed. As a relative newbie, I had difficulty chipping the leaves off.
First steep, DAMN that’s bitter. Not the most bitter that I’ve tried, but it definitely has strong kuwei. It wasn’t unpleasant at first, but I was drinking on an empty stomach and quickly got nauseated.
Ate some food, but the tea is still bitter with flash steeps at steep number 5 or something. Ugh, now I’m kind of sick of the kuwei.
I think I’m more of a cat person.
Flavors: Bitter, Camphor
I find most bricks to be rather tightly compressed. No experience in young bricks, but I did buy my sister one of the cats (her name is Kat). She didn’t express any difficulty breaking that one apart though.
I was able to break leaves off… but it was more broken and dusty :/ much harder than a typical cake. I will be thinking twice before buying bricks again lol
Don’t get me wrong I have a cake or 2 that I LOVE. Also, there have been very popular cakes out there in the past couple years (White Whale and Old Bear) that people rave about. Although having in tact leaves is preferred, I would by no means write a tea off just because it’s leaves are somewhat broken. All depends on brewing parameters as well, if you use a gaiwan you shouldn’t mind broken leaves besides the fact that the brew may be stronger.
Brick* or 2 that i LOVE.