7g in 200ml seasoned duan ni squat shi piao yixing teapot.
Leaves are a work of art. Even when broken apart, they have great luster and preserve their shape well. If I didn’t worry about aromatic taints and light corruption, I’d have this out on display it is so pretty. Leaves smell pretty green – basically fresh mao cha. A touch of gravelly loam and seven grain bread. Wet aroma liberates some more nectar-like qualities and sandy clay aroma (not just the smell of the teapot). Reminds me of the smell of fresh mulch. Not a ton going on, but pleasant.
Mellow, balanced young sheng puerh. Liquor appearance and body very similar to 1 part honey diluted in 3 parts hot water. Smooth. Really smooth for how young it is. Sweetness is about on par with infused Chamomile. Lack of bitterness or assertive qualities has me feeling this may not age particularly well but it is very pleasant drinking for a cake that ought to be “too young to drink.” Very soft.
Nice drinking tea if you’re a fan of relatively fresh mao cha or Yunnan greens.
I’ve been drinking this tea for quite a while now, almost through my second cake. I have some much more expensive teas that are arguably more subtle, but this is very good tea. Some tannin stains have developed on the yixing cups I’ve been drinking it from – not really a criticism, just a property. The hand braiding makes for a tea cake that is easier than most to untangle with minimal leaf damage too.
It is a highly addictive tea that I think has good balance – good flavour, some minor rough edges that give it a unique “unrefined” character – almost a tang; no noticeable unpleasantness, but lacking the rich woody characteristics of mature pu-erh. Overall, it’s my current favourite everyday tea.