2011 Yunnan Sourcing "Pasha Mountain" Autumn Raw Pu'erh

I dropped (and broke) my gaiwan in the sink the other night while cleaning it out, so I’m brewing this in a glass measuring cup with a gaiwan saucer over it. Sad to lose my gaiwan, but it served me well over the past two years.

I’m really enjoying this tea tonight. It’s very tasty, but has a different flavor profile than most. No “peach and tobacco”, but softer flavors like olive oil, grain, bamboo, and white wine. It’s not super sweet, but the sweetness lingers in the throat for a long time. It makes a good many brews, a bit more than average, and has one of the strongest cha qi’s of pu’erh I’ve tasted.

Soo, since I’m in desperate need of a new gaiwan I’ll be pushing up the Yunnan Sourcing order I had been planing (they also have some celadon cups I’ve been eying). I’ll probably just stick to the tea wares, some black tea ,and some pu’erh samples since I need to keep this fairly cheap. Any favorites you think I should try?

I’ve been drinking this tea all evening, ever since I got home from the college. I wish I had more to say about it, I’m still sipping it, & all I can say is I like it, & nice Chaqi. There is a little bitter edge, & I’m getting a nice tingle tongue. I’ll say more next time.
3 G X Gaiwan X short steepings 5/10/15/20/etc. I made it to 50!
I’d steep it some more, but I have to leave now!

The dry leaves smell of prunes, apricots, tobacco, wood and something a little spicy. The wet leaves smell more strongly of tobacco with apricots in the background. Really wish I could have this as an incense or air freshener, lol! This one has me looking a bit weird because I keep sticking my nose in the pot and inhaling as if I might be huffing something illicit. _

Steep/Time: Notes
1/8s: Silky, sweet. Tastes of grass, honey and a bit of stonefruit. Finish is soft in this cup and I’m picking up a nice floral note in the aftertaste.
2/8s: Oh this is good! More honey and fruit in this steep with a clean, crisp finish. Long lasting huigan
3/10s: Little more body/thickness in this steeping. Same honey, grass and fruit notes.
4/10s: About the same as the previous. Love the sweet, slightly astringent finish
5/12s: Fruit and honey fading a little bit as the grassy note become more prominent.
6/12s: Really clean taste. Clear, light amber brew.
7/14s: Noticing more sweetness towards the back of the throat.
8/14s:
9/16s: Took a break, so this one was a little light.
10/20s:
11/20s: Same honey and grass.
12/60
13/60s: No bitterness, nice astringency. Grass, fruit and honey.

This is a pretty tasty tea. Just wish it had more punch in the cha qi department. I was drinking on an empty stomach most of the day so if there were any qi to be had I should have felt it.

From the Puerh TTB # 5

The color of the liquor reminded me of honey; golden yellow, fun to look at.

The flavor of the tea reminded me of honeysuckle nectar. Sweet, floral, and honey notes throughout the brew. Very smooth and sweet. There was zero astringency or bitterness on the tongue.