Pure Bud Bi Luo Chun Yunnan Black tea - Autumn 2013

Another generous sample from Dexter! This is so fun trying all these teas!

I liked this one too, but I think I liked the Han Xiang Ecological one more maybe I think. I’ll have to try them side by side at some point.

(1 heaping tsp in 14 oz, 5 minutes, 195F.)

i think this gongfu is quite fun! :D

gong fu method using a gaiwan

1st steep 20s: it tastes chocolaty and peppery

2nd steep (Best) 40s: it tastes the same as above but with some bitter-sweetness this time.

3rd (Final) steep 1 min: all of the above

when i smell the tea leaves dry, i smell pepper

when i smell the tea leaves wet, i smell pepper and chocolate

overall this is an ok tea, however i think it could use a new home: anyone willing to swap?

I love this tea. I know it’s officially “aged” at 1 year old, but it has stood it’s test of time, and when I poured the hot water over these little golden curls of tea, it gave that aroma that I love so well. Autumn 2013 Bi Luo Chun has the expected notes of apricot and cocoa, but the mid-note isn’t just earth….it’s a loamy earth, very much like the delicate loaminess of a fabulous keemun. This gentle nudge toward a keemun gives Pure Bud Autumn 2013 a bit more of a refined flavor profile, making me sad that I’m getting to the bottom of this tin. It will be missed.

When I feel like having something new, I just fetch a pouch from my Terri Box.

She generously sent me what she had left of this precious tea. Delicious little tiny golden snails, so pretty to look at.

Of course, I was curious to compare them to Whispering Pines’s “wee snaily yums” Golden Snail Yunnan Black, already a favourite.

They do look identical, but are completely different in taste. Though I much prefer WP version, this is still yummy, no doubt.

What surprised me the most was to find some smoke in there. Don’t know if my taste buds are playing tricks on me but it’s very noticeable. In a Keemun kind of way.

It’s sweet, but it’s missing that silky barley sugar feel I get from WP.

It’s fuller bodied and maltier, not as delicate and complex. I’m missing the floral and spicy notes I find in WP.

To me, it feels like a good robust black tea, which is something I would seek early in the morning. Just not what I was expecting from what is supposed to be a more mellow and smooth kind of tea.

Maybe I over leafed? Luckily, I still have plenty to try it again.

So yes, compared to WP’s Bi Luo Chun, it looses the battle.

But as a nice breakfast tea, it’s a winner, loved it!

Thank you so much Terri Harlady for giving the chance to try so many teas from Yunnan Sourcing :-)

mmmm thanks for sharing this one with us Terri! I’m trying to kick my morning off right and get in a few delicious cups of tea before i’m stuck with trying to find a few mins tonight to brew up more. I’m onsite at work from 10am to 5am so i need my good tea vibes. While i’ve enjoyed this one a bunch, i’m not sure it’s something i need to keep in stock in my cupboard. there are a few other from YS that i’ve enjoyed a lot more via my tea sister. that being said, this is still a really enjoyable cup of tea!

This has been a delightful tea. I’m mostly enjoyed it gongfu style, but today I tried a more western version, basically a heaping tsp in a cup for 3 min with a resteep of 5min. Also very delicious this way, & without a doubt, I will re-order, but for now it is a sipdown. I’m sending the last 5 G to a friend, along with the last of the Jinggu Golden Strand from YS, another tea worthy of re-ordering.
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