2007 Feng Qing "Da Shu" Raw Pu-erh Tea Cake

I have to agree with Yunnan Sourcing’s description for this one: at $33/400g, this is absolutely a decent price for any aged sheng, but this one is pretty decent for that, too. I have a 25g sample but wouldn’t object to curating a full two-pounder of this one.

Beautiful large leaves, dark before brewing but quite green after. Very nice cha qi. Unfortunately the nose is still out on hay fever, so all I can say is the aroma is not tobacco-ish, clearly aged (but not wet) and intriguing enough to hope for a revision on a better nose day. Age is in the flavour as well. Basically not bitter unless over-brewed. A balanced mix of hay, mushroom and flowery notes. I, too, concur on the ‘melon’ description, but mainly for its quenching qualities, not the sweetness.

Overall, I think, a gentlemen’s sheng, combining some old-family character with a well studied, agreeable behaviour. I’m still wondering whether I’m more of a dock worker when it comes to sheng myself, but it’s hard to take your own character flaws out on a gentleman like that.

Summary: Inexpensive for age buy from YS, at great value. Starts with robust smokey hay and mushroom and finishes sweet grassy. Big body.

Prep: 5g, 60cc gaiwan, boiling. Rinse, 10s, increasing from there for about 12 steeps.
Sessions with this tea: 10+.

Taste: Starts off with smokey hay, and salty mushroom in a rounded, robust-feeling flavor, with a lovely cool sweet dew aftertaste. Minimal minerality, mild bitterness and mild astringency. The savory flavor drops out and it turns into sweet grass after 6 steeps, remains cooling throughout. Previous reviewer mentioned melon, I could see that. Big hui gan.

Body: huge burst of bright concentrated energy in my neck and upper chest. Mouthfeel is “rounded” throughout. Salivated and continued feeling and tasting this tea for like 2 hours after I finished. Update: have finished several more sessions with this tea, still enjoying it.

I don’t have much experience with Puer as this one of my first three shengs to have tasted so take this review with a grain of salt. I got a 25g sample of this from yunnan sourcing. I found it very lightly smoky and a touch sweet with a note of melon. The first 3 or so steepings were bitter, but not unpleasantly so. Further infusions resulted in a sweeter more mellow taste with a vegetal flavor coming in.