I have had this tea for some time and have had a chance to spend a lot of time with it. Looking at my email it seems I first tried it on September 29th of 2013 to be exact. Looking at my very first notes on the tea, it appears I was not satisfied in my first session. I was terribly mistaken and must have been half asleep or not used enough leaf because when I tried it again the next week it blew me away. It really stands out in the category of potent, bitter young raw Puerhs made with high quality maocha. The flavor, smells, texture, and body response for the tea really create a personality that I thoughroighly enjoy.
It starts off strong with sweet peach and cotton candy flavors and then fades into an even stronger bitter, burnt coffee flavor that last a long time in the mouth. There is also a delayed bitterness that lasts throughout the second wave of flavor.
The highlights of the tea are the scents that come with the fantastic flavors. Immediately when you wet the laves they smell like candy and fruit that would be almost too sweet. It doesn’t smell like tea. The liquor and scent cup accent all the flavors described above and also radiates a honey/syrup smell when the tea is hot.
I have noticed that after 8 or so months the tea is starting to slowly lose some of the fruity flavors which are being replaced by new cooked peach flavors and drowned out by a growing coffee flavor. Still very similar though. Maybe a 9.3 instead of a 9.5
I highly suggest this tea to anyone that likes their tea very strong and doesn’t mind taking two or three sessions to really pinpoint what you like about it. A little side note: If you enjoy this tea I guarantee you will love Tea Urchin’s teas made with high mountain maocha and Miles’ Birthday Blend.
Flavors: Bitter, Burnt Sugar, Coffee, Cotton Candy, Dark Chocolate, Peach, Raisins
