2018 Yunnan Sourcing "Guardian" Blended Raw Pu-erh Tea Cake

Date drunk: 6 Feb 2023

It’s funny how “letting go” of expectations can sometimes allow you to see the best in something. I’d made up my mind to finish off this sample as a daily drinker, and decided to just brew it casually on a fast-paced work morning – 4g in a partially-filled 140ml Yixing pot, at 100˚C (instead of my usual 90-95˚C for shengs). 1st infusion tasted a bit astringent and overbrewed when hot, but was decent when cooled down. I combined 2nd and 3rd infusions into the same cup to drink while working. Wow the liquor tastes so nice and light, breezy, yet still flavourful… puts me in mind of green mango / green papaya, and springtime. I should brew shengs in this manner more often :)

To me this tea (at this stage) is mellow and smooth, fruity grounded with astringency and a bit of spice, but still not mind-blowing. Now I get a bit more of the hype around this cake, but as it would be used as a daily drinker for me, I still can’t justify paying USD 92 for 357g of this.

Rating: 70

Gongfu Sipdown (1636)!

Just starting a session with this sheng; it’s my first tea session in a couple days since I was feeling a little bit out of it. I wanted to drink something new, so I’m trying this tea sample that I received from Togo a little while back. The complex and almost waxy red fruit aroma of the dry leaf is what attracted me to the sample initially, though it’s tasting fairly different from that now that I’m a few steeps in. Just more upfront grassy bitterness and astringency than anticipated, but after that the body settles into a bit more of a pleasant orchard fruit flavour. Lots of floral pear and almost a classically sweet red apple note. Quince, maybe? There’s a little something smoky hiding in there, but I’m digging it with the orchard fruit notes!

Tea Photos: https://www.instagram.com/p/CcbAcyguvCO/

Song Pairing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-m4Bv20VTd8&ab_channel=StolenNova

This sheng continues its journey and by now produces a distinctly orange-coloured liqour. In its taste, there is still some grassiness, but fairly subdued. Today I noted a more nutty profile with mild fermentation tartness, pepperiness (like rocket) as well as notes of oregano, pear, walnuts and grass seeds. Its aftertaste is nicely warming, which is interesting to see in a young tea like this one.