72 Tasting Notes
Thick creamy viscous with a strong steaming vegetable character and a hint musk melon. In comparison with the Bi Luo Chun this guy doesn’t tend to fall into bitterness that easy. This whole vegetable basket steaming intensely within a nice fusion of zucchini, edamame and avocado while it covers every inch of your senses and inner mouth section with a fine coat of this elegant impression. But beside that it is going the left you behind mouth watering, craving for more while this whole coating more and more transforms into some kind of sweetness and a bit different vegetable profile of green sweet peppers and also naturally sweet corn. This Green fellow really is a sensation of its own and left quite the impression. Another aspect I really enjoyed was the salty ocean case – in this very case it created a feeling of a fine breeze whistling which brought an experience near my senses of standing on an open view ocean scene while the wind carries this fine sea salty scent through the air and my senses. A really lovely aspect.
I love this typical Sun Moon Lake aroma of fresh harvested tomatoes with all the intense bouquet of the green twigs of those fresh juicy red vegetables. The whole aspect of this symphony really reminds me of a freshly made tomato basil sugo with a breeze of oregano.
The actual taste is quite sugary sweet with a cherry candy main accent plus a fine little subtle salty sea breeze cherry blossom composition. There is also something very herbal going on which reminds me a bit of a nice mixture of eucalyptus and the herbal origin called marshmallow (not the campfire sugary ones). Within its echo there is also a hint of citrus noticeable like if the black tea was gently infused with a touch of fresh lemon. Very enjoyable great composed black tea with a lot of constant sweetness to it!
From the start it shows a very thick, deep creamy texture plus a sweet brown sugary liquor.You feel an instant tingling within your whole front teeth.Taste and scent-wise there is a nice wet storage basement stony moss composition to it.Between its mouth watering woodsy Autumn notes there is also a mysterious bouquet of something fruity sweet noticeable.
Imagine a little story with this aged fellow like a spiritual pilgrimage through a deep from rain soaked Autumn wood.While you literally can taste and feel the fresh rain dripping down from those reddish brown colored treetops.You can hear wood cracking near and far and feel a fine breeze of wind cooling your cheeks.Along your way of withering with mushrooms covered wood, moss, fresh springs and fallen leaves you finally find shelter inside an abandoned old wooden temple before the rain started pouring down with all its natural power.While listening to the sound of the rain playing its mystical music on top of the roof you can smell the old wood of this temple getting soaked up.You might also discover an old library filled with ancient parchments and scrips.This was quite the image I got.
Now let’s get back to the fruity aspect. The first thing that came into my mind was a gentle tiny hint of an old ripe pickled cherry note within a fusion of pear skin.The major sweetness of this aged sheng definitely shines through its dark sugary aspects.There is also a subtle vegetable note of a tomato nuance but more of green salad especially red chard plus a nice fresh taste of whole grain bread.Talking about the tart aspect it reminds me also a tiny bit of grapefruit.Imagine it all as a nice fusion where all those aspects complement each other and bring a unique united flavor to its perfection.Definitely a very inspirational and relaxing long lasting Pu!
The first view associations which came into my mind were very wet stony & medicinal TCM.The aroma in its dry stage is totally different as from the actual wet leaves.At first the scent is strong in its wet HK storage with all the funky moldy basement aspects but then those wet leaves oh my god they scent like pu heaven.This Sheng is packed with so many breath taking moments.This unbelievable pleasant medicinal scent are following delicious layers of eucalyptus and licorice.It really reminds me a bit of a perfectly balanced Shou with all its dark aspects.
Taste and bouquet-wise those two go more or less hand in hand.It comes all together the fallen leave basement stoniness, the TCM herbal medicine and those lovely eucalyptus & licorice nuances plus new fine spicy hints of caraway and anise.The liquor is very creamy and thick with a certain ripe fruity sweetness to it like over ripened pears with a thick skin.This is a very relaxing tea and also cooling with a nice tingling in your front cheek section – the same with the tongue.It’s not like the body actual feels chilled more like the brain.With the sweetness comes a very subtle hint of raisins and figs but just like a fast fading breeze.This Pu got such a unique natural sweetness to it like if the tea was cooked with dried dates inside the water.This wet storage aspect with the hint of those ripe pear skin stays quite persistently long within your mouth.
The actual thickness and this medicinal sweet liquor isn’t changing that much while it stays strong and full bodied for a very long time with all it’s diversity complex flavors and bouquet.A perfect example of a well aged & masterfully composed Sheng a la HK style without an unpleasant wet storage note to it.
This lovely late afternoon sun scenery really made this special tea even more special. If we talk about raw Sheng Naka is one of my favorites. This freshly sweet, highly floral and unbelievable delicate Pu is a fellow with massive strength, long durability and just masterfully composed. With all its components it is very well balanced with a lot to go starting with camomile followed by beeswax plus cherry blossoms finished with a hint of peach skin and pears. One of the major aspects is corn especially corn syrup. This is a very rich tea with a great viscosity. Within the aftertaste you might also discover a very sweet aspect of raspberry and blue berry gums. This is far from being a relaxing fellow – highly vitalizing!
Aroma: Old red wine barrels, cork, yogurt, old woodsy furniture, fine delicate cranberry smoked ham and camphor – Very magically sourly mouth watering. A hint of dark chocolate.
Taste: This is exactly the type of aged Sheng I prefer. Strong and with an in your face profile. Gosh how much I love this aged fellow with all its deep flavors. I am really so so sad that this Pu is gone for ever. Without exaggerating this was and is by far the best and most loved aged Sheng I tasted so far (plus the Green Mark @thetea.pl). This fellow offers the most unique and deepest thick profile of strong flavors I ever experienced and I loved it to the bits. Very strong expressional woodsy Autumn flavors with a major tone of camphor and a creamy silky sweetness to it which shares its space and place with a deliciously sourly layer. Within the smooth texture there is a certain fury mouth feel to it. The major aspects always keeps their focus on the woodsy camphor old library parts but within the finish there is not only something like baked apple noticeable but also another sweet layer of blueberry muffins. Really delicious and so so GREAT! But also look at the coloration it turned from bright yellow into a juicy deep red ~ lovely! Sooner or later everything transforms into a Chinese TCM medicinal herbal atmosphere plus those woodsy camphor notes. I love this Sheng so much!
Aroma: Nice well balanced thick smoky atmosphere with a very delicious old red wine barrel woodsy scent plus this aged fine sourly note to it. First starting with a strong mix of charcoal and major notes of dried figs and a hint of raisins – Then intensely sweet like a fine thick handmade strawberry raspberry jam.
Taste: Unbelievably tasty! Such a well composed and with care and knowledge created profile – just amazing! Very sweet nutty like hazelnut creme plus a fine hint of chocolate. Sweet like thick sweet strawberry lemon syrup and cherry candies. You might also discover some kind of a fresh baked bread structure like a dark walnut bread. Within the later unfolding of those sweeter aspects it also shows a licorice touch to it. The roasted level is medium – very well balanced and placed like if it’s melting perfectly together with all those other mouth watering aspects. With the second steep those beery gum / jam aspects gaining more and more within their importance ~ Strawberry jam with a hint of bourbon vanilla. Later onward this fellow tend more and more into the confectionary bakery direction with sweet dark sugary note, sweet baked bread, vanilla bourbon nuances and a hint of caramel plus very creamy nutty again like hazelnut cream. Those berry aspect are the strongest within the second steeping. This fellow got a lot of strength and isn’t losing much for many infusions. A very warming chilling tea. Somehow it really sets you a view months into the future and gives you the cozy warming feel of Winter and Christmas
Already within its steaming presence this fresh raw wanders through such a beautiful and deliciously alteration from one steep to the next. First its bouquet really hits the sweet aspects with all its juiciness and mouth watering effects starting with pickled peaches and a fine subtle hint of mango and pineapple as a following fruity construct. Be
side that a fine nutty layer hint-wise noticeable within subtle pumpkinseed nuances but also a bit of almond. After the second steeping this whole fella transforms immediately into a Japanese for some periods dark shaded mate called Kabusecha. This exhales a very deep dark green bouquet of steamed green tea, with Umami and a hint of nutty notes and oceanic accents!
Jumping onto the taste wagon the actual profile again is a bit different. Right from the start till the end of the echo an overall corn syrup silky sweetness is omnipresent but mostly as a short guest within the first infusion after that only slightly noticeable. Beside that this raw Sheng is one of the first with a bit more power on the bitter side as some of the others tended to be. A good sign for aging it well over time! This bitterness comes with a quite new tasting profile of clove very distinct! Especially within the second infusion it builds up a quite thick fury feel especially at the sides of your tongue, teeth and lower parts of the cheeks (inside). Another aspect which is quite fascinating is its constant mouth watering process even after the last sip is long taken! The echo of all those fading and new transforming nuances are always in constant movement and there seems to be no early end to “My mouth is watering” :D – oh and by the way this young lad is quite a warming buddy!
But this young Sheng more shines because of its unique developments and impact on your body as for its strong flavors. There are some good and already mentioned highlights when it comes to its actual taste but they turn out to be a bit weaker as some others did within the Lincang sampler! So it depends – if you are a worshiper of deep dense tasting profiles then this might not be your cup of tea but if you enjoy unique experiences and something quite different then you hit the right Pu!
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This is a raw fresh Sheng I immediately felt in love with! Already the scent which conquers your whole scenting experience within a blink of an eye contains such a fresh, cold high mountain atmosphere. I can literally feel the mist covering those mountains within the first morning hours while you breath in this fresh and slightly soaked wet air af
ter a rainy night. The balance of the actual taste is simple said “Breath taking” – it is so well composed with such a distinct floral and fruity sweet atmosphere plus a lovely touch of a beeswax & honey note to it but different as I am normally used to (in a good way). Because most of the time those raw Shengs are quite similar within their typical nuances – what I mean is “Honey and Beeswax” so far it is noticeable it unfolds in most of the cases in a similar profile but not this guy. And again you can literally taste those mountains, all its environment from the soil, to the rocks and minerals, the fresh springs and plants surrounding that area. I love it! Definitely gonna buy the whole cake soon!
I am really so amazed about this Lincang sample sets as I am also with this one here. Normally very fresh raw Shengs tend to be very aggressive on the stomach and with a fast bitterness showing up but none of them. All of them and also this fellow here are creamy, sweet, floral, warming and with nearly none bitterness to it (at least if you do not
steep it for 1-2 minutes) ;) – Especially the perfection of those nearly full preserved leaves within this Da Hu Sai are just beautiful and a sensation of its own. The scent of it is very much vegetable like with a spicy peppery aspect to it and a sweet vanilla undertone plus a very subtle floral layer of osmanthus.
Taste-wise it creates its own unique sensation with a very lingering aftertaste which is by the way the strongest part within this act. There is so much sweetness stimulating every aspect from scenting, tasting even to seeing pictures inside your head popping up and showing you fragments of your childhood memories. In my case bakery and Christmas. Like I mentioned the major strong aspect is for sure the aftertaste but this aspects last long – soooo long and even within this phase it is constantly changing. Everything starts with a fruity cocktail of very ripe sweet kiwi with a mix of non sour nectarines and peaches plus a final finish of a touch of honey melon. This construction develops very fast into something confectionery sweet like vanilla crescents but also creamy vanilla ice cream with a subtle tiny hint of strawberry to it.
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