Figured I’d do a comparison tasting with another Lapsang Souchong that Togo so kindly swapped with me. The one I reviewed last night from Tao Tea Leaf was likely old and very different in character, striking me as similar to a Laoshan black but much more muted.
This 2018 harvest from Wuyi Origin has blown me away and further emphasized my adoration for Wuyi hongcha.
There is so much going on in this tea when prepared gongfu. Wild and fragrant dry leaf, penetrating aroma, clear liquor that’s light-bodied, excellently structured and full of flavor, the obvious Wuyi minerality, long layered aftertaste, warming and spicy in throat with a dark returning sweetness while cooling in chest. Good longevity and never misses a beat even with a few oversteeps. Lovely energy. Most importantly, the tea is clean.
Dry leaf smells of molasses, dried sour cherries, a light-colored wood, herbs, lemon, raspberry, forest floor. Warming the leaf brings forth osmanthus, eucalyptus, malt and cherry. The rinsed leaf smells more woody and earthy, though with a deep, dark pungency. Something about these aromas really stimulates my stomach.
In the mouth is an intense perfume and flavors of osmanthus, rose, guava jelly, peach, nectarine, apricot with cream after the swallow. Sweet minerality that cascades over the sides of the tongue and instantly tingles my salivary glands. Other notes include damp foggy forest, eucalyptus, cedar, pine, malt, lemon, baked bread, nuts (notably pecan), butter, dark red chili pepper, camphor, damp and rich forest floor with accompanying florals like violet and iris.
Gaaaaah.
What a treat. I feel indebted to Togo. Fantastic job, Wuyi Origin.
Flavors: Apricot, Bread, Butter, Camphor, Cedar, Cherry, Chili, Cream, Dried Fruit, Eucalyptus, Floral, Flowers, Forest Floor, Fruity, Guava, Herbs, Lemon, Malt, Menthol, Mineral, Molasses, Nuts, Osmanthus, Peach, Pecan, Pine, Rainforest, Raspberry, Rose, Spicy, Tangy, Violet, Wood
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Wanna it now! :D
Wow! That sounds amazing. I’m glad I didn’t read this review on Black Friday. :)
Super nice review my friend!
I’m drinking the 2022 version of this tea that you generously included in my swap box. I’m embarrassed to admit that I already drank and raved about this tea, but put the review under the Trident Cafe. Daylon also sent me this tea under the impression that I hadn’t had it before, though I’d bought it from Wuyi Origin for two years running. Basically, I’ve received this gorgeous Lapsang under false pretenses from two different people—and I’ve appreciated it each time! This ties with What-Cha’s version as my favourite unsmoked Lapsang.
I’ll post a review here so I don’t become an inadvertent Lapsang pirate again. :)
Wanna it now! :D
Wow! That sounds amazing. I’m glad I didn’t read this review on Black Friday. :)
Super nice review my friend!
I’m drinking the 2022 version of this tea that you generously included in my swap box. I’m embarrassed to admit that I already drank and raved about this tea, but put the review under the Trident Cafe. Daylon also sent me this tea under the impression that I hadn’t had it before, though I’d bought it from Wuyi Origin for two years running. Basically, I’ve received this gorgeous Lapsang under false pretenses from two different people—and I’ve appreciated it each time! This ties with What-Cha’s version as my favourite unsmoked Lapsang.
I’ll post a review here so I don’t become an inadvertent Lapsang pirate again. :)