I did not want to create another sparsely reviewed harvest entry, but for those who are interested it was the 2020 harvest.
Camellia Taliensis is not tea, but it is closely related to the all-to-familiar Camellia Sinensis. It grows in Yunnan and its leaves are still collected and processed to produce tea.
It is a very niche type of “tea” and the reason for it became clear as I was drinking it. The strongest point of Jinggu Camellia Taliensis is that when brewed it smells heavenly of rose and other flowers. The aroma is intense and builds the anticipation that never delivers: the dark tea soup tastes of vague, undifferentiated floral sweetness. It sorely lacks any harder backbone of malt, tannins or anything else. Very, very muted and underwhelming. I actually have trouble finishing my 50g bag as I never in the mood for what this tea delivers.
I still scored this tea in the 80s, but this is purely for its aroma.
Very interesting! Sorry it didn’t deliver for you.