I got a sample of this tea recently as part of a surprise package from the lovely derk, thanks! ❤❤❤
It is my first encounter with Essence of Tea and it turns out amazing. The storage is somewhat reminiscent to Yang Qing Hao, but I find this one interesting overall than the few I’ve sampled from YQH. The character of the tea itself is somewhere between a Bu Lang gushu and a wild, forest overgrown Yi Wu sheng.
The aroma is intoxicating and I find myself sniffing the leaves as well as the empty cha hai continuously during the session. The taste is bitter, sweet and somewhat sour at times with notes of camphor, wood, cocoa nibs, spearmint, and many others. An interesting aspect is the mouthfeel, which is not too heavy, yet quite viscous. At first, it is a bit egg white-like, while later it becomes smooth and bubbly (maybe a bit more like lightly beaten egg whites lol). One is also rewarded with a long-lasting, cooling aftertaste with notes of aromatic wood, spices, and butter, as well as a strong huigan. The cha qi is mind numbing but not overly aggressive.
All in all, EoT’s Baotang is a tea that is fully capable of capturing one’s attention and not letting go easily; today I got 15 infusions before I called it a day.
Song pairing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0oFnjWS4cpU
Flavors: Bitter, Butter, Camphor, Cocoa, Coffee, Medicinal, Pleasantly Sour, Smooth, Spearmint, Spices, Sweet, Wood
I really like this tea.
So glad you enjoyed it, Togo! Wouldn’t have been able to share this if it wasn’t for mrmopar.