This is a well aged pu-erh, and probably my favourite “Ye Sheng” one I’ve had to date. It is very smooth, sweet and woody, with a mild vegetal undertones attesting to its wild origin. As Scott’s description mentions, it almost completely lacks the mouth-puckering bitterness of young examples of this varietal, even though there is still some astringency enhancing the mouthfeel.
The aromas are mostly reminiscent of forest and dry earth. There are, however, some unique notes of garlic, black grapes, and fir wood as well. In terms of specific flavours, I detected menthol, rock sugar, ash, orange, and honey; followed by a spicy aftertaste with rapeseed and conifer like notes. I also really like the mouthfeel, which is active and mouth-watering, with a sort of buttery texture to the liquor.
Flavors: Ash, Astringent, Earth, Fir, Forest Floor, Grapes, Honey, Menthol, Mineral, Nutty, Orange, Smooth, Spicy, Sugar, Sweet, Vegetables, Vegetal, Wood
