91

On the whole, Mengku Huang Shan is just like I remember it – pungent, thick and cooling. If anything, it has even more pronounced bitterness. However, it is clearly undergoing a transition. The taste is a mixed bag with fewer notes that would stick out. The soup is a bit cloudy initially with orange colour and dark green hints.

In the aroma, I can see the biggest departure, the dominant scents are now in the realm of persimmon, hot hay, compost, and forest. The rinse has a character that’s quite reminiscent of earlier sessions – it is fruity, grass, tart, and cooling. However, already in the first infusion the profile is more like a blend of hazelnut, forest, pine wood, thyme. It is bitter too, but not as much as the subsequent ones. Aftertaste has a strong umami and a touch of tangerine to it.

Bulk of the session then steers towards a bitter, vegetal (but not very green) profile with substantial astringency, nice minerality and a deep but mild tobacco sweetness.

Flavors: Astringent, Bitter, Compost, Forest Floor, Fruity, Grass, Hazelnut, Hot Hay, Mineral, Pine, Tangerine, Tart, Thyme, Tobacco, Umami, Vegetal, Wood

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 0 min, 15 sec 7 g 3 OZ / 100 ML

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

People who liked this

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

Profile

Bio

Hi, I am a researcher in math, physics and computer science. Apart from teas and mathematics, I enjoy sports and traveling, as well as music of all kinds. Connect at https://rateyourmusic.com/~Togo

I had been drinking Japanese green tea for a while before discovering the world of tea in 2017. I rarely drink blends and generally avoid artificially scented teas. Other than that I try to keep it varied.

My rating description:
100 _ Unforgettable tea, an experience that changes your life.
90 – 100 _ Excellent tea.
80 – 90 _ Very enjoyable, I will buy again.
70 – 80 _ I enjoyed it, but I most likely won’t be buying it again.
60 – 70 _ Decent.
50 – 60 _ Average, forgettable.
40 – 50 _ I didn’t really like the tea, but it is drinkable.
0 – 40 _ I would prefer to avoid the tea.

Location

Innsbruck, Austria

Following These People

Moderator Tools

Mark as Spammer