This tea was surprise happy mail from dear derk! Thank you!
I steeped this up for breakfast this morning, not really knowing what sort of profile I would find. The leaves were long, black, and twisted, lovely to look at. Would it be smoky, or chocolate-y like a Keemun? Or bready? Mineral?
First sniff had me hit with a wave of nostalgia. Sweet potato! A Southern Season! Golden Mudan? Ah, Yunnan Dian Hong Golden Tip! I have been out for so long!
The tea gives me impression of being light but then fills the mouth with what Graham Kerr called mouth-roundness. The clean, clear light amber/orange tea swirls thick flavors and you can’t help but swirl this one. No straight sipping here, this demands a swish and you deserve it, so go ahead.
With my food, no astringency was noted, though I see it in other notes. I made a second steep when food was gone.
Color is the same, aroma is the same. Now the sweet potato and roundness fill the mouth and after the swallow, there it is. A palate cleansing briskness. This is what keeps you reaching for more – a dryness that craves the full body of a new sip.
Many thanks, derk, and also many thanks to Martin who orchestrated the group buy! What a delightful treat this was today!
edit to add: Did a third steep. Still some sweet potato but now also earth and mineral notes come forward. It almost tastes like one of the last steeps of a fine shu puerh. So earthy.
It was a pleasure to make a group buy. I keep the contact for the vendor, as their website seems to be unavailable right now. I hope (and I think I am not only one), who hopes it is just a temporary problem.
Perhaps they are just waiting to restock!