391 Tasting Notes

82

Spicy, malty, fruity. Beautiful little packages. I prefer to lean a little lighter and less spicy where rose is concerned, but these have a black (tea) heartiness to them that is quite satisfying. Seems like a good autumn/winter companion.

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80

Smooth and rather nondescript. I don’t get molasses, though it’s a pleasant cuppa. This is a shou I would be tempted to add herbs or flowers to, as I think it would make a nice canvas for other flavors to play on.

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I’m not sure I concur with LP’s “burly” assessment, but I concede it could be my present mind/body/surround-state. I will save the rest for further-future visits. For now, it is a bit smoky and I do enjoy what I’m getting from it. I wouldn’t necessarily call it bitter or sweet, but there is a lot to find here and I can at least generically say it’s good. I do wish it had a bit more longevity, but eh.

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60

A less-forgiving sticky rice shu than some. Started with a light umami/fishy quality off the long rinse, which — combined with the sticky rice notes — I actually kind of enjoyed. Reminded me a little of inari. The tuo broke down really fast into crumbs, though, and the next couple flash steeps were papery-bitter. By that time, the sweet sticky rice fragrance had substantially faded. This tea outruns itself in the gong fu setting; I’ll try it western next time.

Flavors: Bitter, Fishy, Paper, Sticky Rice, Umami

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I enjoy a Cang’er. Smoke, pine, apricot. This one is still settling from a month of travel, but I was impatient. No rating yet.

Flavors: Apricot, Pine, Smoke

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60

Lots of dust, lots of tannins, lots of acid. Not impressed with most of these TR teas, sadly.

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