2020 Bei Dou-from the awesome Leafhopper!
I’ve been working through a lot of the teas in the swamp (swap)and I’m down to about 4 of the samples left, going through 2-3 each week. I picked this one after going through a few Taiwanese ones and needed something with lighter caffeine. Smelling the dry leaf, I was enticed by the chocolate nutty notes singed with smooth roast and campfire smells.
Like most teas in the past two weeks, I brewed this one in my Eclipse press. I let it sit around 35 seconds, and pressed the leaves to try to separate it out. Tasting and smelling it each time in several rounds of small cups from the press, it resembled other good Bei Dou and Big Red Robes I’ve had by leaning hard into nutty and nearly chocolaty profiles. I kept on getting cocoa, hazelnut, and a tinge of orange pele and citrus, then leaning back hard into the woody, incense like roast. I was deeply satisfied and grounded with a calming buzz.
The second brew time in the press-even after 20 sec, it was just woody and roasty. I let it sit more. Alas, more charcoal and roast. I finished it quickly and then dumped the leaves out. They smelled like ash, so I think I hit a good stopping point.
The first session was incredible, and it was more mild and complex-the way I like my yancha. As for the second, the ashy-muddled profile was consistent with why I don’t drink them often, and losing the complexity from earlier. I’m still very happy to it.
Flavors: Ash, Campfire, Char, Charcoal, Chocolate, Citrus Zest, Cocoa, Dirt, Earth, Fireplace, Nutty, Orange Zest, Roast Nuts, Smooth
LOL, swamp! I’ve been working through your tea samples as well, and just finished the Fu Shou Shan from Trident. I thought the Bei Dou was nice, with chocolate and dried fruit, though I don’t think I’ve made a note on it.