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drank Old Master Baozhong by Mountain Stream Teas
1679 tasting notes

As a learning experience, I wanted to compare Old Master Baozhong, a spring harvest, to a different company’s winter (November) harvest that I drank yesterday. Unfortunately, I screwed up with this tea and ended up overbrewing the sixth steep by about 5 minutes while I was rushing around getting ready to head out for a game of tennis. And while it was still a fine steep, I decided to end the session. I’m kind of bummed I didn’t get to play this session out in a respectable fashion.

That said. Gone gaiwan, 6g, 150mL, 185-195F, flash rinse/10/12/15/20/25s/:(

Dry leaf looks very much hand-processed and is a mix of shapes with shades of green and some yellowish leaf. The scent is intoxicating, heavy with sweet pea floral, vanilla custard and violet. The flavors were strongest in the first 2 steeps with golden delicious apple, bartlett pear, sweet lemon, mineral, floral sweet pea, cream, custard, white peach, was that pineapple?!?, lilac, vegetal sweet pea, raw green bean, spinach. The liquor was a light yellow-green, very smooth but drying and slightly numbing on my tastebuds. Aroma was lilac, custard, peach and spinach. Persistent floral and fruity aftertaste.

Third through fifth steeps lightened in aroma, taste and texture and the liquor darkened into a yellow-gold. In addition to the above flavors, the apple pushed forward, then moved into a strong peach/apricot/mango/nectarine and the fifth steep had an addition of wet green hay with a very strong white peach aftertaste. The mouthfeel almost became distractingly drying so I played around with temperatures in these steeps but that didn’t change anything. The sixth steep at 5+ minutes was not a wash but I decided to end the session there as I didn’t think there would be anything left to give. Spent leaf was lined with red along its serrated edges and had some more oxidation on the petioles.

For what this tea was missing in depth and richness in comparison to yesterday’s winter harvest, it produced a wonderful crispness, clearness in taste and a very pronounced peach aftertaste that could easily make this tea a daily-drinker. They’re different and respectable teas in their own rights. I have 4 grams left so I’ll try MST’s recommended brewing parameters for gong fu and rate it after that.

I think I’m falling for baozhong.
Preparation
6 g 5 OZ / 150 ML
1 comment
Mastress Alita 7 years ago

Baozhong is totally worth falling for. <3

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Comments

Mastress Alita 7 years ago

Baozhong is totally worth falling for. <3

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This place, like the rest of the internet, is dead and overrun with bots. Yet I persist.

Eventual tea farmer. If you are a tea grower, want to grow your own plants or are simply curious, please follow me so we can chat.

I most enjoy loose-leaf, unflavored teas and tisanes. Teabags have their place. Some of my favorite teas have a profound effect on mind and body rather than having a specific flavor profile.

Favorite teas generally come from China (all provinces), Taiwan, India (Nilgiri and Manipur). Frequently enjoyed though less sipped are teas from Georgia, Japan, and Nepal. While I’m not actively on the hunt, a goal of mine is to try tea from every country that makes it available to the North American market. This is to gain a vague understanding of how Camellia sinensis performs in different climates. I realize that borders are arbitrary and some countries are huge with many climates and tea-growing regions.

I’m convinced European countries make the best herbal teas.

Personal Rating Scale:

100-90: A tea I can lose myself into. Something about it makes me slow down and appreciate not only the tea but all of life or a moment in time. If it’s a bagged or herbal tea, it’s of standout quality in comparison to similar items.

89-80: Fits my profile well enough to buy again.

79-70: Not a preferred tea. I might buy more or try a different harvest. Would gladly have a cup if offered.

69-60: Not necessarily a bad tea but one that I won’t buy again. Would have a cup if offered.

59-1: Lacking several elements, strangely clunky, possesses off flavor/aroma/texture or something about it makes me not want to finish.

Unrated: Haven’t made up my mind or some other reason. If it’s puerh, I likely think it needs more age.

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Sonoma County, California, USA

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