25 Tasting Notes

100

Can’t remember why I picked this specific one from others from same farmer. Probably a wrapper. Their design was kind of similar to all mr. Xie offerings, so probably the way name sounded as well was a factor. Nearly sure it was the only tea from that specific sub-area. I am less into taste and more into body feel. That was oily and perfect for alkaline acidity balance. Meaning I could eat any junk food and this piece of marvel would sort everything out. I had to go away for like 10 days without it and my gut flora was still holding that layer. I tried other teas from this farmer, not the same. The only unique thing I stumbled while randomly attacking Google with my queries was they found fossils of magnolia there. Apparently it is ancestor of tea and one of those plants that had different way of propagating since prehistoric times. So it is a kind of dinosaur of plants. But I gave away half of it, can’t remember exactly why, probably got heavier into heichas and saw opportunity to shift to someone who just started switching from cancerogenic medication to humble tea. But anytime I see word “wen” in a name of tea, I always check in case there is some intuitive lead being presented to me by the universe.

Preparation
Boiling 8 min or more 1 tsp 17 OZ / 500 ML

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91

Expected a bit more punch and creativity but got traded for really mild taste and slumber. Needs more leaves to achieve taste than most but price point makes it a good deal. Unlike others, doesn’t need to be boiled from cold at ultra light heat for 45 mins. Below average mirror lined thermos, made in India, from IKEA is sufficient to brew properly. Kills food cravings, sends to bed if accompanied with two cans of Irish stout beer. Wonder if mixing it with young raw puerh would give it a bit of tanginess and/ or caffeine kick. Although proximity to Vietnam is mentioned as a source, a totally different experience from so called border version. Curious how Malaysian storage would factor in here. Definitely in its own category.

Preparation
Boiling 8 min or more 1 tsp 17 OZ / 500 ML

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100

It is very mild, not viscous like hua zhuan or sandy as hei zhuan. Maybe closer to qian liang but feels more complex and subtle at the same time. Actually reminds me single origin ropes but really aged, maybe like in Singapore. It is as different from any heicha I had as Macau to Borneo storage for liubao. It has weird contrast between how unoily it is and the warmth it sending from stomach to lungs. I went thru half of 350g pack of raclette cheese meant for cooking while drinking liabaos and files for last few hours this morning. Now this one halted this madness. So good for not munching. Can I drinkmit at work ? I mean, is it a day tranquilizer. If so, I can value volume 5 times from aged liubao. Maybe this is the future of post-pandemic investment. Now will have to monitor my dreams. Will I wake up on different planet ? I am getting tired of waiting for mother ship to take from this planet anyway. Maybe it’s a shortcut. Chawangshop is your place to go for pressed tickets to inter dimensional travel. One way for me please.

Preparation
Boiling 8 min or more 5 g 7 OZ / 200 ML

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95

I could have added profile picture from their website. But maybe someone else wants to do it with actually how it looks in a bag. Not much of a drinking note, more what goes thru my mind while drinking it. Got a free huaning cup so experimenting with that. Not sure if should get matching gaiwan, Japanese style. It is close to traditional style of liubao. Looked at nixing teapots, not sure how to combine by brutalist thermos brewing with aesthetics of teapot. I mean, it should at least look like something I want to hold in hand. I was just thought if I was on a yacht, what kind of clay would be best to absorb sea air. What kind of tea I would like to have after drinking craft beer the night before, while sitting at a terrace looking out on a beach, waiting for omelets to be ready. Maybe get eggs from seagulls. Maybe catch a crab. Maybe put a seaweed into my thermos. Thank god I am not in position to make any of these life defining decisions. One observation. I recall reading about yak butter tea that it was custom to fill it up to the drink and refill after few sips. I do it with most teas. This one, no. As if it needs to be cooled and drank from the bottom. I guess that’s normal. My issue with anything but porcelain/ glass that I can’t see colour of the brew. This one is beautiful in a yellowish speckled cup.

Preparation
Boiling 8 min or more 4 g 27 OZ / 800 ML

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96

I do try lots of teas and my taste shifts with cravings for other consumables. So this is not strictly a review rather than my observation as why I was drawn to it and why it is worth considering as a sample. I am very messy person and even grandpa brewing leaves collateral damage. I am still amazed that I have no insects nesting on my floor considering layers of stems and dried berry stones covering it. So my only way to brew is mirror lined thermos. I did try clay lined thermos but to no avail. The only other way I try to brew tea is boiling them from cold which works for qian liang and liu bao. I progressed from oolongs to raws and onto liubao. So any other buys are incidental. But this one is something. It smells like oolong but brews like raw. The taste reminds me of white chenpi. I know you are disappointed with the depth of lame detail. I just think it will appeal to anyone into stoney greens or light oolongs. Not sure about body feel because I am buzzing from blackthorn that was boiled in fu brick. Another tea that comes to mind is Hainan green. Anyway, it’s subtle and unique as expected from vendors description. Just recalled years ago I was into golden key oolong but this one has flowerer aftertaste. The good thing it doesn’t make me sleepy or hungry and in fact has subtle chelation effect as if you chewed dried dogwood berries. I thought Tahiti was on my bucket list but even in good flat earth times it was more than 24 hours flights. I think this just changed to the teahouse I got it from. They are very generous with samples from their private stashes, the ones that are not on sale but something that is a treat for guest. Now I am thinking about adding few tea leaves to jam jar for soaking. It means I have to reboil the tea and see what other rogue ideas are being broadcast in the aether.

Preparation
Boiling 8 min or more 5 g 14 OZ / 400 ML

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