2015 Bosch

8 grams in 100-125ml, the higher amount of liquid as the leaves expanded. Brewed on the boil for one rinse, then at 208F for the duration. Tea opens bitter and astringent with some char in the gaiwan, typical sheng profile until steep 6 or so when the bitterness departs and the spicier notes emerge. I notice heat and fullness in my belly long after drinking this tea, almost tricks me into thinking I’m getting a tummy ache but that isn’t the case.

This tea is extremely warming in the gut, and as I’m not a gut person I have to mentally remind myself this is a tea sensation and nothing more. It is a tea to drink with the body more than anything else. Surprisingly cooling in the throat though. Again, a mix of experiences and flavors.

I got tea stoned in my face and sweaty in the pores of my hair on those first six steeps.

Very complex and changing throughout the session. Definitely a cake for a collector looking for a new experience. I have a feeling the experience will vary for everyone. Still steeping this out at 16 steeps now.

The Tea Filth version of this review is on my blog http://deathbytea.blogspot.com.

Had this one with a friend last week, been meaning to get around to posting a review, and, well, the qi is strong with this one. Seriously. At around 4 or 5 steepings in I started to feel like I was on drugs. This cake is clearly from Lincang- it is thick and bitter, but strangely balanced for being as strong as it is, with a granary-sweetness and the familiar pungent stank that I associate with the region. If I had to name its flavors, I’d say it tends towards the floral and herbaceous side of things, but that being said its pretty hard to pin down… While this cake is well out of my current price-range for a 200g baby-cake, I’m glad I had the opportunity to sample it and experience a tier of tea that I hadn’t had. I mean, goddamn, I could still taste and feel this tea more than an hour after the session.

7 grams in a 100ml yixing. Quick rinse and then a couple minutes for the tea to open up. First steep was a touch light but I knew that this was going to be a good one right away. Good sweet and savory flavors with just enough bitterness to balance it out. Extremely thick mouthfeel, rich and oily in the best way. Possibly the thickest of any puerh to date for me. Mouth and tongue were coated throughout the session. Later on a bit of astringency creeps in which once again gives good balance to the richness of the tea. Leaves you salivating and wanting more. Some throat feel in later steeps but not a whole lot for me at least. Lost count of how many steeps (not that I generally keep track) but I’d say around 10ish and the tea has at least a few more to go. Left the session feeling great, calm and relaxed. Any tension I had in my neck and upper back just seemed to melt away. Definitely recommend trying at least a sample of this if you are a fan of White2tea’s offerings or puerh in general

Just a short side note. This based on a single tasting and with tea that had just received less than 8 hours before drinking it. I’ve been finding that most if not all of the teas I’ve been drinking have improved after settling into their new home. Usually I’d wait but my patients is little to none for something I’ve been excited to try.