2019 Gold 8

Gongfu!

I’m spending the weekend completely indoors, which honestly isn’t too far out of my normal weekend routine – thankfully it’s very sunny out and there’s a really beautiful breeze – so I’ve had my window opened fully and am trying to relax as much as possible. I have a tendency to get paranoid, especially when I’m not sleeping well – which has been the case the last week and a bit…

This was very good though – exactly what I needed this afternoon. Not overly bitter – but definitely still a little bit. The tea is balanced with sweet undertones of cane sugar & freshly made fruit salad, as well as a lingering sweetness in the back of the mouth & throat!! Liquor is very round, and slightly syrupy. Good tea, nice for something with interesting contrast between bitter + sweet and lovely huigan, but simple and pleasant flavour.

Photos: https://www.instagram.com/p/B9xEFSMgY6s/

Song Pairing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNWwgU7zyOc

Dry Leaf aroma – Copenhagen, Nicotine, Menthol, and Pepper

Aroma – Celery seed/Old Bay/Green
1st steep – Hits you right up front with the bitterness. Green. Green banana peel. Tongue drying. Coats tongue and mouth. Body of the tea is heavy, and thick… The bitterness continues, even between steeps.

2nd – Bitterness advancing still… green watermelon skin, and rhine. Still thick, and mouth coating. Vibrant, and unrefined. Green, yellow, bitterness. Raw Acorns. Brews a hazy gold/yellow. pepperoncini bite, and bitterness.

3rd – Energy from the tea making itself present. Oregano, woody, thyme. Herbal flavors. Bitter herb. Acorns still. Some bay leaf. A big tea. Still very thick.

4th – Flash of old bay, and bitterness clings to your mouth. I feel like the first sip is still hanging around as far as bitterness goes. This thing is not giving up. Its very focused, straight assault of bitterness. Raw acorns. Drying, and relentless in its mission. The air seems to move the bitterness around your mouth, as you breathe. The body is still heavy, and bracing. The tea is demanding your attention. It is not a casual drinker.

5th – The bitterness has not let up in the slightest. Constant lingering bitterness. A visceral experience. Flattening out as far as nuance flavors are going away, NOT the bitterness, or it is just palate wrecking. Either way, its narrowing in its spectrum of flavors. The tea is getting to my head.

All in all. What a trip. I got owned by this tea. This is not for the faint. I mean that with great regard for the tea, I feel like this is a young buck, and may have a lot o offer in the future. This is a potent, rich, energizing tea. As of right now, no way a casual drinker. I’ve enjoyed it, I think mostly as a new experience in tea. If this was how all the teas were it would be exhausting, and cloying. Like eating too much fudge, over- indulging in something too sweet or too savory you need a break. With this it never does it is relentless. I’m throwing in the towel…

Join me for this tea session https://www.twitch.tv/videos/457066315