We don't know when or if this item will be available.
“I rinse the tea for 10 seconds, then I smell the gaiwan lid. It smells like pu-erh. I try to go a bit further. Carobs and old wood. First infusion — 15 sec Now the lid smells like warm steam with...” Read full tasting note
“Gongfu! Simply couldn’t resist steeping up some 2020 Modern Witch this October! This shou steeps up so thick and oily with deep notes of rain soaked decaying wood, bitter dark chocolate, earthy...” Read full tasting note
Our 2020 Modern Witch is a small batch shu Puer blend and the return of our sold out 2019 hit.
The return of our ambitious blend of several of our own small batch Puer teas, this blend has been years in the making, from raw material, through fermentation, to aging and blending. A well integrated, full bodied bitterness with a sweet balance and aroma. Drink now or age for a few years to experience these materials coming together.
Each cake is 200 grams of tea.
I rinse the tea for 10 seconds, then I smell the gaiwan lid.
It smells like pu-erh.
I try to go a bit further. Carobs and old wood.
First infusion — 15 sec
Now the lid smells like warm steam with some kind of tea in the background. I also keep smelling the methylated spirit I’m using to boil water with a portable burner.
The tea liquor looks clean enough, there’s some kind of white patina on the top. Smells like a hot desk, taste almost like water. I try again.
Second infusion — 10 sec
This time the soup it’s a bit cloudy and it’s steaming. Also the leaves and the kettle are steaming. The tea tastes like a wooden donut: good on the outside, but essentially empty in the middle.
Third infusion — 10 sec
This time the soup is quite brown. Almost absorbing light. Smells like mysterious warm stuff. This time I can taste the center of the donut: pleasantly sour. Nice. For now this tea it’s more like a brown ghost than a witch. Because it looks thick and real, but slips away silently, leaving a metallic trace, a sour sensation.
I also feel like I’m drinking blood.
Fourth—Fifth infusion — 20-30 sec
Dark sour blood. Looks like blood, tastes like blood. I became aware of some dark chocolate feeling in the background. I’m feeling a bit high.
At this point my mouth is full of astringency. I also need to piss.
After the piss I eat some salt to freshen my mouth. But then I feel salty and stupid. So I eat some sugar to balance the salt. It’s time to go back to the sixth infusion.
Sixth infusion — 45 sec
The gaiwan’s lid smells like wood and… piss? I wonder if it’s my hand smelling like piss but than I smell my hand and it doesn’t smell like piss, Maybe I’ve been thinking too much about piss.
The tea tastes like a jellied blood.
Feels like it’s getting weak, this time I steep longer.
7—8—9 infusions
Not blood anymore. I’m confused, now it tastes like…pu erh. Still a bit of piss though.
Also I steeped for like 2 minutes and it’s still weak. I steep again for like 3-4 minutes. After that I can tell this tea is gone. I liked it.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
I don’t understand this tea but I love it. I’ll never get tired of drinking this stuff.
Flavors: Astringent, Cacao, Cherry Wood, Dark Bittersweet, Metallic, Pleasantly Sour, Round, Smooth, Thick, Wet Wood
Gongfu!
Simply couldn’t resist steeping up some 2020 Modern Witch this October! This shou steeps up so thick and oily with deep notes of rain soaked decaying wood, bitter dark chocolate, earthy beets and potting soil, and a slightly metallic top note. So robust and intense, while still having an ere of comfort – a bit like taking a deep breath of forest air during heavy rain, but warm. Inviting. It’s basically the perfect #shulloween tea, and felt even more witchy and cozy with the rain pouring outside…
Photo: https://www.instagram.com/p/CVIe3brAwoc/
Song Pairing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1cIUGYiP1w&ab_channel=CastleTheater-Topic
