Well, where to start with this one? I brewed up 5 grams in a 100ml gaiwan at 210/off boil. I gave two quick rinses. This tea was pretty compressed and took a few steeps to open up. It was so light in the beginning that there was nothing to even note. About steep 3 or 4 it started to give a little bit. The wet leaf smelled very floral and fruity with some slight tangy sourness in there. The material looks ok but nothing to write home about as it was a bit chopped looking to me bearing in mind this was a sample from W2T and I didnt personally break it off the cake. I feel that 5 grams was definitely not enough for 100ml, at least for me. It was so light that I wasn’t really experiencing the full offering of these leaves. For me this tea was VERY floral. I didn’t get any smokiness at all and the bitterness wasn’t too bad for a young sheng. The bitterness made its appearance around steep 4 and did stay but I was pushing the tea a bit because of how light it was. That is why I think I need to up the leaf to water ratio a bit. Maybe 7-8 grams to 100ml. I don’t think this first review is going to reflect my true opinion of this tea as I need to revisit it with more leaf ammo for the gaiwan. I didn’t really get any fruitiness but very floral throughout. I gave up around steep 10 or so. The smell is great and the taste in smooth and light. I think this one is going to be very good the next time I brew with more leaf. I am hoping to get some of those fruity flavors that are noticeable on the nose of the wet leaf. Definitely will be a good tea with some more age. I think a purchase of the full cake wouldn’t be a bad investment especially at the price point its at.
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I tend to use a bit of extra leaf with this tea as well. At least 6g in a 100ml gaiwan and if I happen to break off a piece that weighs in at 10g grams, I don’t feel bad about throwing the whole thing in there. With my cake I’m down to the center piece which is very tightly compressed and a large pile of loose bits that will probably end up in a blend with other leftovers. So do you have more of the sample left or will you have to buy a cake before you can try it again?
yeah I think more leaf will do the trick. I have about 20 or so grams left. So about 3 sessions left. I really want to get an idea of what it really is like as I am considering buying a cake of it before it goes away. I tried the 2002 white whale and found it needing more leaf as well. I used about 6 or 7 on that one but needs closer to 8. Some light sheng from White2tea. Gotta push it I guess!
10 grams/3oz gong fu works wonders.
Thanks mrmopar. Ill try 10.
I like them strong.
Yeah I like to actually taste the tea! How do you keep the astringency down? Lower temp or shorter steeps?
Short steeps start at 3 secs and water about 205f.
I’m drinking this tea again today and realizing I was low on my numbers. mrmopar is right, turn your 20g into two sessions instead of three and you’ll be good. Keep in mind it will still be a relatively light tea, but enjoyable.
sounds good. thanks matthewjhale.
So I tried this one with 10g in 100ml gaiwan. 205f with short steeps 3-5 sec. Still a bit light on the flavor side and out came the bitterness. The aftertaste is floral and alright. I know it a young sheng. Just not doing it for me really. At least now I know that I will pass on the full cake. Maybe it will be something I would like in a few years but I am a now drinker for the most part. I like a sheng with more hui gan than this one. I’ll keep tasting and searching!
I would let this one age a while.
I tend to use a bit of extra leaf with this tea as well. At least 6g in a 100ml gaiwan and if I happen to break off a piece that weighs in at 10g grams, I don’t feel bad about throwing the whole thing in there. With my cake I’m down to the center piece which is very tightly compressed and a large pile of loose bits that will probably end up in a blend with other leftovers. So do you have more of the sample left or will you have to buy a cake before you can try it again?
yeah I think more leaf will do the trick. I have about 20 or so grams left. So about 3 sessions left. I really want to get an idea of what it really is like as I am considering buying a cake of it before it goes away. I tried the 2002 white whale and found it needing more leaf as well. I used about 6 or 7 on that one but needs closer to 8. Some light sheng from White2tea. Gotta push it I guess!
10 grams/3oz gong fu works wonders.
Thanks mrmopar. Ill try 10.
I like them strong.
Yeah I like to actually taste the tea! How do you keep the astringency down? Lower temp or shorter steeps?
Short steeps start at 3 secs and water about 205f.
I’m drinking this tea again today and realizing I was low on my numbers. mrmopar is right, turn your 20g into two sessions instead of three and you’ll be good. Keep in mind it will still be a relatively light tea, but enjoyable.
sounds good. thanks matthewjhale.
So I tried this one with 10g in 100ml gaiwan. 205f with short steeps 3-5 sec. Still a bit light on the flavor side and out came the bitterness. The aftertaste is floral and alright. I know it a young sheng. Just not doing it for me really. At least now I know that I will pass on the full cake. Maybe it will be something I would like in a few years but I am a now drinker for the most part. I like a sheng with more hui gan than this one. I’ll keep tasting and searching!
I would let this one age a while.