Tea of the Month Club Reserve – February ’13
In the spirit of experimentation, & in an effort to use up some of the samples I have sitting around, I brewed this Laoshan black & another one that I got in a trade with Invader Zim in 2 separate gaiwans simultaneously. Zim gave me “Mr He’s finest 1st Spring Picking Laoshan Black.” I believe she got it in the Davids choice box, from ’12. SO….
The look: ’12 is a little darker, I think. ’13 is more curled up.
Aroma: Dry, they both share a chocolatey profile.
After steeping they both smelled roasty & chocolatey. ’12 smelled like a dark chocolate pudding. ’13 smelled chocolatey as well, but with a noticeable green bean aroma.
They both received a rinse, with 12 having a sweeter rinse water, & 13 a little beanier.
The first 3 steepings were at 10 sec each, then 1 minute, then 2 minutes. Throughout the steepings, they both tasted great, with 12 having a slightly roastier flavor & depth throughout, & 13 having a slightly vegetal green bean taste (that actually became more of a long bean taste) throughout. They were both sweet, chocolaty, and tasty. 13 had a very creamy texture, like silk soy creamer.
Both were sweet & tasty, although admittedly I probably prefered 12.
