Charles Thomas Draper

I am making up for my silence yesterday. Today is an overcast indoor day. I will drink tea. And a lot of it. Another sample from Butiki. I am brewing this in the Gaiwan for the suggested 1 minute. This tea already has sent an energy through my body that is otherworldy. I feel like I could do anything. So much for staying at home. This tea makes you want to do something. Anything. The flavor and aroma are rich and very intoxicating. In The Hero’s Journey by Joseph Campbell, Roger Guillemen states: " But yet, if you study psychedelic experiances, you also have to consider green tea, which is loaded with caffeine or molecules like caffeine. And it’s very well known that this has a profound influence on the function of some people." This tea does provide a profound influence on me. Superb….

I cannot fathom how many times I have steeped the same leaves from my last tasting note. This tea has gone on for what seems like an eternity. As I am nearing what I feel to be the end of a 2 day love affair I have to say the flavor I am getting now is vanilla. Fine vanilla with cream. Possible? I guess anything is….

I have to admit I only received a small sample so I will do the best I can to give a decent analysis. I went by Butikis instructions. I do not know if the water was exactly 160. I think it’s time to invest in a thermometer. I assumed the 3 to 5 minute steep would be appropriate. I let it go for maybe 5 minutes. The first second or two into the steep the liquor was a slight purple but soon became more amber. The end result was a delicious brew. I am not doing cartwheels but lets just say it’s something totally different and refreshing. In order to make a better review I would definitely need more tea to play with. This tea is to me a curiosity. After the first cup I am feeling very good. Even in what i would consider to be a weak amount of tea. So for cup 2 I am going to do as Mr. Norman does and boiling the ever loving you know what out of it. It’s now very light and not as enjoyable as the 1st. I know this is fine tea. The moral of this tale is to have ample leaf….

I am loving this gorgeous Sheng again today. My sample bag says it’s a 2001. David ? This tea seems to be alive. When you sip it breathes this complex and bold vaporous glow of tea delight. I am getting a menthol sensation. I am so glad I discovered Steepster. This little world we have has led me to without a doubt the finest teas I have ever had in my life. David do you need a Northeast Representative?

After reading all of the tasting notes and seeing that there is a some who love and some who don’t care for it. I love it. I brewed in the yixing for maybe a minute and poured a touch out to smell and see the color. It was ready. The aroma is intoxicating and the flavor is a knockout. I too must admit was put off by some of the reviews. I am getting the corn obviously but with a much more complex profile. It is a lighter Shu that’s for sure. Totally unique. I will say it again, I love it….

Ok. While I am on a Sheng roll. I received this today in the mail. I had already brewed the Asha ’08 Jing Mai and loved it. I know patience is a virtue. I had to try it. I followed the instructions and I have to admit their a bit light for my tastes. So I decided to to let it steep much longer. The liquor is pure and clear. Dare I say that this tasted somewhat fruity? This Sheng is like no other that I have had. I definitely have to do another tasting and not after another Shu or any other tea for that matter. I will up the dosage and the steep time in the Yixing. I will rate this because I feel it has a world of potential. I loved it even though i could not immerse myself in the ritual and give it my undivided attention. Lu Yu said that purple tea is the best of all. I respect and honor his humble opinion.

I am starting to appreciate the Sheng Pu’er. Pu’er to me is a mystery. Sheng is even more so. For some reason when I am tasting them I cannot find one thing to compare to them. The flavors of all that I have tasted are in leagues of their own. Earlier in a tasting of a Shu I stated that I prefered Shu over Sheng. I have to correct myself. I may start stockpiling Sheng to age. Not to say that they are too green now. They are delicious. This one from Asha I would recommend. It’s very good. Like I said I cannot write that it tastes like this or it tastes like that. Sheng truly are unique….

I am in love with this tea. When I brew this in the Yixing I do very quick steeps. You do not want to go more than a minute in my opinion. Each steeping is a glorious brew. Strong and flavorful. It is bold and assertive without being offensive. A tea tea lovers paradise. A beautiful reddish hue with the redwood forest flavor. The first few cups I not only wanted to taste but to admire the aroma. I am thankful I am getting more before its all gone….

I brewed this sample up for for iced tea as well. It was far more enjoyable iced than hot. It was fruity and very flavorful. I also was getting a hint of malt. Can this be? It was a pleasure to have this on hand in the fridge. I have to up the score….

This is a sample from Upton that I am brewing for iced tea. I am using very generous amounts of leaf and brewing it in my porcelain teapot. It’s always nice to have some cold tea on hand to consume at a moments notice. Most will go into a gallon glass jug but of course i have to have a hot cup from both steepings to taste. It is slightly pungent and very light even with the amount of leaf. Not my cup of tea. Maybe when the tea cools down it will improve. I hope…. Well it did. I let the third steep stew. It has potential. I am sure after last nights lovely ‘98 Pu’er nothing would taste good. I had to up the score.

I am enjoying this tea on a cold rainy windy night here beside the Atlantic. If you know this tea, you will know where I am coming from. My very first sip brought chills to my body. And every sip thereafter although not as intense. It is an experience par excellence. It is a tea of emotion. A tea of quiet contemplation. I felt totally relaxed as I continued my journey through life….

David warned me to go easy on this one. It is strong and intense. Although very young I am enjoying it very much. I did a quick 30 second steep and I have a cup of wonder. The 2nd is much more flavorful and robust. One constant with my tea drinking is the Feeling. How does the tea make you feel? This tea is a lovely eye opener. A piercing of the third eye too. I can only do 2 steeps as a speak. It’s great to be alive and well and to have tea in my life. To quote Jethro Tull, " Salvation Ala Mode and a cup of TEA". In a few years I am sure this tea will be beyond magnificent.

The 1st steep without rinsing is 30 seconds or so. It’s mild with redwood and cedar forest flavors. The 2nd was steeped for 30 as well and it’s a lovely reddish brew with an intoxicating feel. I am getting the warm feeling and I actually started to perspire. The clear liquor is pure and crisp with that electric feel in my mouth. I can only imagine what it’s doing inside of me. I am only going to do 3 steeps because once again it’s a gorgeous day. I will leave the rest in the Yixing for tonight. I am coming to the conclusion that Shus are my favorite teas period. There is wonderful feeling that i get from them. This is why we drink tea. When I went back to brew number 3 I noticed the nugget was still intact. I gave it a gentle nudge and steeped for a bit longer. I knew this cup was going to be special. The Redwood and Cedar is now a dense forest with lighting in the sky. This is a very, very special tea….

One thing i have learned so far about oolongs is that they get much better after a few steeps. Steep 1 is light and luscious with a sweet aroma. I was warned to keep an eye on the steep time. I have been letting it steep for 5 minutes. There were no instructions other than watching the timing. The 2nd is opening up and providing more flavor and a slight sparkle. I am getting the applewood flavor. My body temperature is rising too. That keen sense of awareness that one gets from a fine tea also. I truly feel I should of used more leaf but I am enjoying this tea. I bought this without even getting a sample because quite honestly I have been very pleased with everything I have purchased from Verdant. Cup 3 is shining like a new dime. More of the electric mouthfeel similar to the Big Red Robe that I love so much. It’s a beautiful day And I have to get outdoors. More on this interesting nectar later….

I am enjoying today. I am sure in a few years it may rival its older relatives. I would suggest to buy it now while the price is right. The 1st cup once again is light yet flavorful. Cup #2 is strong after a short steep of maybe 30 seconds. The liquor is coffee dark and the flavor is earthy with a touch of the sparkle that the relatives have. In a few years this tea will be sublime….

Thank you Amy Oh for your generosity. I am on cup 2 as I am writing. Rishi suggests cooler water for brewing. My first 2 cups were boiling. I brewed in the Yixing for maybe 2 minutes tops. It is a soft, subtle, mellow brew. I worked in the garden all day and I was ready for something nice. I am about to brew cup 3 to their specs. This tea reminds me of a Bai Mu Dan that I had once. This tea is calming. I feel very peaceful. I now know that the lower temperature is the way to go. It is much more flavorful now. Or is it just opening up? A very nice experiance….

First of all I would like to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving. This I promise will be my only tasting note today. I learned yesterday with the Star Of Bulang to respect these sheng. Do not overload with leaf and do not oversteep. Today I am using the Yixing again and after an approximately 2 minute steep I directly transfer the liquor into a large cup. Sort of western style with the Yixing. The first cup is mellow and satisfying. My body temperature feels like it is rising. The second steep is really shining. I am getting that slight sparkle and a bit of a numbness in the mouth. I cannot really find one flavor profile with this sheng. All I can say is that I am enjoying it. It’s truly a feel good brew. The third cup is opening up even more. When I was pouring I thought I smelled those oranges with the cloves poked in them that my friends mom had on the kitchen table. The flavor is getting stronger. I cannot go through the whole ritual today. Time to give Thanks….

Today I am emptying samplers. I brewed this basketstyle with generous leaf for maybe 5 minutes. The result is a dark brown liquor with hint of cocoa. It’s much better than my previous tasting. I live and I learn. It is a very satisfying cup of tea. I had to up the score….

I cold brewed this for around 24 hours with generous leaf. The result is far better than the 2 other tastings. I have to up the score on this one. It has a very light aroma but the flavor is absolutely delicious and refreshing….

The aroma from the first steep aroused my curiosity. I had never smelled anything like it. The first cup is bursting with flavor. I used one of those tiny cups that accompany Yixings and I left the rest in the pot. It was strong !! The flavor to me is mysterious. I cannot pinpoint any particular profile. This is a very unique sheng. A very unique tea period. I feel if I did not steep the first pot so long I would be better able to judge this fine tea. As I continue with the process, it appears to be getting better.

First of all I would like to say I am enjoying the Shu over the Sheng. I am having a pot of this after the Yiwu 2004 and I prefer it. The aroma. The flavor. Even the color of the liquor. The mouthfeel. I will be doing another Sheng tomorrow probably followed by a Shu. At least I am finding what I like. I love the depth and the complexity this fine tea offers.

I hate to say I thought I was’nt going to like this. I brewed it up in the Yixing with what I thought was an appropriate amount of buds. After about a few minutes I lifted the lid and I smelled evergreen. Maybe I should of had a cup then. I let it go longer. It was a yellowy liquor with a mild flavor and fragrance. Very nice in a white tea way. But the surprise is the high. A nice relaxing eye opener. As others have stated, I too am going to let it steep away for a long period after my 2nd steep. It’s very different yet very enjoyable if you have an open mind….

Another experiment. I let this steep in the Gaiwan overnight. In the morning it was a beautiful golden nectar. Strong and delicious. I will be doing this again….

I’m brewing this in the Gaiwan. The first steep was light and mellow. The second really opened up and provided a wonderful cup of tea. Somewhat buttery with a floral hint. Green vegetables are another flavor I’m getting. All in all, a very nice brew. May I add it’s 11 pm EST and its very relaxing….