High Mountain Tea

I picked this up on sale from this company’s Kensington Market location. I think it’s from winter 2016, though I’m not entirely sure. The salesperson kindly opened the vacuum-sealed package to let me smell the tea, so regardless, it’s in very good condition. I steeped about 5 g of leaf in a 120 ml teapot using 195F water for 25, 20, 30, 30, 45, 60, 180, and 240 seconds, followed by another long steep.

This Li Shan is buttery and floral, with interesting mineral and cooked spinach notes in the background. It’s also one of the sweeter ones I’ve had, with a sugarcane quality in the first four or so steeps. The vegetal mixed with the sweet makes for an interesting combination. Even steeping at two minutes, the florals aren’t completely gone and the tea isn’t too grassy or bitter.

This is a solid Li Shan that I’ll have no trouble finishing, but possibly because of my brewing, it didn’t shine for me. I’ll have to try some of their other teas, such as the Pinglin Red that Indigobloom reviewed a while ago.

One final note: Why are small (80-100 ml) plain porcelain pots so darn expensive? Is it just because they’re almost impossible to find? I ask because I saw them for around $70, and while they looked nice, I don’t think they were handmade or particularly special.

So good. I was hoping for more of a green refreshing tea, but this turned out all warm and roasty. Not exactly what I was seeking… oh well, it was so full of flavour I’m not sure I mind. And I should have remembered back to when I bought this one and was told it was made in the old style, not the newer one that’s all zingy.
Anyhow. Notes of chestnut, bamboo, vanilla, okra, and something I can’t quite put my finger on. Autumn maybe. Yeah lets go with that… all with a hint of lingering summer in the air. Day old cut grass (in a good way)

I need to hit up Kensington Market more often. This place made it to the tea festival in January, but I didn’t get a chance to see their teas because it was swarmed with people all the time. I’d been meaning to visit ever since.
I chatted with the owner for atleast half an hour before picking some of this up. He recommended this one, highly. and he was right.
I’m finding notes of sweet potato, molasses, maybe corn? second infusion had a slight menthol effect, and the third one has a bit of smokiness to it.
Very sweet on it’s own. Reminds me slightly of a baked ham, with brown sugar (sans pineapple and saltiness haha)

On a more personal note, I had some disturbing news from the doctor yesterday. This tea purchase was my aftercare. Still processing things. Nothing life threatening but I don’t think it will go away and it has me questioning every decision I’ve ever made. and the medication… seems I have more decisions to make now. Sorry for the vagueness. Sighs. Curveballs suck.