SilasSteep said

Ammonia Smell Ripe

I got a ripe today from a source that I buy from quite often and has a really good track record. I’m still not sure if there is a problem with the tea as I am brewing as we speak….gave two rinses but the tea is not opening up yet. its a Pearl Lao Cha Tuo. Its a Menghai ripe…from the area not a Dayi etc. It has been aged 6 years so it says. I am used to the usual “fishy” smells but this has little fish smell but there is a slight ammonia “burn” from the steam. Really hard to describe. I have read some factories use ammonia to speed up the fermentation of ripes. Anyone else experienced this? Or have any input? I’m not completely sold on this tea being full of chemical as it doesn’t have a weird look to the liquor or any off putting tastes and actually I can’t get these damn pearls to open up and give ANY flavor!

11 Replies
mrmopar said

Any chance on the name of the one in question? Lao Cha really takes 30 seconds or so for the water to open the tea up when brewing it.

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SilasSteep said

I messaged you mrmopar. Yeah am having to give 3 min steeps to get flavor…these things are like rocks! lol

mrmopar said

Got you.

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AllanK said

Is it the Six Years Aged Pearl Lao Cha Tou from Yunnan Sourcing?

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SilasSteep said

It is AllanK.

SilasSteep said

I would also add that Scott’s inventory is consistent and usually pretty great so my question about this tea should bear no weight on the YS reputation. They have quality teas.

AllanK said

I have that tea, never got an ammonia smell out of it, strange.

SilasSteep said

Since I just unboxed it today I am thinking the journey packed into the box with tape and bubble wrap may have thrown it off….gonna let it “air out” a bit. The smell did dissipate but I can’t get these damn pearls to give off flavor!! lol

AllanK said

Try a long rinse, that may help. I rinsed the an extra fifteen seconds as I recall, then steeped them for 30 seconds for reasonable flavor but maybe not what you are thinking of.

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boychik said

I always double the amount of Lao cha tou. Air it out for a few days. See if it helps

SilasSteep said

thanks. yeah i was more surprised at how little taste it had at all. I did 5 grams in 100ml and I was giving up to 5 min steeps on steep 3! And thats after two long rinses…the pearls were like rocks and just didnt want to open up and give. Definitely the weirdest experience I have had thus far with a ripe or even any tea. I had another Lao cha tou that was from a brick that was amazing and brewed up like a normal ripe for me. It was my reason for trying these. I feel these “pearls” are almost too compressed! lol

http://steepster.com/teas/yunnan-sourcing/59357-2009-yunnan-sourcing-cha-tou-sheng-yun-brick-ripe

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