Another new tea from the recent order. The dry leaves were spindly and didn’t smell like much, but as my previous experience with the Yu Lu Yan Cha suggested, the dry aroma of this batch of spring teas gives no indication of what they are like.
The rinse gave off a sudden burst of strong aroma reminding me of tropical fruit, in particular green guava. I hadn’t paid much attention to anything happening in rinses in the past, but this had me intrigued. (I didn’t drink it…)
First steep had a pink champagne color, and a rich, fruity-sweet fragrance. The taste was definitely honey. Nothing subtle about it, this was so sweet it could make your teeth hurt, and syrupy smooth. There was also a hint of grapefruit and a slight breadiness.
Second steep was a darker amber, and completely different in flavor and aroma. This was much less fruity, with almost no hint of honey, the sweetness fading to the background as an afterthought (or rather an anti-bitterness). The notes are predominantly incense (though in my opinion not exactly sandalwood), spice and floral. It becomes a darker and much more complex cup.
It’s getting quite late so I will play with this more some other time…sleep is more important.
