An update on the mysterious, unidentified, probably-Longjing green tea:
I took a small amount out of the original tin and stored it in a small plastic container for bringing to work. I didn’t end up drinking it at work, and it remained in the cupboard. After about a week, I noticed that the container didn’t completely snap shut at one corner, so while there wasn’t a gap that could have allowed any objects to get in or fall out, the tea had probably been exposed to outside air to some extent. Seeing as it was probably perfectly fine and hadn’t been exposed to moisture or other strongly-scented teas, I thought I would still give it a try. And it was…a lot better?
The aroma and taste now have a very subtle, smooth sweetness I usually associate with good quality white teas. It’s nothing artificial or external. There’s something reminiscent of malt sugar and candied plums. Furthermore, this tea used to have a strong, lingering note that I couldn’t identify, which I did not really like—something like burnt bamboo, if I really had to stretch my imagination. Now, after storage, that note is completely gone. If I were giving ratings (a somewhat futile endeavor for the “random steepings” category), this one would have just jumped up by 20 points. Anyone have any input on what might have happened here? The container had not previously housed any flavored or scented items. Everything is clean and the tea definitely hasn’t spoiled.
