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Sipdown

“2021 Gushu Baicha”

I cannot remember for the life of me where or when I required this sample. It may have been from one of my farmer sources on IG or from a swap. I failed to make a note who sent the tea. My notes on the slip of paper attached read, “Unsweetened grapes, pencil shavings, malt, & wood chips. 55/100.”

Sipdown

It’s great to sip a green tea that’s moderately fresh (at least not sitting for 2-3 years in the stash) in the winter! Sweet Dew was refreshing, grassy, and crisp while the weather outside was biting, cold, and bitter.

Backlog

“A bitter cup of smoke and charcoal.” – January 3, 2025

Sipdown

I had topped this off on the New Year, but noted that it didn’t remind me much of Apple Pie, as much as it had lemongrass with chai spices added. I hadn’t loved the cuppa.

Backlog

I hadn’t spend too much time on taking notes with this session. I had sipped this one in the moment, and after the flavor starting to pop (about the 3rd infusion), I noted sweet florals/honey. The qi headiness was the main attraction. I marked on the back, “6 infusions & giddy from the tea.” Too bad one can’t get this on their website. It seems that a lot of tea peeps got this in their Black Friday boxes, too.

Winter has decided to creep in over the week. I drank this on Monday to ease into the cold and the tea had done the job. Thankfully, we were approved to work from home, and so flow of tea was endless!

Notes: Woody, not too much body/texture, and smooth. Not the typical heavy earthy nor cocoa notes with this one.

I had topped this off roughly two weeks ago toward the end of the workday. Unfortunately, I hadn’t made many notes regarding my session, but was kind enough to leave myself with this: Bubble Tape bubble gum. 6.8/10.

I topped off my sample of this cake on Christmas Day, and was sore about doing so. I believe in drinking my teas (which is why I’m limiting myself to no more than 3 tea purchases in 2025, aside from the monthly tea clubs, to get through some samples that are one session away from completion), so that’s what I’m working on doing! Ha-ha. I felt that 2024 was a good year of my getting back onto the Steepster train, which greatly improved my push through the sipdown pile! I was able to explore new and revisit older teas that have sat in my collection for ages. With some upcoming changes to my life in the coming months, I’ve become quite self aware of spending more time with the teas I have. I can’t bare to avoid any tea hauls, so I’ll save them for birthday, anniversary, and Christmas. :)

I must admit that are many teas I’ve enjoyed, yet there are some, such as this You Le Shan, that bring forth a rush of surprise in finding yet another really good tea. This tea isn’t layered with tasting notes that are complex, but the tea hits in the thickness of the broth and the heavy hit in the qi. I felt jollier than normal on Christmas.

Sipdown

Alas, this was my last 4 oz bag! I drank it semi-regularly as a latte with my breakfast or as a work pick-me-up. It was perfectly sweet and made for a wonderful treat!

I have a tendency to ignore Don’s tasting notes since I’ll likely taste them or miss them entirely during my sessions. I want to go into a session blind, figure it out, and then backtrack to the notes the tea vendor lists.

I’ll note that this is a “boozy” tea in the way that liquor (if my memory serves me well. I’ve not partake any heavy alcohol in months) gives you a bite/tang and hit of warmth. I’ve made several notations of “burnt alcohol from a cake or dense sweet bread.” I like it, but don’t love it.