Brewed and noted on 23 Sept. ‘24. This was a 25g bag I’d bought last year from YS, and I’d forgotten about it until looking over the comments from my review 2 yr ago of the 2020 Yunnan Sourcing “Ba Da Mountain” Ripe Pu-erh Tea Cake and seeing that user looseTman had asked about it back then. I must have brewed it previously and not reported because 5g is missing.
Anyway, I did my version of a gongfu session, using 5g tea, a stainless infusion basket, 3 ounce espresso cups, and alpine spring water at 90°C. Started with 10 sec wash, discarded, then six infusions of 15 sec each, then an hours’ pause, and six more infusions, again 15 sec each. I suspect I could have done a third set for a total of 18 decent cups, but stopped. The first two of each set were very strong and could have been yet briefer. The attached photos show the dozen infusions, from right to left. The weakest ones were #11 & #12.
I was not thrilled with this tea, as I have been with my other recent ripe puer tastings of late. There was still a bit of wet-pile humidity odor and taste in the first four infusions that masked any more subtle flavors. Not astringent, not fishy, not creamy either. No bitterness. It is a decent, solid tea, and I was pleased by the camphor arising in #5 & #6, and later by the lingering finish with notes of hazelnut in 10, 11, & 12. I didn’t get any notes of cocoa or fruit or leather. Next time, I’ll cut down the leaf by half, and try to control the early infusions to produce a less inky brew. YMMV. I’m also going to transfer the remaining tea from its mylar pouch to a filter-paper-covered jelly jar in my darkened tea cabinet for 6 months, so that the wet-pile notes can dissipate before my next session with it.
Full cakes are still for sale on YS and YS.us, and I’ll leave them for others who prefer potent shou.
Flavors: Camphor, Compost, Dry Leaves, Earthy, Hazelnut
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Okay, I did six more infusions, for 18 total. This time, starting with 5 sec/90°C, then 15sec, then gradually increasing the time to 2 min and the temp to boiling. Got a nice uniform set of liquors, #13–#18, all tasting alike, same as #12. No complaints, quaffable, uninspiring. We’ll see what 6 mo of airing ot out does.
I am considering getting ranger beads to keep track of the multi steepers! Sounds like you coukd have used them for this tea! That’s a lot of steeps.
Okay, I did six more infusions, for 18 total. This time, starting with 5 sec/90°C, then 15sec, then gradually increasing the time to 2 min and the temp to boiling. Got a nice uniform set of liquors, #13–#18, all tasting alike, same as #12. No complaints, quaffable, uninspiring. We’ll see what 6 mo of airing ot out does.
I am considering getting ranger beads to keep track of the multi steepers! Sounds like you coukd have used them for this tea! That’s a lot of steeps.