Despite having only one session of this tea (thanks derk for the sample), I will remember it very well for its incredibly strong and long aftertaste as well as the unique energy. Unfortunately, I didn’t enjoy its taste profile and mouthfeel that much.
The smell of the dry leaves is very nice, mostly floral and quite pungent. After rinsing the leaves, the aroma displays notes of gasoline, forest and stewed vegetables. Yet more new scents emerge from the liquor in the empty cup. Apart from the usual honey note, there is a cinnamon like spiciness.
The taste is initially somewhat milky, vegetal and herbaceous. The most prominent note is eucalyptus I’d say. Later on, I found the tea to be more robust with a strong metallic quality to it. Flavours like tree bark, chewing gum emerge, as well as a light licorice bitterness. Now, the aftertaste is where this tea excels, as I already mentioned. It start off with an alcohol and sour notes and then transforms into more vegetal and spicy qualities. Later steeps have some bitterness as well, a bit like celery leaves.
As for the mouthfeel, that was a bit of a disappointment. It is quite slippery, powdery and bubbly, but overall unremarkable. The liquor is very beautiful to look at, it is super clear and golden. Body is medium at best.
The cha qi is very warming and strong. Someone described it as feeling tea drunk at the YS website. I guess that’s just an umbrella term for the mind altering effects of tea, but for me this is nothing like being drunk. Initally, I get a slightly rushy feeling that quickly turns into a dreamy state. At certain point the disconnection with physical sensations is so strong that I feel like levitating.
Flavors: Alcohol, Bark, Celery, Cinnamon, Eucalyptus, Floral, Forest Floor, Herbs, Honey, Licorice, Metallic, Milk, Vegetables, Vegetal
Interesting. I haven’t sampled this yet. Sounds like a grab bag of aromas and flavors at the moment. Wonder what some time will do to its character.