89

I decided I needed to get one of these cakes after seeing Verdant tweet about it. And I almost had a heart attack when I thought mine got lost in the mail but it showed up two days after the USPS said it was delivered.

Anyway on to the tea. I broke this up into a small piece and decided to steep it in the yixing teapot. I usually don’t steep my shengs for too long. I used water that was almost boiling.

First steep: After a quick rinse, I inhale and the wet leaf smells of smoke and woods. The tea got a 30 second or so steeping. Perhaps it is the power of suggestion but I am getting the thick, nutty quality which Verdant describes in their tasting note. This seems to be the top note and the finish is slightly bittersweet with a tobacco like quality that lingers on your tongue and gets fizzy. Nice.

The 2nd steep I did for about 10 seconds. I am also getting the plantain sort of flavor described in the tasting notes. But make no mistake, this is definitely a sheng pu-erh, very assertive and bold. Not as bitter as some younger shengs I have tried, but I would recommend keeping your steeping times short.

I am no experts on sheng but I’m enjoying the flavors of this one a lot. It should be really interesting to see how this ages over time…

A nice offering from Verdant, thank you for sharing with us David.

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 0 min, 30 sec
Bonnie

So, how much did you use? I had some trouble the first time with too little leaf, the second time I used more and increased the time. You did the opposite so I’m guessing you piled on more leaf.

TeaBrat

hmmm. I am not sure exactly, about 1 tsb. I am guessing… and I usually don’t steep shengs for too long or they get too bitter for me.

Tea_is_wisdom

Man, this tea went. David told me he was going to add this tea to the site a week before he did and because I am a college student my time is limited and a week and a half later and what do we have “sold out!” That tea must of been as good as gold. LOL! Thanks Amy for a wonderful review.

Bonnie

I read Davids notes first and he said that this one doesn’t get bitter which is really good and even at 1 minute there wasn’t bitterness. Thanks Amy.

David Duckler

I am so glad that the tea showed up for you Amy! What a relief. @Tea_is_Wisdom: I am working to get in a few more 7 cake tongs of this in my next shipment if possible, so it will likely be back in late autumn / early winter.

TeaBrat

David, I was happy!

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Comments

Bonnie

So, how much did you use? I had some trouble the first time with too little leaf, the second time I used more and increased the time. You did the opposite so I’m guessing you piled on more leaf.

TeaBrat

hmmm. I am not sure exactly, about 1 tsb. I am guessing… and I usually don’t steep shengs for too long or they get too bitter for me.

Tea_is_wisdom

Man, this tea went. David told me he was going to add this tea to the site a week before he did and because I am a college student my time is limited and a week and a half later and what do we have “sold out!” That tea must of been as good as gold. LOL! Thanks Amy for a wonderful review.

Bonnie

I read Davids notes first and he said that this one doesn’t get bitter which is really good and even at 1 minute there wasn’t bitterness. Thanks Amy.

David Duckler

I am so glad that the tea showed up for you Amy! What a relief. @Tea_is_Wisdom: I am working to get in a few more 7 cake tongs of this in my next shipment if possible, so it will likely be back in late autumn / early winter.

TeaBrat

David, I was happy!

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Bio

My profile pic is of a pink dahlia at Golden Gate Park.

Hobbies include: tea, making art, animals, vegan things, buddhism, nature, creativity, books, writing, cooking, meditation, yoga.

I am a fan of many different teas but my favorites are blacks and oolongs, chai, also like darjeeling and pu-erh. I’n always learning and expanding my horizons!

Dislikes include: bergamot, jasmine, highly tannic or bitter teas, overly judgmental and bitter people. :)

Live in San Francisco, I’m a SINK (single income, no kids) and love the urban life, but traveling out to the middle of nowhere is always fun too.

I tend to not drink things I know I will hate so a lot of my tea ratings are on the higher side. Here’s my rating system, sorta

95-100 I love this tea and would like to keep it around

94-90 An excellent tea which I may or may not repurchase

89-80 Pretty good, above average

79-70 Acceptable

69-60 Mundane – Will probably drink it if I have it

59-50 Ick

49 and below Nasty

Location

San Frandisco

Website

http://sanfrantea.teatra.de

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