derk Send Message

189 Followers / 130 Following

derk drank 2017 "Jinggu Bàng" by Crimson Lotus Tea

1459 tasting notes

Coming back to Jinggu Bàng a year later, it has toned down a lot. No longer do I get green beans or creamy, custardy florals. Those have mellowed into a base of smokey straw and bitter kale tone with subdued dried yet damp meadow florals. Impression of mushrooms and bay leaf. It is savory-beany-vegetal, mineral, cooling in the mouth and body and bitter with very little sweetness. The bitterness might turn others away but I find it somehow refreshing. Astringency is short-lived for me. The aroma is savory and meadow floral with a hint of buttery apricot-osmanthus.

I’m actually quite enjoying the tea today. Nothing amazing but sometimes you don’t want sheng puerh to floor you.

Flavors: Apricot, Astringent, Beany, Bitter, Butter, Camphor, Flowers, Herbs, Honey, Kale, Mineral, Mushrooms, Osmanthus, Smoked, Straw, Vegetal

Preparation

Boiling 7 g 4 OZ / 110 ML

I Like This

10 likes

2 comments

derk
Delete

Gonna have to change my assessment of the aroma. It smells like those yellow osmanthus flowers I bought in Chinatown pressed into a fresh sheet of countertop laminate. Super freaking strange and plasticky.

ashmanra
Delete

Oof

People who liked this

Comments

derk
Delete

ashmanra
Delete

Oof

Profile

Bio

Eventual tea farmer. If you are a tea grower, want to grow your own plants or are simply curious, please follow me so we can chat.

I most enjoy loose-leaf, unflavored teas and tisanes. Teabags have their place. Some of my favorite teas have a profound effect on mind and body rather than having a specific flavor profile. Terpene fiend.

Favorite teas generally come from China (all provinces), Taiwan, India (Nilgiri and Manipur). Frequently enjoyed though less sipped are teas from Japan, Nepal and Darjeeling. While I’m not actively on the hunt, a goal of mine is to try tea from every country that makes it available to the North American market. This is to gain a vague understanding of how Camellia sinensis performs in different climates. I realize that borders are arbitrary and some countries are huge with many climates and tea-growing regions.

I’m convinced European countries make the best herbal teas.

Personal Rating Scale:

100-90: A tea I can lose myself into. Something about it makes me slow down and appreciate not only the tea but all of life or a moment in time. If it’s a bagged or herbal tea, it’s of standout quality in comparison to similar items.

89-80: Fits my profile well enough to buy again.

79-70: Not a preferred tea. I might buy more or try a different harvest. Would gladly have a cup if offered.

69-60: Not necessarily a bad tea but one that I won’t buy again. Would have a cup if offered.

59-1: Lacking several elements, strangely clunky, possess off flavors/aroma/texture or something about it makes me not want to finish.

Unrated: Haven’t made up my mind or some other reason. If it’s pu’er, I likely think it needs more age.

bicycle bicycle bicycle