drank 2002 Dan Cong by Life In Teacup
1597 tasting notes

18 years old. Brought to my cupboard in a single-serving sealed pouch by White Antlers.

Before brewing, this tea had dry and warm aromas of an old leather saddle hanging in a hay barn with a muted dark berry note. The tea took a while to wake up in its age even with a long rinse. With the second steep it opened up into a simple almost musty, bitter-peachy, clean mineral-hay profile with a whiff of some type of incense. Incredibly drying and unchanging. I’m not sure this was intentionally aged or paid attention to/re-roasted over the years.

Flavors: Barnyard, Berry, Bitter, Drying, Hay, Leather, Mineral, Musty, Peach

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 6 g 3 OZ / 100 ML
White Antlers

I am much much much older than this tea and yes, in age, it does take a long while to wake up, even with a long rinse (shower). LOL!

gmathis

Sounds lovely.

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Comments

White Antlers

I am much much much older than this tea and yes, in age, it does take a long while to wake up, even with a long rinse (shower). LOL!

gmathis

Sounds lovely.

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This place, like the rest of the internet, is dead and overrun with bots. Yet I persist.

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.

Favorite teas generally come from China (all provinces), Taiwan, India (Nilgiri and Manipur). Frequently enjoyed though less sipped are teas from Georgia, Japan, and Nepal. 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, possesses off flavor/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 puerh, I likely think it needs more age.

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Sonoma County, California, USA

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