derk Send Message

197 Followers / 145 Following

derk drank Menghai Dayi 2011 "Star of Menghai" by Menghai Tea Factory (berylleb on ebay)

1548 tasting notes

This came to my cupboard from White Antlers’ Swedish Death Purge. The handwriting on the bag is clearly mrmopar, though. Thank you both!

I didn’t catch the dry leaf, but once warmed, it smells like an unsweetened root beer with other notes of geosmin, walnut, mushroom, tobacco and ancient wet leather hanging in a barn.

The body was kind of light but very oily and smooth. I was unable to get dark-sludgy pour from this tea. Not a whole lot of excitement going on flavor- or structure-wise. Lots of peppery tobacco and geosmin, some dark wood. Easy drinker and not overwhelming with caffeine effects like so many Menghai area shou pu’er can be. I dig it. Depending on the price, it might be a worthwhile purchase for my tastes.

Flavors: Barnyard, Black Pepper, Dark Wood, Geosmin, Leather, Mushrooms, Oily, Root Beer, Smooth, Tobacco, Walnut

I Like This

17 likes

1 comments

mrmopar
Delete

Have you heard from WhiteAntlers lately?

People who liked this

Comments

mrmopar
Delete

Have you heard from WhiteAntlers lately?

Profile

Bio

This place, like the rest of the internet, is dead and overrun with bots. And thus I step away.

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 Georgia, 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