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derk drank 2014 Yunyun Ancient Tree Puerh Tea by The Essence of Tea

1659 tasting notes

Please, Essence of Tea, please tell me you can ship from Malaysia. You released so much of your old Malaysian-stored catalog!

Backlog of a long-ago-purchased-sample sipdown. This tea now feels like a distant dream. Oh I found the envelope with some notes written on the back:
easy to drink
very sweet, hint of smoke, foresty, light sparkling sweetness, very mineral, honey, cotton candy, cantaloupe, nutmeg, wintergreen
becoming balanced bitter/astringent
floral, perfume

I do remember Yunyun had a certain depth and mellow complexity, a vibrant, watery, fluid energy that pulled me back and eddied me forward, an aftertaste that settled in for the ride.

Currently
$18 / 25g
$120 / 200g

And there goes a lone quail, darting past me into the understory of a coast live oak, whose branches touch the ground and gather many animals into its safe haven. Happy Easter.
Listen: https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/239147841

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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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