Gong Fu, sorta.
7g in an 85ml shiboridashi.
So, I did twelve infusions total with this one – but I ‘stacked them’ three infusions at a time in a large yunomi style cup, so even though there were twelve steeps total I only drank four ‘cups’ of tea. If that makes sense. First impression of this one was something along the lines of “damn this is a really thick and full bodied shou!” The liquor, almost from the very beginning, basically brews up black. Perhaps where the name is from? I don’t know. It’s so thick, and has one of the most velvety, lush mouth feels that I think I’ve experienced from a shou in like… maybe over a year!?
First set of three steeps was sweet and woody, with decaying wood, mineral, mushroom, nutty, camphor, and slightly coffee likes notes to it. And of course very earthy. I didn’t love it, but I didn’t hate it either. I wanted a little more sweetness, and more of a “wet wood” sort of taste over decaying wood – but the fact woody notes were present at all was still good.
Second set of steeps was my least favourite, but still wasn’t bad – it was a little bit bitter but one of the three steeps that made up this set was pretty over steeped so that could have been the cause. Strongest note in this was a sort of “black coffee” taste, which is probably why it didn’t appeal to me as much – I just don’t enjoy the taste of coffee. Other than that, same ‘dryer’ wood notes and notes of resin, almond skins, and camphor.
Set three and four were pretty similar to me; the smoothest of all the sets, with more of a creamy wood/nut/coffee sort of profile and a lighter and cleaner finish. I liked the creaminess and bigger focus on nutty notes – definitely made for a sweeter and more well rounded feeling overall profile. Also, all four sets were earthy/woody but the woody notes in this particular set were the least “decay” tasting of all of them, and the closest to my ‘ideal’ wood note preferences. Maybe a little cedar-esque?
Really happy with this overall; but I don’t think I like it enough that I’d want to cake it. No matter how cool looking the cake wrap is…
