Grandpa Style Sipdown (2993)!
I haven’t revisited this Bulang sheng production since it was first pressed, so it was nice doing a bit of a check-in to see how it’s settling. Snap impression was that it was more bitter and pithy than I’d remembered, but I went back and looked at my notes from 2021 and I actually HAD noted both of those tasting notes along with an astringent, greener edge. So, it seems like those qualities have only deepened while the softer, fruity and floral ones have taken a backseat to allow space for this more citrusy, peppery profile. Black lemon and yuzu both spring to mind. Not the brightness/tangy qualities, but the bitter earthiness and the more heady, weight-y feeling dense aromatics. Maybe even black cardamom at times, too. It’s kind of feels like it’s pulling me down with each sip, but not in an unpleasant or unwelcome way. The finish flirts atsweetness, with an equally bitter and caramelized tasting burnt sugar note that morphs into the strong huigan I remember from my last tasting.
It’s not a style of sheng pu’erh that I steep up regularly, as maybe evidenced by the fact it’s been years since I last brewed one of these dragonballs. However, I’ve been nursing this session all afternoon, and it is resonating with some part of me. A more slow, contemplative side that’s enjoying having no responsibilities or time constraints on this particular afternoon. So, that seeks like a pretty solid way to send this one off!
Tea Photo: https://www.instagram.com/p/DMvg1fqyGcS/
Any time I share photos on IG of dragonballs in nature they always get significantly less engagement than my other posts, even though they’re my absolute favourite thing to photograph. Still, I keep posting them because I think they look gorgeous. This is, however, perhaps my worst performing IG post in easily three or so years and I just cannot figure out why this particular one is so bad. I thought all the different points of shadow and light coming in from the brush looked so cool!
So, though I know this is a vain request, if you do have an IG account and want to engage with this post I would very much appreciate it…
Song Pairing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1oKhsy8wGw&ab_channel=ROLEMODELVEVO
I have never used insta. :-/