I got the 2015 Silver Bugs yabao back in 2015, and at the time it was strange but not particularly impressive. Further along down my tea journey, I decided to try it again, and I found it so nice that I felt compelled to review.
Brewed gongfu in a glazed 110ml gaiwan. Water around 190F, but hard to say as it’s from a hot water machine in my office. Could be +/-10F.
Lid aroma: like sugary breakfast cereal
Liquor color: pale, almost transparent. Very slight tint of green, maybe green-yellow
Not doing a steep-by-steep comparison because I kind of missed that boat, but overall this tea, brewed with a high ratio, is delicious and light. I get strong vanilla notes with a midground of baking spices like cinnamon and nutmeg. A bit of honey, with pine lingering in the distance. Earlier steeps had floral in the distance but not so much now a few steeps in. It almost tastes like an american (sugary) breakfast cereal.
It’s really unlike any other tea I’ve had, and I think it would be quite possible to easily brew not to the correct strength. Even at correct strength, I think it took my own palate developing more refinement to appreciate it, but wow is it such a treat!
Flavors: Bright, Floral, Graham, Honey, Light, Spices, Vanilla
