Master Han's Wild Picked Yunnan Black

Finishing of my tiny sample pack of this. Still not overly exciting to my personal palette. Laoshan black is still the only straight black to really thrill me!

Sigh, oh motherhood.

I keep steeping this tea with the intent of writing a proper, full review, but then time gets away from me or the steeped tea gets cold or—hold on, the toddler just wee-ed on the floor (we’re attempting potty-training. Kill. Me. Now.) and slipped in it. And now, it is bath time. Such is life.

Anyways, where was I? Oh yes. This tea! Well, seeing as there are far superior and thorough reviews of this delicious cup-o-heaven I’ll just say this: I’ve had it hot, cold, lukewarm, and iced—with lemon & agave—and thus far it has been delicious in every incarnation I try it.

Now, if you’ll excuse me… the ominous sounds of a 7-week-old filling his diaper have reached my ears…

My first sample from Verdant and no disappointment. Came with comprehensive tasting notes but I wished I had drunk the tea before reading them. Have had 3 western style steepings from the leaves. The first one making me keen for the next. A wet smelling tea – like cooked pak choi. Subtle smoky hints that gave way to an even more subtle moscatel undertone. It felt like a secret that was being shared. Third steeping was too weak for me to get beyond the wateriness of the brew. Havent’ foudnthe much written abotu oilve oil notes but maybe that it because I am used to a rich pungency from Spanish extra virgin oil and this tea did not have that. Am going to try gong fu brewing with the remainder to see if I can get deeper into the flavours.

I actually meant to prepare the Smoked Wuyi Black from this month’s TotMC, but accidentally grabbed this instead. I’ve had this a number of times already and it’s been a hard one to evaluate, because it’s so unlike what I’m used to from yunnan black teas. It’s not really sweet, or chocolatey, or spicy in the usual way. I can’t fathom putting milk or sugar in it.

I always notice the olive oil flavors, and it usually makes me think of Mediterranean food in general: olive oil, grape leaves, preserved lemons, savory spices. It’s very good! But I have to be in the mood for a grown-up tea, and I don’t usually prepare it in my yunnan yixing because it’s so atypical. It’s smooth like honey but not so sweet. Not very bitter, either. Just very distinctive all around.

I probably have more of this than I will ever drink – PM me if it sounds like something you’d love and I’ll get a few samples together to give away.

This is always an intriguing tea to me. In many ways it reminds me of a proper Ceylon, but it also features a pronounced blueberry/grape flavor with a hint of coconut. An enticing amalgam and truly a genre-busting tea.

Drinking this hastily at work is an injustice to the complexities and sheer beauty of this tea. Even worse is my decision on western style brewing.

There is a subtleness to both the leaves and liquor, a clean and fresh and delicate subtleness. The leaves are a wild and earthy shape and color, with deep and dark greens along the long curls and twists. The scent is extremely faint but very fresh, reminiscent of forest after a rainfall.

The initial steep gives you this thick and velvety brew, followed by a very clean and crisp and lightly sweet aftertaste of grape and apple. It is quite a lovely and brilliant experience, with little to no astringency.

The second steep gave me a thicker velvet texture, with a malty flavor mixed with the grape and apple. There is a mild but bright astringent aftertaste that follows and lingers on your tongue.

The third steep was a lighter malt, with less texture and a slight more astringency. The fading flavors and details made it clear that you should not brew this western style. A tea this complex and delicate requires patience and attention.

Despite my ignorance, my first experience was a complete surprise and an extreme delight. I cannot wait to properly experience this.

I’m not sure what has happened between me and this tea, but I don’t think it tastes much like my initial impression. I remember when I initially drank this almost a year ago thinking it tasted overwhelmingly like olive oil and italian herbs, and I really didn’t like it.

However, I recently brought it to work for a sipdown and I’ve been really digging it. First steeping has a bit of that vegetal olive oil/herb flavor on the back of the sip, but primary the flavor is one of nuts and caramel. Later steepings bring on wine grapes and baking spices and there’s this really great interplay of sweet/savory/spicy elements. The aroma has a wonderful black currant scent (although I don’t taste it).

I’m loving this tea at work. It’s bold enough to wake me up when I have my first steep in the morning and warm/smooth/mellow enough to be a relaxing respite as the day continues.

I’ve been very interested in trying this one for awhile. Smells very cocoa-y in the bag similar to most Yunnans I’ve tried, BUT also has a crisp freshness to it, almost lemon-like.
Taste makes me think of minerals/hot rocks, ripe green grape, and light hints of cocoa, maybe citrus. I also get the “linen” note mentioned on this company’s website. Silky, refreshing and enjoyable mouthfeel, no bitterness or funky aftertaste. I’m liking this more with each sip. Second steep is just as good as the first. Shall I go for a third? Why yes, I think I shall!

After going through a bag of this tea over the past few months, I find it is a nicely refreshing contrast to some of the “darker” tasting, robust teas in my cabinet (not that this is what I’d call a light tea, it is just a nice change). Great with or without sweetener.

Initial infusion, leaves unfolded beautifully, a very pretty cup. Taste was sweet and fragrant.

sipdown! The tea-cupboard cleaning has been a hit so far and today I plan on working with my samples. I am planning on doing a handful of steeps with this one.
I love the color of the liquor; light olive tan.
The main flavors have been chocolate and barley notes. Feels quite thick on the tongue, but smooth and not bitter at all. This is one of my very favorite plain black teas. Perfect for getting that caffeine boost for drawing.