King of Thieves Dancong

first few infusions taste the way rich earth smells after rain, kumquat rind, pea sprouts, margerine, notes of pecorino and mandarin juice in the finish

smells like peach juice, dried apricot, grapefruit juice, cranberry, leather

dry cup smells like orchids, raw almonds and dark honey

3rd 4th 5th infusions taste of green bean, edamame, buttercup, lilypad flowers, notes of toffee and butter in the finish

wet leaf smells of hyacinths and apples recently fallen from a tree on a rainy day

final infusions taste of aloe, saplings, reeds, honeyed tonic water, light toffee finish

maple sap and wet linen on the nose

7 infusions gongfu

Reading the other note on this was interesting.

This was excellent. It was a Dan Cong that was much greener than I expected, but it was INCREDIBLY savory and sweet for a dan cong. I got the butterscotch notes, honeysuckle, honey for sure, lots of guava and orange, orchids, green beans, coriander, and some sublte spiciness with the general roast. This was all Gong Fu, starting with 20 seconds and adding 10 seconds more, 20, 30, and so on until a last Grandpa brew to soak out every aroma and flavor.

It’s a glamorized and expensive Dan Cong for sure, but man was it sweet. I’d rate it a 95 in terms of taste, but a 75 in terms of price. It is worth a pretty penny and I would savor it, but I think it is a little more expensive than what I would pay for….though you can bet your hind end I would drink it. Mega snobs who love Dan Congs, this is yours, and if it does not meet your standards, then you my friend have a very experienced and particular palette.

Rarely has my experience of a tea differed so sharply from the vendor’s description as with this tea. I purchased this tea expecting something fruity, sweet, and spicy. I got that experience briefly in the first sip, but it quickly faded into something wholly different.

I brewed this tea according to the vendors instructions, leafing a little heavy and starting with a 6 second steep, adding 4 seconds each round.

The smell of the leaves after a wash was very vegetal, with notes of spinach and green beans, backed with light floral and caramel notes. The liquor is a fairly pale yellow throughout the session. The feel is thick and buttery, it coats your tongue and lingers on it. The first infusion started things off with sweet notes of fruit, jasmine flowers, and toffee. However, as the cup continues it turns to a green bean, vegetal character.

And as the session continues that’s pretty much where it stayed — very strongly vegetal. Grassy, spinach, and green bean notes, with hints of butter and mineral sweetness.

I don’t feel qualified to rate this tea — I tend to stay away from strongly vegetal brews because I know they just aren’t my thing and I struggle to find nuance in them. If you like them you might enjoy this tea, but I’d be wary of Verdant’s tasting notes, because my personal experience was nothing like the caramel, spicy, fruity brew they describe.