2007 Bo Nan Mountain Yun Wu Yuan Cha Raw Pu-erh (duplicate)

Gross. It is like drowning in the bathwater of 12 year old menthol cigarettes and being rewarded with tinnitis. If this is what wet storage does to raw pu, I am not a fan. Everyone says this comes across as remarkably clean tasting given its exposure to a tropical climate so I guess I should just stay far away from anything described as wet storage. Gave it two rinses just to be safe. The scent is like that of a very spent fu zhuan tea (none of the honey but just the wet dark leaf scent), augmented with cigarette butts and the drain water from a dirty busy street. I also get some musty closet. There is significant tingling on the tongue by steep 6 or 7. I imagine having more of it will get me very tea buzzed in non-calming way, which I don’t want, but even if that is what you are after, it is hardly worth drinking this crap to experience. If you are curious, you can buy a sample and use it as a hot mouth wash. Gargle and spit. Repeat. Except don’t, because it will contribute to staining your teeth, which are expensive to fix. There is nothing I can recommend about this tea, unless you are primarily concerned about getting somewhat jaggedly tea drunk. A review on the YS site compares the sensation after having this to riding a temperamental goat, and I would agree. It is definitely a dumbass goat, and not a fluffy alpaca. I have no idea how you will make this taste good enough to drink. There is not enough sugar and milk in the world to salvage this. Maybe Scott can get his whole stash powdered and put into capsules so people can try out the body feels without having to suffer the smell and taste. Skip this one if you are not a smoker who likes menthol.

Perhaps it’s in an awkward stage but this tea is somehow lacking in flavor over all. It’s hard to describe. I will need to try and increase the leaf ratio. Initial flavor is of eucalyptis and slight camphor/menthol. Delayed sweet apricot huigan, some bitterness. Thin body. Some qi. Vegetal and some umami.

Dry leaf (HAY, SWEET): sweet hay, autumn leaves, old books. Despite “aged” notes of leaves and books, etc., there is a noticeable sweetness that comes out.

Smell (AGED, LEATHER, SWEET): old book, leather, some raisin sweetness

Taste (LEAF, HAY, HONEY, MINERAL, CITRUS): In the mouth – fall leaves, old book, fresh hay, light tobacco, light leather, hint of pepper/white pepper, very light astringency. Finish – mild honey and green stem, lemongrass. Aftertaste lingers with old book, lemongrass, and light but lasting minerality and saccharine sweetness.

This is a great daily drinker. It’s cheap and it’s good. It gives you those “aged” flavors without breaking the bank. Mainly has a “fusty” old book/leather/light tobacco sort of thing going on, but there are a few bright notes of lemongrass and saccharine sweetness to give energy to the whole experience. Couple that with some minerality and some astringency to add a little more depth and you have a great cup of tea on your hands.

This thing won’t be trading at hundreds of dollars on eBay anytime soon, but I have always enjoyed my sessions and have always looked forward to the next one. Well worth the price.