Imperial Grade Laoshan Black Tea from Shandong

From the intro to hongcha sampler!

It’s been a bit since I’ve had a Laoshan hongcha, I think the last time was Umber from Chroma a few years ago. Who knows how long it’s been since I’ve had it plain. So it was time, ha ha!

This is delightful. Very bready and chewy with that caraway note that I usually associate with Fujian teas. Oodles of malt and grain, and yet it’s not heavy somehow. Very smooth, slightly creamy texture that fills the mouth and feels very satisfying to drink. And, of course, plenty of unsweetened roasted cacao notes, along with a clear, lingering sweetness with a hint of clover nectar. A bit of starchy potato in there somewhere as well, mixed in with the malt. I see they mention yam in the description, but I’m getting more of a standard potato or yuca fry note.

Very enjoyable, satisfying enough for the morning yet light enough for the afternoon. I am curious about the classic version as well, will have to try that one at a later date!

(Spring 2025 harvest)

Thank you Evol Ving Ness for sharing. I made this to accompany my black sesame eclair and while the eclair had loads of caramel this tea is all chocolate. The end of the sip as it cools gets a touch more bitter (for lack of a better word). I’m also getting stone fruit which seems out of place. It’s very nice but I think I’ve preferred some of the other blacks I’ve had.

The goal for today was to go out and do some raid battles in Pokemon Go. Caught Ho-oh in the first battle I found in my neighborhood – so that was easier than expected and came home early to lounge around the house for the rest of the day.

Tonight I’m drinking this YS Laoshan. Not what I was expecting. This should be chocolatey – it not. It’s desserty but not chocolate. It’s more sweet potato/pecan pie. Yam/starch, cooked sugar, nutty, and a little roasty. The mouthfeel is also a little thin for my liking – this makes it seem more watery than it really is. This is good – it’s fine – I’m happily drinking it tonight, but it’s not amazing. Thanks Evol for sharing.

I’m using my fun little pot tonight. I really like this pot for black and oolong teas. It doesn’t pour fast enough for moonlight or sheng, but for darker teas it’s a great little pot. Happy I bought it.

Nose; Chocolate, oranges, sweet potato, malt, slightly earthy, rich, clover. Palate; brown sugar, dark chocolate, slight candied orange peel, sweet grass. Somewhat delicate for a black tea, nice.

Sample from Hoálatha

Notes of dark chocolate which lingers on the tip of the tongue in the aftertaste. A softer mouthfeel that the Classic Laoshan. I loved that the dark chocolate note had coated the mouth on the initial sip, and lingered behind in the aftertaste.

I’m so torn about this tea. It’s definitely cocoa-y and a bit malty. No bitterness though there’s an astringency that I feel rather than taste. I tried steeping shorter times but found it thin and weak. Three minutes seemed to be the sweet spot for me. I got a pleasant four minute additional steep out of it as well.

As to why I’m torn, I like it though I feel like I prefer the VT Laoshan black, but would really really rather prefer this one because there’s just so much more on offering through YS that I’m enjoying. And the better price point sure doesn’t hurt. I really should have gotten a sample of the Classic Laoshan Black as well. Derp. Oh well.

Dry cocoa with a hint of that dark chocolate bitter taste from the first bite.

A different type of taste than the higher grade stuff from Verdant. When it comes down to pairing: this is a tea to enjoy with something, while the Verdant tea is something to drink on its own.

The brew to this smells more appealing after the Classic version—more like a chocolate biscuit. The wet leaves almost smell like a hot cereal with cocoa. There’s something almost liquor smelling about the brewing leaves that leaves me a little dizzy with anticipation. I’ve never had the Godiva chocolate liquor, but it’s how I would imagine it to smell.

The cocoa flavor is much more pronounced than in the YS Classic.; it comes out of my nose as I breathe out. The dark chocolate flavor becomes sugary as it cools, and the flavor turns a little bready. I’m getting chocolate croissant feelings from this tea. There’s a bit of astringency that brews out in subsequent steeps, and any bitterness is like that of a dark chocolate rather than a bitter black tea; it’s very faint.

I did a comparison on the YS Laoshans against Verdant. Full post and photos here: http://www.catlaittea.com/2016/09/05/laoshan-showdown-yunnan-sourcing-vs-verdant/

For those that have been around a while… today we finally got around to submitting my job role for evaluation with HR. As in, after the like year? 2? of going back and forth on what my role should really entail while i do a little of everything…we’re finally getting close to the finish line. What does it really mean? Nothing yet…but the possibility of getting to hire underlings for me and a bump in grade…paving the way for more corporate ladder climbing if i’m so inclined…or yeah..and theoretically a raise. lol

so i had this tea…to celebrate. yay

I purchased this in hopes of finding a substitute for Verdant’s, since I won’t purchase from them anymore due to their deceptive marketing. This was quite similar to theirs – tiny curled leaves, and a rich malty chocolate type brew. I found this to be a bit lighter and fruitier than what I recall from Verdant. It is quite good.