This shengpu sample was kindly provided by VL (proprietor of Tealogic) and originated from Royal Puer (TeaSpring's puer outfit). This is one of a pair of teas, the other being a 2004.
This is allegedly from young spring Wuliang-shan tea, hence the "xiang".
Method: 15cl shengpu pot; Caledonian Springs @ 100C; 1 rinse; 2 scoops of loose leaf.
Dry leaves:
2cm lengths; dark, with a few tips. A loosely-compressed section of an apparently iron-pressed (Xiaguan-style) bing. I have a strange passion for heavy compression; perhaps it's the gradual release in the pot, acting as a restraint on these energetic young leaves.
12s, 10s:
Just two infusions. Tasting was interrupted, and not resumed due to overwhelming mediocrity. I'll be less cruel to this tea in subsequent sessions.
Clear orange-yellow, with the straw-and-sugar beidixiang that one would expect from a tea with a small number of years of aging. This isn't "xiang" in any respect, excepting a little menthol in the lid-scent. [Gaixiang? Maybe I can invent a term!] Very little aroma from the leaves themselves, which is surely a questionable sign.
Quite sharp, with a touch of smoke. "I would say that it is very simple, but pleasant."
Overall:
Hmm. Definitely not unpleasant. This is as crushingly average as one could get, I think, precisely straddling the boundary between "good" and "bad". If I were being kind, I would say "a daily tea". Refreshing, drinkable, but with nothing to recommend it.
It could well be a blend of lincang and wuliang material, the taste is after all quite mixed... just curious does it specifically say anything about origin on the wrapper?
ReplyDeleteI too thought it was average, at best... oddly this tea makes an appearance in the "First Step To Pu-erh" by clouds; perhaps we're all missing something... (or not)
-vl.
Hmm, lincang too? I can't say that I'm familiar enough with lincang to be able to say... what made you think of that in particular? I would definitely have trouble placing it as wuliang, I have to say - it's so nondescript.
ReplyDeleteAhh... "First Steps to Puer Tea" - I was after a copy myself, but notice that Guang has sold out. Any other ideas? I'd *really* love to hear what Clouds makes of this. I'm pretty sure this cake has no depths to hide. :)
Toodlepip,
D
Thats the point; it makes an appearance as simply a picture... actually that pretty much sums up more than half of the book, it's just pictures. The rest is mostly information that is quite openly available online. Not so useful...
ReplyDeleteI just remember hearing somewhere those were a blend of lincang and wuliang... maybe that was wrong...
-vl.
Ah, perhaps not quite as urgent an addition to my shelves as I had imagined then - thanks.
ReplyDeleteI'll see if I can find some lincang in the ol' sample boxes for the sake of scientific investigation. :)
Toodlepip,
Hobbes