All Change at Hengyang

all change at Hengyang -

a gang of four sparrows

boards the train

2009 Douji "Jingmai"

It seems as if I've had this pile of 2009 single-mountain Douji cakes forever, and still haven't had the time to enjoy them. Let's try out the Jingmai...

Summer is in the air

This makes an interesting comparison with the 2009 Xizihao "Jingmai".  Both appear to be very decent cakes, from the look of the leaves.

Almost edible

Like the Xizihao, this Jingmai is sweet, yet tart, with a decidedly citric component to it.  Again, like the Xizihao, the yellow soup is highly active, and changes to orange through extended contact with the air.

Unlike the Xizihao, this one becomes really rather sharp after several infusions, and thins out at the same time.  The Xizihao is definitely the better tea, but this one is a very good runner-up, and weighs in at a fraction of the price.  Given the solid, potent character of both, I imagine that they will do rather well over the coming years.  There's certainly plenty of content in these cakes for the maturing process to get to work on.

2005 Gan En "Banzhang"

Today, a visit from His Grace, the Archduke of Chubbington.  We considered ourselves uniquely favoured to be blessed with his company. 

I require your calories, not your lubbings, human.

This "Gan En" Banzhang is, according to the product description at Essence of Tea, a cake that Nada found for sale in Taiwan, after recognising it from an article about Banzhang teas in Mr. Fisher's on-line magazine, The Leaf.  The latter praised its sweet content.

Small and large leaves blended with huangpian [yellow flakes]

Like other good Banzhang, this one is long, clean, and sweet.  I wrote that "it rings like a bell", in that it continues to resonate well in the mouth, after the swallow.  Again, like other good Banzhang, it is vibrant in the mouth (literally - it feels mildly effervescent on the tongue), and has a clean, sweet base with plenty of interesting grape-like fruits over the top, that dwell in the nose. 

This was one of the first teas that I tried after my six-month long hiatus from proper tea sessions (caused by house renovation, ending in early spring).  I liked it... but I didn't know if I liked it to the tune of £75.  While elegant, it didn't really grab me.

While debating with myself whether or not to buy it, I noticed that Nadacha wasn't actually selling the whole cake - just samples, the whole bing having sold out.  Happily, this removed the dilemma from my mind.  I found just one location on Taobao that had it available, but at a still higher price.

So, without too many tears shed, I enjoyed the remainder of my sample and bid it farewell.  Enjoyable and elegant, but not really my favourite style.  It is one to appreciate for its clarity and purity, rather than anything more engaging.