This tea tasted pretty good. The fermentation was not overpowering or fishy or even really unpleasant. There was a bittersweet note at first, reminding me a little of bittersweet chocolate. After the bitter note went away a sweet note remained. Not entirely sure what to call that sweet note. Overall this was a very good tea. However, I have to question the quality of the fermentation. I eat nothing at all around the time I drank this. Something made me sick and it was likely the tea. I suppose I could be coming down with something and it could be a coincidence but I doubt it. Because I can’t be sure it was the tea I’m not going to lower my rating because of it. If it happens again the next time I drink this then I suppose I will be certain. I only gave this eight steeps, but I was using a big 220ml teapot. It would definitely have gone a few more steeps. Overall this was a good tea.
I steeped this tea eight times in a 220ml teapot with 12.6g leaf and boiling water. I gave it a 10 second rinse. I steeped it for 5 sec, 5 sec, 7 sec, 10 sec, 15 sec, 20 sec, 25 sec, and 30 sec. The tea would have certainly gone a few more steeps but I had had enough caffeine for the day.
Flavors: Dark Bittersweet, Sweet