A sipdown! (M: 5 Y: 21)
As I am enjoying a work-free week; I decided to make a dent in my tea stash. Yesterday I have rechecked all the tea, reorganised my tea chests, and found out I have more puerh than I have thought and more herbals than I am able to finish in timely manner. So, that included also removing all the tea from Steepster cupboard and re-adding them afterwards.
So, that said; I have also time to sipdown some last servings (I have much more than I want to admit) and some gongfu steeps that I hardly find time for.
I brought last 4 grams from sample that derk sent me, who knows when, but thank you anyway. I did no rinse, not even preheated gaiwan.
1st steep — 15 seconds
Very interesting aroma of leaves as well as the liquor, like forest floor combined with licorice root; but on the other hand, more important for me, taste-wise it is just flat and not flavourful at all. There is some sweetness in the background; but almost unnoticeable.
2nd steep — 25 seconds
Now there are also some refreshing, like menthol, aroma in the nose. The sweetness is still prominent, but also bitterness creeps around the corner. Or maybe it is not a bitterness, but citrus rinds and alkali. Dry aftertaste, which is rather unpleasant.
3rd steep — 30 seconds
Oh dear. This is pure alkali combined with dirty and muddy forest floor.
Bad steep, bad steep!
4th steep — again 30 seconds
Bitter citrus rinds. Not a fan.
5th steep — 50 seconds
No notes made, probably similar to previous one, but not so strong.
6th steep — 60 seconds
Bitter something with thick mouthfeel, lasts long and this tea is finished for me by now.
Isn’t it fulfilling to organize our stash? I just stand and stare at mine after I give it a good going over!