(Checking in on how my collection is developing)
Wet Leaves: Smoke. Like Scott says on YS, it’s a distinctly “BBQ” kind of smoke, like savory foods cooking on a grill. Heavy, dense aroma. Smells oily, like resin or lacquer. Hard to pick out aromas. Maybe some fruitiness or vegetal?
Early Steeps: Smoke. Already feeling a little thick. Fairly sweet.
Middle Steeps: Robust. Thick, sweet, and whole lot of bitterness. Smoke has calmed down, and now a fresh fruitiness is peeking through.
Tail End: Smoke has finally balanced, some herbal flavors present, and penetrating sheng bitterness lingers a long time after wards.
Verdict: Good, aggressive young tea, but I don’t enjoy this as much as when I was a total newbie. But great candidate for storage though, obviously. Will probably only drink it in a specific mood.
I still have mine separated from the rest.