I bought this in 2013 and have had it in storage for a couple years, but never tried it. Since it’s around 5 years old now I thought I’d try it out. I used 10-12g in a 200ml yixing with boiling water and longish steeps of 12, 7, 10, 15, 30, 60, 120. This tea was really smooth and well balanced. Not too bold, but plenty flavorful. Notes of bitter sweet cocoa, dark leather, and a faint mineral earthiness were evenly prominent and blended together very well. It had a decent little hui gan too, I noticed a gentle mouth numbing in between cups. There was a mild relaxing cha qi, but not much. I liked this one a lot more that I thought I would, so much so I may buy another cake or two. Although the 2011 has sold out on YS the 2012 is available and at $7.20 for a 200g cake it’s priced right to be a solid daily drinker.
Boiling
0 min, 15 sec
12 g
7 OZ / 200 ML