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Ho-kay. Talk about hyped… another sample I was feeling a little intimidated by, which drinking it fixed. “I’ll show you, leaves!”

I got some smoke. I got some creaminess in the opening steeps. “Sweet” — relative-to, right? It’s smooth and nice. I did not experience any noticeable cha qi.

And here’s where I just have to be brave around all y’all more seasoned drinkers and say that I’m not really here for easy. (I feel the same way about wine or scotch, and don’t understand “goes down smooth” as a selling point — please give me peat bog.) If we can turn up some basement-camphor or old furniture or porcini or rootbeer or weird smoked fruit, I’m in. If it makes me see pink elephants, also great: please send.

My benchmark at this point is the Purple Barrel Maocha… any sheng-variant much less interesting than that, and I’d rather be drinking oolong. Price versus experience, this isn’t for me. Er… actually just experience-experience. Alas. :(

Yeasty bread dough. Not super complex, but new to me and enjoyable. Glad I bit.

The oolong base here is distinctly Jin Xuan, though a little under-equipped for the job of supporting pomelo flower fragrance. Quite “green” tasting; I don’t think the base necessarily needed to be more floral, but it could have done with less bitter-green and more creaminess. Disjointed. Might cold brew and try it iced.

I’ve been pretty nervous about trying this, as it feels larger than life and quite intimidating based on everything I’ve read about it. And just Lao Man E in general — this is my first.

Beautiful leaves, all colors of grey like a dried mushroom party.

1
Light iodine on the nose, bandaids at the bottom of cup. Already I’m wondering how different my impressions will be from some of the notes I’ve seen earlier. This stuff already has extra years on it! Tastes lightly sweet of grape, undefined floral. Leaves smell herbaceous, with tobacco.

2
Light mushroom and iodine nose. I like that. Juicy in the mouth; still nebulous floral, like wildflower petals. Herbs still on the leaves… fresh fennel?

3
I do experience some hui gan, not long-lived. Tastes and nose not changing much, though.
I actually do really like the medicinal/iodine on the nose as I lift the cup, and then the floral, juicy, subtly sweet taste. It’s a really interesting juxtaposition.

4
Oh, a pass of banana after a lip smack, lol. Remains juicy; there is astringency, but it feels like it dances around in the pockets and just pinpricks the juiciness. No defined swathes of dryness.

6 or 7…?
Some diffuse melon, smoothing out more now. Deeper yellow-orange liquor, where it started more goldenrod.

10th or so infusion?
These later sheng infusions are sometimes so approachable and delightful. That’s happening here. The astringency has subsided, the leaves finally yielding to roundness, smoothness.

My thermos ran out, and I have a cat on my lap, sooo… I’m pausing for now. I can’t say I am experiencing huge cha qi (no dancing, daggit), but I feel at peace with the session (and some relief, finally sitting down with this icon and making it tangible).

Thank you, derk!

Bowled this morning. Delicious, but my least favorite preparation method for these little snails. Trades the soft and luxurious cocoa intensity for a more delicate spread.

Leaves were beautiful.

First impression only. I like the barrel-stored better, just in terms of palate interest.

I am starting to get the feeling I should heed the warnings to store barrel-aged teas separate from others, as they clearly have a lot to, uh… share.

Light camphor in both. Poorly-integrated barrel and alcohol notes in the barrel-aged. Wouldn’t mind some more age, generally, on both. Neither I’d chase further than this sampler… an interesting poke around, though.

Shook a teaspoon of this into my iced water for a hike in Malibu Creek State Park. The usually-dry riverbed is deep, the rapids painted neon with massive seaweed blooms. Creekbed to sky, everything is so green. I didn’t plan the color coordination, but bright matcha was right at home.

Sat down at our turnaround point just as I was getting the sugar lows; some gooseberries, an apple, and this refreshing little splash were a perfect pick-me-up. I look forward to having this warm with almond milk, as I think the berries will jam up and really shine.

Moist topsoil, dry dust, tiny bit of barnyard. Some sweetness on later steeps as they cool. Uncomplicated and comforting, though I wouldn’t buy more. From an LP hookup.

Holy shit, derk. Thank you. This is everything.

Bowled. This tea… this is where I resonate. My tea. I didn’t take a single note and just sat there transfixed (and muttering expletives).

How the hell is this a GABA? As if my mind wasn’t reeling enough. “I don’t like GABAs,” she says.

It doesn’t sound like this is going to be available any more… I don’t know what to do with that. I have enough for one more bowl. Maybe I’ll take better notes next time; maybe I’ll just be.