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First session with a sample from derk. Thank you for sharing this incredibly-much-yapped-about little bugger.

I have to first admit that LP did a big ol’ drop a couple days ago, and I blind-bought a cake of this. I’m not sure how I feel about that decision now, though I think overall I’m looking forward to having more time to explore it.

After doing some digging, I understand it’s a blend (so each chunk is a bit unpredictable); I understand both bamboo and (preferable) paper tongs were produced; I understand that different storages via different vendors are already having a pronounced effect on these cakes. I feel lucky that mine will be a paper tong from Taiwan storage.

The big takeaway is supposedly medicinal cherry, and I honestly picked up none of that during my session. I got apricot, I got crisp astringency. It actually reminded me a LOT of the little Teavivre sample I had yesterday — though I (ironically?) got cherry right off the bat from that one.

Qi, eh. I was post-workout and feeling kind of buzzy/relaxed anyway, so I’ll reserve judgment there.

Since I knew I had more of this coming, I just wanted to sort of sit and get a general feel for the thing. I am of a mixed mind at the moment; I probably would not have sprung for the cake based on this sesh, but the universe has funny ways of bringing us what we need, so. I’m going with it.

I’ve had a few sessions with this tea over the past few months. Each time, I read all the logs that have come before me — and then get surprised when my session is enjoyable, lol.

I don’t find this overly or even particularly sweet. The warmed leaf has gorgeous smells of roasted and salted white sweet potato. Same comes through in the sip, with rye and some cocoa notes. A little dryness in the early steeps that I find interesting rather than distracting. I didn’t count my steeps, but it lasted longer than I expected it to.

I’d like to try this western.

Different than “That Camphor Cake,” this is a shou whereas TCC is a sheng.

This one, eh. Definite camphor cooling, not a challenging sip, no paper bag (hooray!)… a little damp, baby astringency, surprisingly watery, and… kinda vapid. I’ve been letting each steep sit for progressively longer, but all I really have to show for it is some uvular dryness and menthol tingle on my bottom lip. I guess the astringency is a little novel for a shou.

This must have been part of a Hookup, or maybe a replacement for Wet Cigar, which I paid for but didn’t get.

Hm.

Maybe this is one of those “stew for best effect” shous? I can try. ¯\(ツ)/¯

First session; so far, I’m not a fan of this very popular shou. There is a distinct, edgy, paper-bag-but-not-quite-cardboard note in a lot of shous that just pulls me out of the experience, I’m finding, and Yogurt has that. I don’t know how to better explain it, and I don’t know what causes it.

Alchemy from YS doesn’t have it. Although I don’t feel that’s a terribly complex cake, I do enjoy it and find it easy and comforting in both flavor and energy.

I just ordered a few more shous from LP; I’m quite hopeful I’ll find a better fit among those, as this is really my first disappointment from him.

A sample packet from ashmanra — thank you!

Clear cherry notes coming from the warmed leaves. The little packet had 10g in it, so I took most of the broken material for this 5g/100ml steep in a new cheapy gaiwan. Lots of little junk in the first pour as a result. Hay and more light cherry notes on the nose and in the sip. Astringency in the second steep that reads more as crispness than drying. Very clear apricot notes on the wet leaves.

I appreciate that the gaiwan in general encourages lid-off-between-steeps and really appreciating the look and smell of the leaves; this gaiwan in particular is one that can support the lid between the cup and the saucer as a nice compact package.

I haven’t seen a lot of love for Fengqing puerh. This is pretty mild, one of those shengs that alllllmost leaves me feeling like I missed something. But then it’s refreshing and easy and I enjoy the sip — and maybe that’s enough.

Next steep loses some astringency. That’s fun. Apricot/peach dominate the leaf scent, while the taste rides a pleasant line of refreshment without too much HEY LOOKIE ME flavor profile. I get some wet rock/mountain flashes with the crispness. It’s nice. And it’s lasting several steeps.

I feel quite relaxed, but I know I’m running on fumes and this is the first sit-and-think time I’ve taken in 8 days… not sure if Tea or Tired.

I wouldn’t buy more of this, I guess, but I’d be thrilled if it was offered by a friend. Which it was. <3

Smoky, tingly cellar. More cupboards than cardboard. Grandpa’s crackled leather strap rollerskates are definitely down here somewhere.

A gift from derk, and leaves she esteems highly, so… an honor.

I christened my first proper tea bowl with this tea. I was terribly patient in seeking a bowl, and patient to find its first leaves… sitting quietly with it today felt easy and comforting. Patience gets a thumbs up.

It’s been a long week of work-related-but-phenomenal classes, and I head out for a straight 48 hours of actual work in the morning. These minutes were welcome respite and afforded some reflection.

The orchid is just so. So grounding, but so light; so beautiful, but so… hm, practical. The evergreen lets the florals hang in a way that feels tenuous… ah, but they persist. I watched the leaves unfurl and churn and resituate and drop, absorbing water like inspiration for the next right thing. I thought about the so-many hands that had touched them before I sat dumbfounded, watching them rewind.

I need to watch more tea leaves.