Teaurchin

Simply put, working within the $.20 to $.50 per gram range and averaging my overall sheng spending at $.35 per gram, this tea is wonderful. Getting a cake.

Also want to thank Tea Urchin for pricing their samples with such a low mark up.

PS May come back and add more notes at a future date.

This morning I am drinking a sample here I got from a friend… the 2nd time I’ve had it in the last couple of weeks.

It’s interesting the different type of flavors you get from sheng. Compared to a smoky, sour tea like a Xiaguan, this is much more mellow and more of an every day drinking tea for most people. I’m getting the sweetish/brown sugary notes, with a definite bittersweet flavor in the finish. I’ve tended to like the “Yiwu” shengs I’ve had in the past. I like the more relaxing energy I am getting from this. Not sure how to rate this one right now.

Seriously tempted to buy some but why is TeaUrchin shipping so expensive? $20 flat rate for China Post airmail? Seems like a lot if you are ordering something small.

A sample of this tea was in my Christmas present from sweet Marzipan :D

The only other Sparrow’s Tongue I’ve had was a tightly rolled very green version. Totally different from this! This one is all creamy and roasty and has a pleasant mineral finish. Extremely faint glimpses of floral notes peek through occasionally. Generally I prefer greener oolongs but this is a nice change for me.

I came across this tea while sorting through a lot of pu samples. I prepared about 5.5 grams and steeped them for a brief 5-10 seconds. I usually use shorter steep times with LMEs. The wet leaves have a pleasant nose that brings smoke and fruits to mind. Surprisingly, the liquor isn’t as bitter as I had expected, considering its origin. There is a heavy ku but its definitely tolerable. Nice hui gan and mouthfeel. There is what I find to be a charming astringency in this tea. IMO, this tea can definitely be enjoyed today but giving it a few years may be required for those who enjoy softer pus. 82/100

This sheng is kind of strange. My first steep had a bitterness that reminded me of cocoa…but it is definitely a SHENG so it is really weird. Like, the liquor is a translucent amber…how is this giving me cocoa notes?

2nd steep also bitter, but more fruity. I will have to be more careful with this one in the future- maybe lower temp and shorter steeps…I do feel like the flavors lying under the bitterness are quite interesting!