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derk drank Jin Jun Mei (2017) by Old Ways Tea

1623 tasting notes

This was a freebie provided by Old Ways Tea what seems like many lives ago.

Some jots:

Dry leaf — deep, dark old growth forest, orchids, spicy, WOW.
Warmed leaf — complex HOLY COW
Liquor color — clear cool brown w/ a green-grey-blue ring around the edge of the cup
Tastes — woody, leathery, malty, sweet, mineral, creamy, fruity, spicy, cooling, sweet potato, lemon, lychee, baked bread, brown sugar, herbs.
Progression — the low tones fade as sweet potato comes forward, then finally black pepper and citrus come to the forefront. Most pronounced black pepper note I’ve ever experienced in hongcha.

Got 6 good short steeps like most hong.

I had a very difficult time parsing this tea due to my mood and the tea’s complexity and low tonal nature.
May I point you in the direction of eastkyteaguy’s review?
https://steepster.com/eastkyteaguy/posts/384677#likes

Flavors: Black Pepper, Bread, Brown Sugar, Citrus, Citrusy, Creamy, Forest Floor, Fruity, Herbs, Leather, Lemon, Lychee, Malt, Mineral, Orchid, Pine, Spicy, Sweet, Sweet Potatoes, Wet Rocks, Wood

Preparation

205 °F / 96 °C 5 g 3 OZ / 100 ML

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This place, like the rest of the internet, is dead and overrun with bots. Yet I persist.

Eventual tea farmer. If you are a tea grower, want to grow your own plants or are simply curious, please follow me so we can chat.

I most enjoy loose-leaf, unflavored teas and tisanes. Teabags have their place. Some of my favorite teas have a profound effect on mind and body rather than having a specific flavor profile.

Favorite teas generally come from China (all provinces), Taiwan, India (Nilgiri and Manipur). Frequently enjoyed though less sipped are teas from Georgia, Japan, and Nepal. While I’m not actively on the hunt, a goal of mine is to try tea from every country that makes it available to the North American market. This is to gain a vague understanding of how Camellia sinensis performs in different climates. I realize that borders are arbitrary and some countries are huge with many climates and tea-growing regions.

I’m convinced European countries make the best herbal teas.

Personal Rating Scale:

100-90: A tea I can lose myself into. Something about it makes me slow down and appreciate not only the tea but all of life or a moment in time. If it’s a bagged or herbal tea, it’s of standout quality in comparison to similar items.

89-80: Fits my profile well enough to buy again.

79-70: Not a preferred tea. I might buy more or try a different harvest. Would gladly have a cup if offered.

69-60: Not necessarily a bad tea but one that I won’t buy again. Would have a cup if offered.

59-1: Lacking several elements, strangely clunky, possesses off flavor/aroma/texture or something about it makes me not want to finish.

Unrated: Haven’t made up my mind or some other reason. If it’s puerh, I likely think it needs more age.

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