Another Tea from the Mystery box/sampler.
I’m not normally a big fan of shou. I’d say there are only about 5 of the 30 shous I’ve tasted that I liked well enough to want to add to my collection. This one may be the 6th.
It started out with a rich complex aroma of wood, berries, and spice. The taste is smooth and restrained, with complex flavors of wood and spice. Transitions smoothly to an excellent finish. Lots of cha qi. 2nd steep: Richer, slightly more earthy nose. A hint of bitterness added to the previous flavors. 3rd (20s): Love the nose! Smooth, slightly fruity taste. Subsequent steeps lost the fruit but were pleasant and well-balanced, with no negative aspects.
I usually feel that shou has too much of a decayed flavor or else is too bitter. This had neither, but rather hints of fruit and spice that added a pleasant complexity. The dominant aspect may have been the cha qi. I had to space out my steeps in order to clear my head. Otherwise, I probably would have wound up asleep.
2 10 second rinses, then 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, 60 s steeps at 210 degrees.
Preparation
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Did this tea make you sleepy??!!
Dr Jim, Which 5 shous have impressed you? Thanks!
OK: This is embarrassing. I did a filter on my puerh spreadsheet (sorry; total geek) and found zero with ratings of 90 or higher (superior). So, I dropped the filter level to 85 and found the following:
2010 LangHe YuPin Tea Urchin (86)
2011 and 2012 Noble Mark Mandala (85)
2013 Chun Pin Ripe Menghai Dayi (87)
2012 Year of the Dragon Mandala (88)
Bear in mind, I’m not really a shou drinker. I’m still trying to find ones that I like. Also, at the moment I think I may be falling in love with the Wymm #3, though the main reason I like it is that it is like no other shou I’ve ever had.
Dr Jim, Thanks for the list of your top-rated shou. Spreadsheets are great!
Have you tried these two?
- Mandala Special Dark
- Whispering Pines 2013 Ontario 1357 Shou Pu-erh
Thanks for the reviews Dr Jim!:) Our Shou Pu-Erhs generally have a calming effect and is a ‘before bed’ kind of tea. We normally start off our day with a sheng and end it off with a Shou which helps with sleep.
Tashi, What are the caffeine content of both your Sheng and Shou? Thank you!
looseTman: I haven’t had the WP. Started to say I’d had special dark, but can’t find a tasting note. Found a sample so will try it tonight.
looseTman, the Mangnuo, Jingmai, Bingdao, Huangpian are approx 3.4wt%, Mahei is 3% and all the Shu is about 0.28%
Did this tea make you sleepy??!!
Dr Jim, Which 5 shous have impressed you? Thanks!
OK: This is embarrassing. I did a filter on my puerh spreadsheet (sorry; total geek) and found zero with ratings of 90 or higher (superior). So, I dropped the filter level to 85 and found the following:
2010 LangHe YuPin Tea Urchin (86)
2011 and 2012 Noble Mark Mandala (85)
2013 Chun Pin Ripe Menghai Dayi (87)
2012 Year of the Dragon Mandala (88)
Bear in mind, I’m not really a shou drinker. I’m still trying to find ones that I like. Also, at the moment I think I may be falling in love with the Wymm #3, though the main reason I like it is that it is like no other shou I’ve ever had.
Dr Jim, Thanks for the list of your top-rated shou. Spreadsheets are great!
Have you tried these two?
- Mandala Special Dark
- Whispering Pines 2013 Ontario 1357 Shou Pu-erh
Thanks for the reviews Dr Jim!:) Our Shou Pu-Erhs generally have a calming effect and is a ‘before bed’ kind of tea. We normally start off our day with a sheng and end it off with a Shou which helps with sleep.
Tashi, What are the caffeine content of both your Sheng and Shou? Thank you!
looseTman: I haven’t had the WP. Started to say I’d had special dark, but can’t find a tasting note. Found a sample so will try it tonight.
looseTman, the Mangnuo, Jingmai, Bingdao, Huangpian are approx 3.4wt%, Mahei is 3% and all the Shu is about 0.28%