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Didn’t expect much from this one given I had never heard of it before. And indeed, at least on my first try, I am very unimpressed. It seems this is part of the FT series based on other websites selling the cake.

Anyways, this one is just very uninteresting. The smell is exactly like a Xiaguan tea, but the taste is nothing like the typical profile. Regardless of how good it is after a rest, it’s not worth the price at all. Though, I will try it one more time after letting it acclimate, and will adjust my rating appropriately.

This may be an unfair review as I am just getting over a cold, so I will try the tea again in the near future. But for now, my opinion stands. And btw, I got this sample with my second order from TSR, where I bought a tuo of 2007 V93 and a cake of 2007 Haiwan.

Given the fame of this recipe, I was expecting much more. There’s nothing wrong with this tea, it’s just bland and simple. Sure, it tastes like a shou puerh, but without much positive going for it. The primary flavor is death/decay and not much else.

Somehow I completely forgot that I had purchased this one with my last YoT order! I found it when rummaging through my cakes. I definitely like this one more than the other Liu Bao I had previously tried. Still haven’t ever tried betel nut and don’t plan on it, so hard to say if that’s the flavor I get.

I wouldn’t say I get the medicinal notes that others get, however. I think the predominant flavors are earthy and root vegetables. Nice mouthfeel and good longevity.

Last tea sample from LP order. Unlike the young LBZ from NS, this one is actually quite nice! Has an interesting sweet note that is similar to brown sugar or caramel.

Mild astringent note in some of the mid-early infusions, but fades quickly. Not as much cha qi as some other reviewers have noted, but that’s fine with me :). Glad to try this one and see that XZH has some good teas that I can get behind.

Another one from my second NS order. This one is really strange tbh. I dont know how to describe it. Seems pretty watery in mouthfeel yet simultaneously fairly thick. Has a lasting spiciness (think cloves) that is unusual in puerh. Supposedly, Kuzushan means “bitter bamboo mountain.”

Infusions 4-7 certainly started to bring out the bitterness. Not an overbearing bitterness, but still not quite my jam. I can see how people would like this one, though.

The taste later changed again to become a bit more acidic/spicy and the bitterness faded. Lots of complexity here.

Location: Kuzhushan, Jinggu County, Pu’er City, Yunnan, China
Cultivar: Da Ye Zhong

Another one from my second NS order. This one is pretty similar to its 2011 counterpart, but it’s hard to tell the differences without doing side-by-side. Also love this one, but will do a side-by-side comparison in the coming week or so to really tease out any nuances. Definitely high 90s, but will hold off on formal rating until then :).

Edit: Did a side-by-side comparison of this one with the 2011 from the same company. They are pretty similar overall. I will say it is perhaps an unfair comparison. The primary difference is less sweetness and a lingering off note in the 2012. However, looking at the leaves between the two, the 2012 leaves are much more broken. I’m not sure if they just got more crunched somehow, but certainly these leaves will let off more unpleasant notes quicker than the more intact 2011 leaves. Not sure if that’s the only factor contributing to a difference. Nonetheless. this is still a great tea!

The last sample from my order from EoT. This one is decent, though one of my least favorite for shengs of this age. Can tell this one spent some time in HK.

Very smooth and with no bitterness or astringency. Barely any sweetness, if at all. Lasts 12+ infusions. Nothing wrong with this tea per say, but the storage notes are fairly lacking compared to it’s same-aged counterparts. That is what I want, and this tea has likely had too “clean” of storage since it’s days in HK to be the right one for me.

Final tea from my TSR order. Been meaning to try this shou for awhile as it’s on the lighter side of fermentation and is well-loved. I don’t sample shou as much anymore, but I think for the price, this is really nice and I’ll probably have to get a tuo. I just need to try it a couple more times before making up my mind.

This one tastes and smells more distinct than many of the shous I’ve had. Fruitier and less earthy, with a more potent sweetness and more interesting nose. I quite like it!

Another one from my LP order. This is just okay. I’m not getting much from this tea tbh, but I will reevaluate after a rest at some point. I expected more from this famed brand!

From my first ever order from TSR. First tea I’ve tried from Haiwan, and the 200th tea I’ve reviewed!!! This one is super yummy! I think there is a lot going on here and it’s hard to untangle.

There’s a nice mouthfeel with ever so slight of an astringent note that keeps you pining for more. The sweetness is pretty good and it’s got a good lasting flavor. I need to try it one more time after a bit of a rest, but I am almost 100% positive I am buying a cake of this 7452 homage very soon (at an amazing price – $0.19/g!).