Dry leaf smell is that of dried fruits, chewing tobacco, molasses. Very pleasant.
Hot steaming wet leaf smell has a strange aroma note of cabbage or maybe even kimchi. Cool wet leaf smells more typical sheng, but there is still a bit of that fermented cabbage, but it definitely fades into the background. I don’t get much if any floral notes. There is an underlying very faint scent of cloves that is nice.
I’m doing short steeps of 8-15 secs for the first few infusions. It’s sweet when it first hits the mouth, but for no more than a second before bitterness comes on strong, and a bit sour, too. Mouth drying — lips stick to the front teeth drying. Chalky astringency. Woody, tannin notes are strong. Long lasting thick mouthfeel and aftertaste.
Flavors: Cloves, Dried Fruit, Molasses, Tannin, Tobacco
