2024: The one below was a sample. This one is from the bag I ordered. A bit weird to send a sample of something you also ordered. My palate for puer and dark teas has changed a bit. I’m getting a better feel for them but still not sure I enjoy this one. The opening notes of tue dry leaf are not fully pleasant on the nose. A bit vinegary. The flavor is the same as last year
2023: Oh boy. There is that telltale pu erh fishiness. The dry aroma isn’t heavy or off-putting with it but just enough to have my hair stand a bit. Lots of different leaf in this sample. Single leaves, short leaves, really long leaves, silver hairy buds. Bud, first, and second pluck. Fascinating. After the rinse the wet leaves have lost the fishy altogether there was a bit of Big Island orange and star fruit and old beach wood. Flavor is resin to begin and remains that way with the first infusion. Pu erh, like many teas, really needs a deep dive to develop a palate for it. The aftertaste is very nice vanilla and tropical fruits, custard. The astringency is strong with this one if left unchecked.
