Yongde’s Big Snow Mountain area produced some of my favorite teas. Needless to say, this one had big shoes to fill.
I do like this tea for its regional characteristics and aging potential. It’s not as impact-full or fruity as Finepuer’s 2009 version (when will they ever restock I do not know…), but it shares some qualities that I think are unique to the Yongde Big Snow Mountain area, such as a varied sweetness that coats the tongue for a long time. I picked up notes of chocolate and vanilla bean. The tea soup is a bright orange and a bit on the opaque side. It has that sharpness I like, which should round out in the next year or so.
The highly potent cha qi, indicative of the tea’s unique origin, is immediately felt and is making me feel flushed in the face. This is unusual for me, as cha qi normally moves downward towards my solar-plexus and then down to my core. This one affects me much like a 3rd glass of wine.
The aftertaste is long and powerful, as well. Although, I’m not a fan of the pronounced grainy feeling (not numbing) left on my tongue, I am left with an overall pleasant experience. Certainly, this is a wonderful candidate for aging, but not bad to drink now either.
