I had the same problem trying to break bits off of this cake today that I did with another yesterday. It was a little easier because I was able to stick the knife into the end of the rectangle.
The cake doesn’t have much of a smell at all. No fishiness, no leather.
Gaiwan. Boiling. Rinse, 10/10/20/30/40/60/120/240/300/360
I think I didn’t use enough leaf, and I’ll increase it next time.
The color started at a cognac and gradually became lighter instead of becoming darker first.
On the upside, there is no fishiness, and there is no standard earthy/mushroomy flavor.
On the downside, and probably as a result of too little leaf, it gave up the ghost pretty early. I could have stopped after 4, which is when the flavor started to fade.
Before it did, it started with a sweet, molasses-like note that was prominent in the first two steeps. In steeps 2 and 3, a nutty, pecan note came out. In steeps 3 and 4, there was a coffee aroma.
The tea has a smoothness and complete lack of objectionable qualities. Giving it a provisional rating in the mid-80s until I can try it again with more leaf.
Flavors: Coffee, Molasses, Pecan