Tie Guan Yin Mao Cha

I got a small 3g sample of this one with my order at Hotsoup, which I am currently preparing in my gaiwan. The people at Hotsoup ask for reviews of their samples, but apparently this one isn’t sold anymore, so I can’t review it on their site.

The leaves are tightly rolled, a little piece of stem sticking out of each one. They have a dark, blackish roast color.

Smell of the wet leaves: strong, very charming, buttery roasted oolong smell. Remarkably sweet. It reminds me of some dong ding I have drank before, but a lot sweeter.

First infusion: some thickness, a little sweetness. Leaves are still closed so I’m expecting more than this.

Second and following infusions: a deepening of soft, easy flavors. Buttery and remarkably mineral. A little too mineral for my taste, because it gives a watery feel to the tea. This tea is not complex but pleasant. I wouldn’t call this tea astringent, but it has that very mild pleasant drying effect in the mouth that I recognize from light tieguanyins.