Hou de carries some killer tea, so I expected no less from this. The leaf is very dark and somewhat crumbly. A nice note of oak barrel, raisin, and spice emit from the leaves. I warmed my gaiwan and slipped some inside. The aroma expanded into some interesting tobacco, leather, and barley notes. I could pick up some tangy buckwheat honey and possible green apple (?) along with a floral background of gardenias. I washed the leaves and prepared for brewing. The taste begins very sweet and very thick. A prominent note of vanilla and crème greets my tongue along with a sturdy woody base. The next steeping brings about fresh honeycomb and a dark fruity background. The brew is quite complex and changing, for the next steeping leaves me with some spice in the aftertaste. The soup brings a nice huigan and is an easy drinker. The storage is crisp and clean, and the tea goes down rather quickly. The qi is restricted to the chest and acts as a coolant and pressurizer. I have no complaints with this tea. It was really good, but for some reason it didn’t leave a memorable impression with me. I’m not sure why; I guess we just weren’t compatible, haha.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BIVvEGtAwst/?taken-by=haveteawilltravel
Flavors: Gardenias, Green Apple, Honey, Leather, Oak, Raisins, Red Fruits, Smooth, Sweet, Tobacco, Vanilla
