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“A great tea… expensive company. Dry Leaf – Light and dark tones of green with some brown stems. Amazing sweet scent that reminds me of sweet corn and buckwheat honey, and a flowery scent I cant...” Read full tasting note
“I smelled artichoke hearts, my tea partner mentioned gardenia. Added about 15 seconds each steeping, 3 steepings total, could have probably teased at least one more. In the second steeping, I...” Read full tasting note
Peaking at 2200 meters above sea level, Lishan is the third highest mountain amongst the 12 that make up the Lishan Range. The tea garden from which this tea is harvested lies at approximately 2000 meters (6500 feet) above sea level, an elevation that yields temperate weather in the summer and light snow fall in the winter.
At this elevation, the tea plants are exposed to strong sunshine only in the morning before they are quickly enshrouded in mist. This short sun exposure allows the leaves to produce intense flavor compounds, but tempers the bitterness that can result from over-exposure. The cooler temperature also retards the plant’s metabolism, enabling the leaves to retain and store more flavor compounds.
This tea was hand-picked in late April 2012. Unstable weather significantly lowered yields this year, but what was produced is surprisingly delicious and complex, a testament to the skill of the tea maker. In his capable hands, we have yet another exceptionally wonderful tea this year.
Initial infusions yield a tea that is smooth and sweet with a hint of sugarcane and pine needles. Longer infusions yield intense floral and citrus notes over a viscous foundation of butter cream that seems to cling to our palates.
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A great tea… expensive company.
Dry Leaf – Light and dark tones of green with some brown stems. Amazing sweet scent that reminds me of sweet corn and buckwheat honey, and a flowery scent I cant pinpoint.
Wet leaves- Sweet corn smell raises, warm butter and honey with a flower background. As the leaves open the flowery background becomes more apparent but sweet corn nuttiness is the main character. Once the leaves have opened I get the same scents I got previously but with an added citrus character and very apparent mango. As the steeps continue the scents start to fade and mostly mango with hints of the sweetcorn remain with some green vegetable smell in the background.
The Tea – Gong fu style (with a washing of leaves). Butter and lilac seem to be the main character but seem to be only opening up for a sweet honey and nuttiness of corn. Next two steeps are very similar with variations of which specific flavor is highlighted and a slight astringency appears. Once the leaves are fully opened Honey, corn nutty flavors are in the background while a mango/citrus taste becomes apparent and lingers on after sipping a long after the astringency is there but doesn’t lessen the experience. I got the next two steeps being very similar with the last one starting to fade in sweetness and nuttiness but the aftertaste of mango/citrus will linger on. (Mango as in the after taste flavor of eating a ripe mango.)
In summary this IS a really good tea but I’m not sure I would pay the price again, I’ve had similar and better from other sources. But since I’m rating the tea and not the price. GREAT tea!
I smelled artichoke hearts, my tea partner mentioned gardenia.
Added about 15 seconds each steeping, 3 steepings total, could have probably teased at least one more.
In the second steeping, I noticed more sweetness. The light tea gave a coating on the middle of the tongue.
Fair amount of good bitterness.
I enjoyed the tea.
How much was it? Thats cool to rate the tea and not the price.
They are a bit on the pricey side, it’s true
2oz for $31, great tea… You can get similar/better same price 4oz. Good experiece though. In general they are expensive and no free shipping option no matter how much you spend, and is based on weight. Good if you like specific teas and you go to their store.
I live in San Francisco so I have been to their store a few times. It’s nice to be able to try something before you buy it, their pu-erhs are great, I also have the heritage rougui and the new craft white tea.
I much prefer the winter harvest for Lishan, but I’m a sucker for the heavier mouthfeel those can offer.
I have to try that one. I love trying the same tea harvested in different seasons. Amazing what weather does to the leaves.
I’m curious to know your brewing parameters for this gong fu style? How many grams of tea to water and how long? I’m experimenting myself.