Single Bush Red Tea (Dancong Hong Cha)

Adventaggedon Day Five – 5/5

Gongfu!

I got a new gaiwan and cup set in the mail today from Purple Cloud Tea House and it was perfect timing because it let me brew this gongfu at my desk over the coarse of the afternoon as I worked. I really wish I had thought to write down some tasting notes as I sipped, but I didn’t so I’m gonna have to rely on my memory… Not ideal today.

It was just very, very good though! Thick and syrupy liquor and more sweet and punchy than I’d expected it to be based on the dry leaf aroma. Kind of a mix between slightly umami notes of sweet potato, leather, rye bread, and oak and darker fruity notes of brandied plums, cherry, pomegranate molasses, and red wine. Really quite complex.

I got like seven steeps total and maybe could have gotten a couple more, but it was after 5PM and I really wanted to head home and decompress for the day. I’m just not quite used to having to balance work and this level of daily documenting of my tea – it took a lot out of me today.

Today’s Advent Photos: https://www.instagram.com/p/ClzWCzSvEvU/

Song Pairing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8g8uUGhSKY

The Tea Practitioner Advent Calendar 2022 – Day 5

Steeped this one up Western-style like the heathen I am.

This tastes primarily savory to me, but then there’s a neat lingering clear sweetness in the background and at the end of the sip. Otherwise it has a lot of the notes I expect from a Fujian hongcha, heavy on the malty, wheaty bread and caraway with some lovely deep cocoa notes. Also getting some potato, and it’s making me want French fries… There’s a subtle floral character, happily it’s not as strong as it would be in the oolong. I’m not sure about fruitiness, I know it mentions cherry in the description. I don’t think I get much of that, perhaps a hint, but that could also be wishful thinking on my part. I do get a tiny bit of fruit, but I would describe it more as dried apricot.

Regardless, a yummy Chinese black tea!