Crassicolumna Yabao

Really enjoyed this one from the TTB. I’m very entertained by how the dry leaf looks like small brown pea pods, so it’s off to a strong start before brewing even begins. Going by the instructions, the first steep comes out a little weak, but subsequent steeps are deliciously malty and sweet potato-y. It gave me throwback vibes to a yabao snickerdoodle I had from Verdant years ago, though looking at the steepster page now it doesn’t look like I ever made a note and the notes others have left don’t quite line up with that sense memory. So maybe it’s more of a general impression than a specific flavor profile? I’ll have to dig around and see if I have any left to do a comparison.

My package says Qianjiazhai – I assume it’s the same thing.

Anyhow, I’ve missed yabao, and this was very satisfying. I don’t really know how to describe it – kind of smoky, a bit cedary, earthy? A very unique flavour.

Had the spring 2019 edition of this. It’s alright, but not what I hoped it could be. The search for a passable decaf substitute for black tea continues. . .
As for this, I think I’d have liked it more if it weren’t smoky. There’s some woody, earthy, not-quite-mushroom and plummy notes underneath it, and some vaguely tea-ish flavor, but it’s its own thing at the heart. Interesting looking leaves.
Giving it a no recommendation as a tea, but as a not-tea it’s worth sampling at least.

Stayed fairly close to Verdant’s directions – 2.5g in 60ml gaiwan, 98 C. 1st infusion 10 sec, +5 ff. Dry leaves smell woodsy & earthy & a little of overripe fruit. Also getting an aroma that reminds me of raspberry leaf tea. Wet leaves add a bit of “barnyard” funkiness to the same aromas as dry. First infusion indeed smells a lot like brewed raspberry leaf tea and tastes similar too, though much less intense & not as thick. Taste is sweet, smooth, with hints of earthy fruit. By third steep there is an herby/woody taste creeping in – reminds me of rosemary, though not as strong. A little dryness throughout mouth & throat. The fragrant wood flavor becomes more prominent – like cedar? At around steep 9, there is a cooling, almost minty finish; this continues with the cooling effect even growing a bit until I stop after 12 infusions.

Tried western style with remainder of sample; most of the same flavors, even stronger sense of raspberry leaf tea.

Trying this caffeine-free herbal was very interesting. Tea is not unpleasant, but I don’t feel any need to purchase any more.

I got this tea as a sample and just to try it I steeped it western with the 5 g sample pack in 8 oz of water, which is not my normal method. I was only going to do one steeping and I was not sure how long to go, but I went with 2’30". The tea has the aroma of a light raw pu-erh and a similar color. It is earthy with a background flavor of plums.

I was so excited when they got more Gan Zao Ye in stock- that’s my favourite tea I’ve bought from Verdant yet. When I stocked up on that I also decided to try this tea out as well seeing as it’s another caffeine free tea :).

Brewed up always at 200F with 8oz of water, close to 5grams of tea (my scale isn’t sensitive enough to tell the exact amount). I’ve tried the first steeping, subsequent steeps, long steeps and short steeps, and to me it tastes like a very mild black tea without astringency (or caffeine). Maybe similar to a Darjeeling? My palate isn’t in tune to black teas very much seeing as how I cannot handle them. I did enjoy this tea though, and it did not hurt my stomach :).