2018 Ghosts

Unlike for TWT, my impression of this tea improved as the session went on. It also lasted about 14 infusions, which is fairly good. Early on, I found the tea too astringent and light bodied. On the other hand, the second half of the session shows more enduring sweetness and a creamier, thicker mouthfeel that remains interesting all the way until the last steep.

I found the aroma of this blend very weak and uninteresting. The only notes sticking out in early stages were those of spearmint and anise. The taste of the rinse is juicy and mineral with a vegetal bitterness. Early infusions are bittersweet and astringent with flavours of honey, green bell pepper, black pepper, fennel seeds and slightly marine character. Late steeps were more floral and agreeable for me personally. The aftertaste is tangy and kind of green tea like. As for the texture, it is coating, drying, and waxy at first, but get very creamy later on as I already alluded to.

2018 Ghosts seems like a mix of the profiles of two other W2T teas I own, namely Year of the Rooster and Demon Slayer. Ultimately, I find it less enjoyable than both, despite being more expensive than either. It is quite an unremarkable tea without a distinctive character all in all.

Starts good, but doesn’t keep up for long.. if it went on longer I’d consider buying a cake.

Seems to me that this price range is one of the more difficult ones to compete in.. A ton of teas in this category, and most have one major compromise. Add 20% and you can find some really well rounded teas. subtract 20% and you can find teas that aren’t that far behind.

This is an interesting one. Starts rather vegetal, roasty, smoky even. Reminds me of a spread/dip/chutney that is very popular here in Bulgaria which we call lyutenitsa… good luck pronouncing that. It’s made with roasted sweet red peppers and tomatoes and everyone you ask will tell you that their homemade version is the best (or at least it used to be like that in my childhood, people are oh so busy nowadays).

This savoriness is accompanied by a controlled dose of astringency and bitterness. Be careful with steeping time though. I totally forgot steep 8 or 9 and after soaking for a good 5 minutes or so it was insanely bitter. I drank it all the same, we must not blame the tea for our inadequacies. Anyway, don’t pay me much heed, I’m a sucker for a good negroni… or three, so my taste buds have had some training.

Mid-session this tea takes a sharp U-turn. All the savory goodness is replaced by sweetness, honey, apricots and flowers, something slightly herbal as well. A most intriguing development. The astringency is oblivious to this sudden change of character and keeps diligently to its business, not faltering for an instant.

As for the feeling, I did get a slight buzz but nothing too crazy. I most certainly didn’t believe I could walk on my hands… on the ceiling… blindfolded. Some shengs do make me feel this way. This is not one of those shengs and it’s OK with me.

It was a really pleasant journey.

Been a long time since I last had Ghosts. It’s been subject to humidified crock storage for a few months.

Very sweet with honey-powdered sugar, apricot-plum tone takes a backseat to that upfront sweet flavor.

Has the potential, if overbrewed, to be very bitter in a savory, vegetal way even though it doesn’t necessarily taste green. Last time I noted a rinsed leaf aroma of smoked asparagus. I think a deep undertone of that is what captures the vegetal flavor. Can, along with being bitter, also be drying at times.

Good mouthfeel for the price!

It’s not a delicate sheng by any means.