Revisiting this one for the first time in a while. The leaves have turned to a light brown with golden colored tips. Brews a fairly light gold-ish color with a twinge of orange. Smells slightly smoky and camphorous, but I think it may have picked this up from a tea it was stored with.
It’s a very mild brew with little bitterness or astringency. Nice olive oil flavor and texture in the mouth. Good lingering sweetness in the mouth and back of throat. It’s still slightly floral, but no longer green; more like dried flowers. Also has a spring water minerality and sort of a dried wood/autumn leaf pile note. I gave my dad (who is more of a wine drinker) a cup and he said it reminded him of a very mild but oaky chardonnay. It definitely has a “qi” to it; I started to feel it after just a few infusions.
Overall it’s changed a little bit over the past few years, but not a lot. It’s very light and mild, and I don’t think it will benefit much from further aging, so I’ll move it to the top of the “to drink now” box.
Flavors: Autumn Leaf Pile, Floral, Mineral, Oak, Olive Oil, Sugarcane, White Wine
