Monday, April 6, 2009

2001 Yiwu Jin Yeh Hao from Nada Cha


One hates to pick favorites but this sample from Nada is one of the best teas ever brewed up in ones old little yixing pot. It shouldn't be that suprising that these big, juicy, 100% old growth, all hand processed leaves from the Zheng Shan region of Yiwu produce such amazing tea.

One opens the plastic baggie and dumps the sample into outstretched palms. Bring the palms toward ones nose, one took in the dank, freshly turned fallen leaf smell. It smells like a rotting tree just unearthed from being buried in soil. This scent immediately captivates.

The tea is prepared in a small yixing that only incurred a slight chip on the lid from the long journey from Korea to Canada. The energy of the little pot is a perfect match for the sample of big, full, dark chocolate brown leaves that are mixed with yellow and reddish varieties all of which look excessively healthy. The look of the leaves push curiosity to new levels.



This first brew is juicy and sweet and hints at unbearably complex underflavours, suggesting a nice long session. The tea is soft but immediately full in the mouth. Particularly, the nice light fruity air of this tea heightens expectations.

The following infusions draw out berry flavours from vague fruitiness that slip under this teas smoothness. Wet converts to spice on the tongue and lips. All of this takes place over a rich blanket of the taste of newly disturbed fallen leaves- such rich decadence. Fresh and juicy mingle with deep and rich. There is such depth in its earthiness.

The cha qi brings quick clarity and peace, its energy is undeniably soothing. One meditates deeply with this tea for hours- infusion after infusion after infusion.


One is strongly moved by the way this tea feels in the mouth. Someone with no sense of taste would even fall in love with this tea. The liquor is such a vibrant dark orange/yellow it makes the mini Sel Young Jin erabo style cup radiate with unrivaled pride.


Flavour modestly evolves and after the first 10 infusions is just starting to reveal its true self. Later infusions beget more of a woody caramel taste with just as much complexity as before. Actually this tea remains sweet and full bodied late into its twentieth to thirtieth infusions. Its mouthfeel remains somewhat full and a spiciness still haunts the breath.

Peace

7 comments:

nada said...

Hi Matt,

So glad you enjoyed this tea. I really enjoyed reading of your experiences drinking the tea. It was primarily the chaqi that attracted me to this tea in the first place.

Despite the glowing recommendation, it's probably best to clear up any misunderstanding for your readers. This was a tea from my own collection, not the similarly named one that I have on my website.

I've read reviews of this tea (the one I sent you), where some say there is some plantation tea mixed with the old growth leaves. Despite this, it has a nice energy and I really enjoy drinking this tea. I'm glad you did too.

with warmest wishes,
nada.

nada said...

ps. I've enjoyed reading of your tea travels in the past few weeks. I see you're back in Canada now - I hope your tea life and beautiful posts continue in the west too.

Brett said...

...just read this post and your first flush darjeeling post... I am salivating. nice work!

Matt said...

Nada,

Yes, the cha qi is this tea’s true shining point. It delivers as one would expect from a tea that was produced with care by hand. One couldn’t ascertain from the photos or notes whether this tea had plantation leaves mixed in or not. The photo on the blog sure looks as though they may be all old growth though.

I unconnected the link to that seemingly similar product and patched one to your home page instead. Thanks for clearing things up. One actually considered the purchase of that similarly named cake, thanks for the heads up before that pricy transaction took place (a similar thing happened before and resulted in a tong of puerh that one hadn’t expected).

Thanks again for this energy filled sample,

Peace

P.S. One has also been following and enjoying your travels.

Double Peace

Matt said...

Brett,

Sorry, forgot to warn you. It’s best you wear a drool bib when visiting this blog.

Peace

sarah said...

wow matt nice blog

Matt said...

Sarah,

Thanks for your simple, kind words.

Peace