Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Yunnan Sourcing Mystery Sample 'Gamma' (2009 Bu Lang Shan Yun)


There is a pungent deep forest sweetness then depth in these dark brown, slightly more mature, loosely pressed, dry leaves. Yummy.

These leaves are widdled into the pot, flash rinsed, and before not to long the first infusion is ready for tasting.

The liquor pours out orangey-gold. The syrupy thick, silky smooth tea glides over ones tongue leaving behind a remnant of caramel and plumb. This tea feels so good in the mouth. A nice sweetness is left on the breath.

More hot water is put through the pot and this tea develops somewhat of an edge, although quite a kind edge. Sweet caramel, and faint plumb tones dominate mainly at the start of the flavour profile. Sometimes one can even sense a roasty-chocolate taste that is mixed into rough dirty flavours- the showings of age starting to develop around the corners of this tea.

After more infusions the sweetness picks up malty metallic undertones. The mouthfeel seems to thin with each resulting infusion but is still velvety in character. A bitterness also develops somewhere along the middle of ones session. The bitterness eclipses some of the sweetness and some of the malty tones which this tea has now developed. It cuts short the length of flavour and sweetness leaving a bitter aftertaste in the mouth.

In the last pots of this session the thick, syrupy character of this tea is long gone. Malty and fruity flavours skate on thin bitter viscosity. Nevertheless, some enjoyment can still be had by such taste so one drinks this tea for quite some time.

Although one drinks and drinks, the chaqi of this tea never seems to flourish. Instead it fumbles around in the background. Unnoticeable, unbothered.

And so this is the way one drinks this tea.
Note: Please follow this link to the tea tasting disscussion on the Half-Dipper.

Peace

7 comments:

Hobbes said...

Such lovely teaware, and photographed so well. Thanks again for the notes, Matt!


Toodlepip,

Hobbes

Bret said...

An unusual tea isnt it? Caught me by surprise with it,s mellow, malty flavors. To me? Toasted grain and dates. I rather like this one as a drink now tea, warms and nourishes the soul.

Matt said...

Hobbes,

The notes and photos are only made possible by your generous actions. Thanks again Hobbes.

Bret,

Yes, unusual is the word.

It is more like a 'not quiet complete' 3-4 year cake, than a fresh sheng cake.

This is undoubtably due to the use of older, aged mao cha, the storage of this mao cha, and the processing that it underwent in producing this tea as discussed on the Half-Dipper.

Interesting.

Peace

Bret said...

P.S. You know when considering teas for purchase and storage there are certain criteria that must be considered, and we all have our own ideas and opinions about what those criteria are. This tea meets none of mine, Ive no idea what the future holds for this tea. But why should the future always be the issue? There are legitimate reasons to not consider this tea for purchase, yet I like it. It,s an honest, simple tea that makes me feel good. It doesn't offer much to think about but maybe that,s another reason why I like it. I need to re-learn to enjoy my tea without evaluation. Maybe tea should not be an academic or intellectual pursuit, let it be what it is and enjoy it for what it is. I think I might buy some of this tea.

Matt said...

Bret,

Hear-hear!

Sometimes simple is just simply good!


Peace

Anonymous said...

Interesting how this Pu-erh spiritually would have to be annoyed into showing itself or will remain unnoticed. It's a tea that requires provocation or else it keeps itself rather hidden in the background. --Teaternity

Matt said...

Jason,

There is no 'annoying' qi out. It either exists or doesn't. This one is quite weak, distant.

Peace