2012 Jeong Jae Yeun Wild Jiri Mountain Hwang Cha (Korean Yellow Tea)‏

This tea was kindly gifted by Arthur Park of Morning Crane Tea in a recent order. Arthur is famous for giving Dong Cheon a firm presence in North America. This year he has vowed to bring in some smaller artisan productions from the Jiri Mountain growing region. This is the first of such productions and is currently for sale through his blog site.

Arthur claims that this Jeong Jae Yeun hwang cha is true wild Jiri Mountain balhyocha. It produced before Buddha's Birthday is a favorite of Korean potter and friend Park Jong Il. It certainly sounds promising. Let us boil the water and see what these wild leaves have in store for us...

Appreciating the dry leaves reveals light airy fruity notes that are immediately released as the bag of tea is cut open. The black coloured, fig and fruit smelling dry leaves are long and straggly. The give off a stereotypical bready smell that often accompanies balhyocha.

The first pot is prepared and gives off very light, juicy, almost floral notes that fade under juicy-peachy notes. Faint juicy-wood notes shore up the aftertaste over more juicy fruit tastes. The mouthfeel is soft, simple, the middle of the tongue is slightly dry. The back and front of the mouth salivate. Qi is gentle warming and gives the body a nice warm glow of warmth.

The second pot is prepared and very juicy, smooth, soft spicy slightly fruity simple taste spreads throughout the mouth. The mouthfeel is very smooth and juicy. The aftertaste contains suggestions of bready notes. The taste of this tea is very pure and clean. The qi is very nice soothing and warm.

The third infusion is a little more spicy in the initial taste. It forms one of the interestingly simple spicy-peachy-persimmon tastes. The taste is carried on a soft, slightly chalky, nicely juicy mouthfeel. One feels the relaxing influence of this tea. A subtle woody-bready taste is left lingering on the breath.

The fourth infusion is very smooth now with a rich taste with flavours similar to the last infusion. There are juicy-fruity notes left on the roof of the mouth. It is slightly dry on the roof as well.

In the fifth and sixth infusion a mellow fruit taste predominant with light-juicy-woody notes underneath. There is a slight spicy, but even slightly cool, menthol edge that disappears in the profile- very nice. The mouthfeel is light and full with dry and juicy patches making things interesting in the mouth. The upper throat has a lightness to it now.

The seventh infusion shows mild signs of fatigue as the main flavour is now faintly fruity with more woody-bread notes base holding up the light flavours. The mouthfeel remains soft and full.

The eighth infusion is treated with hotter water and longer steeping time and pushes out woody, juicy tastes. The cooling woody-menthol-like finish in the mouth is enjoyed. The mouthfeel remains light and full.

The ninth infusion is put to an overnight steeping. In the morning a thick, syrupy  fruity wood tastes with slight tangy maple syrup finsih is left in the cup.

After drinking this tea, one is looking forward to what Aurthr Park is offering in 2013.

Peace