2001 Zhongcha Huang Yin from Teas We Like: Unique Power!!!

On the Teas We Like website ($110.00 for 357g cake or $0.30/g) this puerh is described as true dry Taiwanese storage sourced right from the commissioner.  It is a blended material mainly from the Qianjiazhai area…

Dry leaves have no must or dirt or incense just creamy sweet fruity strawberry-cherry talc undertones.  The pure creamy sweetness of the dry leaves are enchanting.  The storage on this seems very clean-dry Taiwanese storage.

The first infusion has a peat moss with slight bitter onset then a vacuous gap which is filled with mild slight tart sweetness with a full slight tight tongue coating.  There is a faint cooling then long very thin peat moss and almost cherry fruit sweetness.

The second has a peat onset with flat bitter which kind of leaves a long gap in the taste until the tartness reveals a slight cooling with a long lingering, almost cherry, almost creamy fruity, finish.  The flat bitterness is decently strong and comes with a tart, almost sour, nuance.  There is a really long minutes long returning creamy sweetness that lingers for a while.  The creamy sweetness just doesn’t really go away pinned in by the active tartness of the tongue coating and the throat is subtle and deep stimulated by the tart.  The Qi is strong and you really do feel quite warm from the Qi very quickly. 

The third infusion has a nice woody and peat like onset with a quick and creamy development of sweet talc fruity cherry and strawberry.  There is this flat long fairly strong for an aged puerh bitterness that stretches the profile.  The long minutes long aftertaste that follows is a nice creamy talc, almost choke cherry jam, and strawberry cherry nuance.  The Qi is big I feel very warm almost at sweeting.  The chest it races and there is a very strong alerting happening here. Very very nice big Qi.  The smell of the wet leaves are likely Yesheng wild leaf variety.

The fourth infusion starts with a peat-like almost coffee ground bitterness with a swelling tart sour and vibrant long fruity aftertaste.  There is a bit of creamy sweetness that follows the cool pungency.  The mouthfeel is this full coating slightly tight tart.  The minutes long returning breath is cherry jam, creamy talc sweetness.  The long breath minutes long returning fruity aftertaste is another strong sign of some yesheng or wild tea content as is the big Qi, strong alertness even flightiness.

The fifth infusion has a turbid woody bitter coffee ground onset. Then a flat bitter vacuous before very mild cooling and deep tart sourness.  The mouthfeeling is tight and stimulating griping tart but not really puckering.  The Qi is so good wild tea Qi.  Very nice very strong, like a floating and levitating feeling, very very warming thermodynamic Qi.  Long minutes long aftertaste.

The sixth is very bitter and it pretty much dominates the profile start to finish.  The bitterness beats the crap out of my empty stomach.  It’s unique to have a tea so warming yet so bitter.  There is possibly bitter variety wild yesheng material in here but I can’t be certain.  There is peat, coffee ground, very sour tart like choke cherry jam.  Long minutes later sweetness. Big Alerting and heady Qi- an alarm bell sounding in the head!

The 7^th is distinctly sour with a subtle sweet fruit taste.  There is some bitter woody peat tastes then a long subtle lingering aftertaste of choke cherry jam, a creamy sweetness.  The mouthfeeling is concentrated on the roof of the mouth and tongue and gives a tight tart feeling.  The throatfeeling is pretty deep but mainly upper stimulating.  The Qi is very strong pushing past alerting to a stoned feeling now.  This less bitter infusion is less harsh on the digestion.

The 8^th infusion has a sour bitter, slight peat and woody onset of sweet tart cherry.  There is then a vacuous length to the profile that is mainly bitter then creamy almost cherry and slight bitter sour intermingle.  The jaw has a nice releasing bodyfeeling here.  I feel pushed past alert into a spacy out of body feeling.  Strong Qi.

Ninth infusion has a darker peat woody onset with sour sweet tart fruits.  The bitter emerges out of these initial tastes to reach deep across the profile.  Tart fruits, creamy sweet talc and choke cherry like tastes emerge.  Qi is very relaxing and has backed off digestion as it is less bitter now.

10^th has a sour woody peat onset with a flat fruit taste.  There is much less bitterness now and more sour than bitter.  A nice breath taste follows of fruits.

11^th has a brackish sour cherry and wood taste presentation.  Less bitter and sourer tasting. 

12^th has a bitter sour dry dirt woody with tart fruit.  The tongue coating and mouth and throat stimulation are less as the bitter also declines. Qi is more relaxing now.

13^th has a mild bitterness with more of a sour presentation.  The sweetness is also declining and a wood peat and bitterness lingers with a bit of sour.

14^th is woody peat sour almost fruity slight bitter comes quick but then turns vacuous and bland in the mouth.  The aftertaste is pretty much gone and I think I will put this into overnight steepings.

The next morning I am greeted with a very fruity vibrant liquor in a decently bitter base.  I put this into another overnight steeping and get much the same.  I put it in another overnighter-  It steeps out strong fruity tastes a few more days.  Very nice.

I did some comparison tasting with both a Malaysian stored 2003 Shuangjiang Mengku Da Due Shan wild brick from Teapals and a Malaysian stored 2008 Essence of Tea Qianjiazhai wild but there are some similarities between these but also too many differences as well.  So I decided against it.  This 2001, I think is a really unique tea, hard to put in a box.

This 2001 Zhongcha Huangyin is pretty good for its age and price too.  The impressively clean processing and dry storage is quite nice.  Crazy big Qi.  Unique heat inducing and sweating while still being bitter- bitter heat is an unusual presentation.  There might be some yesheng/ wild tea blended in here.  How much, I can’t be certain.  It has enough indications for me that it might be yesheng and should be evaluated more like this.  I would say that possibly bitter yesheng and sweet yesheng might be part of this blend.  I can’t be sure, but it has enough characteristics to make it possible.  It is also something that I don’t think most would crave on a daily drinker basis due to its unique profile.  I think those who like some Lao Man E would appreciate the bitterness.  But man, oh man… great value and big Qi.  A very unique tea for sure.  Would not have ordered this one if I knew it was wild but its nice value and Big Qi that having one of these around won’t bother me a bit.  I wouldn't rule out a re-order if the speed test dictates it.  For those in the mood for something a bit different with a powerful experience look no further.

Best tasting note ever:

"Max's tasting note: Instant sauna, just add water."

So true.

James’ (TeaDB) Tasting Notes

Marco's (Late Steeps) Tasting Notes

Shah8’s Tasting Notes

Peace