Ban Pen is an area that is really overshadowed by its close neighbour Lao Ban Zhang. Its also notoriously known as one of the area ingredients (along with Lao Man E) to fake a Lao Ban Zhang. However, like any area, it has its own merits that are often overlooked… I look to not overlook…
On this unseasonably hot 31C early June day I go for something that is reeeeaaaaally fresh...
Dry leaf smells of intense very grape deep sweetness. Very sweet and very grape… a bit too fresh
for 2020 (this is actually fresh 2021 maocha!).
The first infusion has a buttercup shining sweetness with an
underlying woody taste and returning grape sweetness. There is a faint cooling in the mid throat
and a saliva producing effect in the mouth.
There is a bit of underlying bitterness that moves into that grape
sweetness with rubber/wood underlying.
The mouthfeel is a fine sandy feeling in the mouth. It tastes really vibrantly fresh.
The second infusion has a quick moving vegetal bitterness
that moves to a mild saliva producing grape sweetness in the mouth. There is a strong floral presence with this
taste that says throughout the profile.
The mouthfeeling is thin and slightly sandy with a saliva producing
effect almost being trapped in the mid-throat.
There is a muscatel sweetness and grape skin pucker going on here that
reminds me of a good Darjeeling. The
aftertaste is long with grape, bitter, rubber, florals stretching out for
minutes later. The Qi is felt in the
Chest and in the mind with a spacy expanding energy.
The third has a strong bitter onset with an underlying
floral and grape sweetness. The
bitterness is strong and overpowering here, a bit astringent and really pushes
my empty stomach reminding me it’s time for breakfast. I am also pushed into a euphoric state by the
overtaking Qi- my Heart races. A flat
thin kind of griping tongue coating.
Bitter but also nicely floral sweet.
The fourth infusion has a very vibrantly floral grape
sweetness that comes after a moderately strong quick moving bitterness. There is the splash of vibrant flavours. This infusion has a brilliant and clear pure
balance of quick moving bitterness and strong returning floral muscatel
sweetness. There is underlying woody
rubber taste, flat tongue coating and long floral aftertaste. The Qi is big and euphoric in the mind. There is strong bodyfeeling in the shoulders
and arms almost pulsing throbbing. The
length of the floral aftertaste is notable.
The fifth infusion has a vibrant lemon peel bitterness that
quickly moves to a floral grape skin fruit taste. The bitterness is moderate
strong- to strong and has a quick reversal to a long floral finish in the
mouth. Chest Qi with limbs floating and throbbing. There is a flat sticky tongue coating with
some faint saliva producing in the upper throat.
The sixth infusion offers an almost gamey pungent barnyard not
as bitter but also not as sweet. There
are more subtle florals and white grape skill tastes over a flat sticky tongue
coating and faint upper throat opening.
Qi is quieting in the mind with Chest and limb bodyfeelings.
The seventh infusion has a mild-moderate quick moving
bitterness that transforms into strong more pungent florals and grape skin
fruitiness. The mouthfeeling is a touch
gripping but the throat sensation is nice and deeper into the mid-throat. The Qi has taken me places and it starts to
soften and relax just a bit but still euphoria reigns.
The eighth has a buttercup and gamey tastes that come out
after quick moving bitterness that turns to gamey floral notes. A flat sticky tongue coating and fading
floral finish. There is a relaxing
bodyfeeling now. Soothing and tranquil. Shoulders and arms feel like they are
floating or separating from my body.
The ninth infusion oops was left in the pot for 5
minutes! It has a very concentrated pear
syrupy gamey pungent barnyard taste with a fair bit of thickness. Syrupy bitter wild flower dandelion
barnyard. Very strong spaced out feeling
with this hard push…. Spacey very spacey.
My busy day engulfs the tea session and I, unfortunately,
abandon it for the day and come back the next day…
I fill a big mason jar up with the leaves from yesterday
which I refrigerated and pour boiling water over them and drink this stuff up
grandpa style…
Wow! Is it ever good…
Obscenely fragrantly floral notes fill the nose and mouth. The floral is strong and long. The bitter taste hits you pretty hard especially
after sitting in the boiling water for hours but there is always a strong
movement to grape muscatel notes over a strong hard chalky and slightly
gripping mouthfeeling. There is a bit of
linger depth in the throat but not overly.
There is also suggestions of vegetal notes, and almost faint pungent
gamey suggestions. The floral and grape
and bitterness is strong and along with the gripping moutfeeling stick tightly
to the mouth. The Qi is really insane
here and push me into a euphoric stupor with a floating bodyfeeling overall. I have to step away and approach cautiously tomorrow!
This fresh 2021 Puerist Ban Pan maocha is not like any I’ve tried
before but no doubt has the power of a solid Lao Ban Zhang underneath. This maocha hasn’t been pressed yet or put up
for sale. Its Mark’s style to let this
powerful stuff rest for a few months. I
also am not too sure about the current pricing from a region that can piggy
back on the price of its ultra-famous neighbor Lao Ban Zhang. I could guess a tea like this could go for
above $250 for 200g cake.
Its good stuff.
Peace
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