Friday, September 2, 2022

2022 Tea Encounter Mansong: Relaxation

 I was excited to try this Yibang area puerh and I think it was the first free sample I tried when receiving the package from Tiago of Tea Encounter.  This 2022 Tea Encounter Mansong goes for $120.00 for 200g cake or $0.60/g.

Dry leaves fresh expanding floral and crisp lime odours.

First infusion has a buttery floral sweetness with a touch of wood and finishes rubbery in the mouth. The mouthfeeling is a touch puckering and the throatfeeling is mildly stimulating.

The second infusion has a puckering floral sweet-and sour onset with a gripping mouth and throatfeeling and mild under-the surface bitter astringency.  There is a bland woody note and floral note that follow from the onset to the finish. Nice relaxing calm focusing Qi takes hold.

The third infusion has a buttery watery sour then sweet onset that leaves a significant floral taste in the mouth.  Each time I want to write that the sour is almost like lime but not really.  The mouthfeeling is watery with a gripping mouth a upper throat but not so much saliva producing. Nice focused calm feeling in the body.  



The fourth has a sour-bitter floral lime buttery onset with a finish of rubber.  A watery texture with a mild gripping tongue and upper throat but without saliva returning.  Nice focused calming Qi.  A bit of lime floral even minutes later.

The fifth infusion has a buttery floral onset with a bit more woody-bland tastes.  It ends with a sour lime and floral finish.  The texture is watery and the mouthfeeling has a mild gripping especially the tongue and a bit in the upper throat.  Nice calming focusing Qi.

The sixth infusion has a bitter-buttery floral woody-almost grains onset with a sour puckering finish.  The texture continues to be watery with a mild fine sandy gripping mouthfeeling.  Nice clam focused Qi.

The seventh infusion has a mild quick mild bitter and buttery sweetness.  Watery-oily texture with a slight gripping mouthfeeling and upper throat. There is a bit of sour-lime-wood in the aftertaste. Does not irritate an empty stomach for sure.  Feels good in the body and has a nice focusing vibe.

The eighth infusion is left to cool and gives off a sour lime woody faint bitter initial taste.  A subtle chalky gripping pucker but pretty mild and mainly on the tongue.  Nice calm focused energy.

The ninth has a woody-straw bland buttery creamy sweet with edges of floral and melon.  There is a bland woody taste now but also more subtle melon and less bitter-sour-floral taste.  The mouthfeeling is sandy and a bit gripping with not as much watery texture.

The 10th infusion has a buttery woody straw bland woody onset with a chalky mouthfeeling.  There is a subtle fruity bitter sour taste in the finish.  The mouthfeeling is more chalky sticky now not gripping or oily.  Nice focused feeling.

11th has a buttery sweetness onset that is a bit more singular and creamy with a bit of a chalky mouthfeeling now.  The Qi gives me a bit a spacy calm slowness as I have thrown back the last 5 infusions in the last 20 min or so.  Subtle fruity sour edges when I swallow.

12th has a sour-bitter woody lime bland wood bark onset.  The mouthfeeling is this chalky dry feeling and the Qi is now more relaxing than focusing.

13th has a melon and bland woody sour onset.  The taste is less dynamic now. There is a bit of rubbery taste in there.  Relaxing feeling.

14th has a fruity melon-citrus pop with a bland woody bark finish.  Relaxing feeling.


Mug steeping…. Has a sour-bitter melon taste with buttery edges and a strong calming feeling.

I tried this with the 2012 Tea Urchin Yibang and feel like there is some similarities with this 2022 having a more relaxing vibe and the 2012 more condensed power.  The 2012 Tea Urchin comes out on top but the relaxing vibes of this 2022 Tea Encounter Mansong matches the mood of the day nicely.

Peace

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