Among the other Taiwanese High Mountain teas, Tributary Teas has an aged 19 year old Lishan. Not often do I come across aged high mountain teas, so trying this Lisahn Laocha will be a treat.
My sample package says 18 years as I got this tea in 2019.
Leaf and Steeping Method
Leaf smells like roast and cherry wood.
I used 1 gram of leaf per 15ml of vessel size, gongfu steeped in boiling water. Steeped up, the leaves have a creamy nutty scent.
Tasting of Tributary Tea’s Lishan High Mountain Laocha
First, Second, Third, and Fourth Infusion: Lishan High Mountain Laocha is smooth to drink with a heavy cream texture that leaves and oil slick texture in the mouth after each sip. The flavors in this steeping are mineral, toasted bread, and chestnuts with a lingering sweet sappy note.
Fifth and Sixth Infusion: Lishan Laocha is taking on a darker flavor with a squeakier texture. It tastes of dark wood, roasted chestnut shells, a bit of earthy aftertaste with a lingering flavor of sweet minerals. Some aftertastes are slightly stone fruity. There is not a lick of funk or sourness to this aged oolong.
Seventh, Eighth, and Ninth Infusion: Another flavor shift happened with the aged Lishan to have malted milk notes that vibe perfectly with the roasted and dark woodsy taste. There is a touch of dryness here, building on that squeaky texture.
Tenth, Eleventh, and Twelfth Infusion: Lishan has gotten quite light here but the flavors are of honey, malt, rocky minerals, and a bit of toast. The final steeping was really light and steeped until practically room temperature. I would have had better luck with a teapot.
Comments
If you love dark roasted and mineral oolongs, Tributary Tea’s Aged Lishan is a great tea for you. I particularly enjoyed and sweet and malted milk elements in this tea, as well as the heavy texture and long sweet aftertaste.
Tributary Tea’s Lishan High Mountain Laocha tastes well dry stored, roasted, and settled down, which I very much enjoyed.
At this time, the Lishan Laocha is 75 gram bag for $35. Please note, Tributary Tea is on hiatus during Covid19.
(tea provided for review)
