Today’s tea is Dabo, a black tea from Old Ways Tea.
I am sorry but the sci-fi nerd in me just won’t stop laughing every time I see the name of this tea, as it is the same name as a game on Star Trek (most featured in Deep Space 9). I’m laughing more as the tea is packaged in gold, just like gold press latinum.
Anyways, Dabo means Uncle and this is a Spring 2018 large leaf tea from Masu village in China.
Leaf and Steeping Method
Inside the packet is 5 grams of leaf. Plan accordingly or open a couple of packets to drink over a couple of days. I have a 75 ml gaiwan so I lucked out. You likely can go with a 60ml gaiwan or do 2 packets with something around 120ml-150ml. The leaves are huge!
The hot leaf rinsed leaf smells like green grapes in the sun.
Tasting of Old Ways Tea’s 2018 Dabo Black Tea
First, Second, and Third Infusion: Dabo black tea starts off sweet and light in profile but jammed with green grape skin flavour. The second steep has more depth with a bit of cinnamon hit mixed in with grape and a touch of wood. The lingering flavour is orchids. There is a slight astringency that hits in the back of the cheeks, but it is soft. The energy on this tea is high, it’s like a chain pulling you from the chest.
Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Infusion: The flavour is of orchids, wood, and green grapes with a touch of dryness and high salivation to make you drool it out. I said this is a lighter tea but it is deceptive – the flavour is pow and full bodied now! The fifth steeping got peak sweetness that is ultra fruity. The dryness hasn’t gotten any more intense, it stays at the same level.
Draw me like one of those Da bo girls.
Seventh Infusion: I did long infusions here, around 10-15 minutes. Dabo black tea is slightly drier but it is sweet. The flavour is sweet birch wood and a bit fruity. The texture is powdery dry.
Comments
Old Ways Tea’s Dabo black tea leans on the fruity side. It has excellent salivation, aftertaste and fruity flavour. If you are an oolong fan, you’ll love Dabo as it isn’t as malty, or tannic that black teas can be, plus it can resteep like mad without going crazy bitter and dry.
Dabo black tea is also decently bombproof. It did get dry in the end, but it still wasn’t too bad.
(tea provided for review, though I purchased more just before posting this review)
