Today’s tea is White2tea’s 2020 Mud Sheng Puer. I purchased this sample as it sounded up my alley with promises of mega huigan (returning sweetness aftertaste).
Yes, I know I’m way behind in the White2tea club but I am at the mercy of China Post. In the meantime, let’s drink some Mud.
Leaf and Steeping Method
Mud’s leaves have a honey sweet scent.
As usual, a gongfu ratio of 1gram per 15ml vessel, steeped in boiling water. After a rinse, the wet leaves have a honey nut and tangy grass scent.
Tasting of White2tea’s 2020 Mud Sheng Puer
First and Second Infusion: To start, this tea is hella smooth, nutty, and sweet – like whipped peanut butter with honey with the sticky sweet texture. The aftertaste is crystalline sharp in texture and rock sugar in taste.
Third, Fourth, and Fifth Infusion: 2020 Mud sheng puer slowly develops a more savory character, going a bit celery and sugar snap peas, along with the long nutty and honey flavors and lingering sweet aftertaste. Each infusion the savory umami notes dominate more, adding a big contrast to the big sweet aftertaste. Some sips have wisps of char, maybe wok hei to it. Add MSG and Uncle Roger would be proud!
As I got lost in my thoughts of tea drunk, I noticed after a couple of minutes Mud has a gentle floral aroma.
Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth Infusion: Mud sheng puer sips in bitter charred roasted peppers with a soft aftertaste, but I found with a shorter steep got back to umami and less bitter. It seems if you want something a bit more aggressive you can brew it harder and it isn’t astringent stew. After drinking, Mud slinks into a jasmine floral aftertaste.
The tea energy on this is a gentle face massage feeling. I could go for a nap in a rocking chair once I’m done drinking Mud.
Ninth, Tenth, and Eleventh Infusion: This tea finishes soft and sweet, like watered down hay with a floral aftertaste. Each sip gets a touch bitter, a bit astringent, but also locks in a heavier floral honey sweetness at the end of the sip.
Comments
I tend to dislike youthful sweet puer, but White2tea’s 2020 Mud sheng puer has plenty of dimension outside sweet and floral. The contrasting umami and final infusion bitterness add plenty of interest. Mud is a sweet young puer for those who don’t do sweet, with the option to push it hard for delicious bitter and all huigan. If you are an aftertaste junkie this is a great sheng too!
I would drink this down my whole sample now as it is good now. At the same price point, one can consider Teadontlie for a thicker body and Both Steal Boats for the tea drunk.
