Old Ways Tea club, let’s go! December’s box has 2021 Yua Hua Dong Rou Gui, Zhang Ping Shui Xian, Zheng Shan Xiao Zhong, and Persimmon slices.
The persimmon slices did not last long. Last year we got them. In anticipation of said persimmon slices, I went on a rampage buying 12lbs of persimmons, dehydrated and ate them all.
Yua Hua Dong Rou Gui from 2021 December Old Ways Tea Club
The leaves have a soft woodsy plum scent.
For this tea, I went with 1 gram of leaf per 15ml of vessel size instead of the usual over leafing. After a rinse, the leaves are nutty and plummy.
First, Second, and Third Infusion: Yua Hua Dong Rou Gui is sharp tasting right away from the roasting. As I steep, the tea is plummy with peanut shells with a heavy orchid aroma. The aroma lingers strongly in the aftertaste, evolving to savory. The texture is streaky – it’s a bit astringent, slightly buttery, dancing between the two making a weird sensation.
My tea hating husband walked into the room and said my tea smells really strong, like grass.
Fourth and Fifth Infusion: As Yua Hua Dong Rou Gui steeps, it’s going savory. The flavor is roasted peanuts with shells, then the heavy orchid aroma shows up. A long final infusion makes the roasted nuts shift to bitter. It’s smooth to start before adding dryness at the end.
I enjoyed how Yua Hua Dong Rou Gui moves from sweet to savory, all while being roasted and heavy floral. The floral aftertaste is heavy for the amount of roast here. This tea certainly would benefit with a bit more rest to settle the roast.
2021 Zhang Ping Shui Xian
Heck yeah, Shui Xian pillows! This pillow has a zesty jasmine and tulip scent.
A rinse makes the floral intensify and sweeten.
First, Second, Third, Fourth, and Fifth Infusion: I drank the long rinse (I guess not a rinse now) and it was quite flavorful! Zhang Ping Shui Xian starts off with soft buttery floral carnations and tulips. Each steeping gets stronger in butter and fresh cut flowers. The aftertaste squishes to a juicy floral and sweetgrass that lingers. This pillow fell apart after the 2nd infusion.
Sixth and Seventh Infusion: Zhang Ping Shui Xian is starting to lose steam here. It tastes a bit like boiled corn stalk, with drifting cut grass before settling into a heavy floral aftertaste.
The final infusions get bitter, stewed flower mash.
These Shui Xian pillows are fun to steep and this one, in particular, is of good quality with fresh floral flavor. I always keep a stock of these as they make great gifts, travel, and presentation and the Old Ways Tea ones are always the nicest quality ones.
Zheng Shan Xiao Zhong
The leaves have a sweet potato scent. My mind even filled in the dreadful marshmallows scent like the Thanksgiving dish.
After a rinse, I was wrong and the scent is more like cherries.
First, Second, and Third Infusion: Zheng Shan Xiao Zhong is thick! It’s a dense feeling too, like drinking mashed potatoes. The flavor is back to sweet potato, celery stalks, boiled golden raisins with a caramel finish. Each steeping gets a touch sweeter, bringing out the raisin and caramel notes.
Fourth and Fifth Infusion: Zheng Shan Xiao Zhong is shifting again – a bit cinnamon, raisin, blackberry with a buttery graham crack note. This tea is just chaos really but engaging. These infusions were my favorite as it is so smooth and thick, it’s like drinking a meal.
Sixth and Seventh Infusion: Mellowing out, this tea slides into soft cherry wood notes before leaving an astringent feeling. Slowly that caramel aftertaste slips in.
Zheng Shan Xiao Zhong is a fun and complex tea. I yo-yo a lot on different notes but enjoyed the session a lot.
As always, a great Old Ways Tea club! From the 2021 December Old Ways Tea club teas, my favorite was likely the Zheng Shan Xiao Zhong but I cannot say no to the Shui Xian pillow!
