For the 2022 November White2tea Club we got an Autumn 2022 Old Arbor sheng mini cake, Badger Stamp. In addition, Canton Cannon, a heavily roasted Tieguanyin.
Canton Cannon
This tea was absolutely difficult to photograph – the rolled balls are inky black and shiny, and my camera was just so angry at it. Canton Cannon has a deep roasted scent. In a hot gaiwan, the scent is powerfully charcoal.
My gongfu ratio is 1 gram per 15ml, using boiling water. A rinse opened up the leaves to almost burnt pastries.
A sip of the rinse and I know I’m in for a wild ride. Canton Cannon is a dark, deep roasted barley flavor, similar to those herbal roasted barely teas. There are some sips of dark caramelized baked goods, but the main flavor is smooth, almost buttery roasted barley. Texture wise, it is buttery slick on the lips. Canton Cannon steeped very consistently, but each infusion lighten to be sweeter mineral rock sugar.
By the eleventh infusion, I was at 35 minute steep time and I couldn’t get the water hot enough to exhaust, it would need a thermos or stove boil.
I have opinions on tea roast; this roast job is actually done quite well. It smells over the top, but it doesn’t have that “fire” taste of a newly roasted tea, so I can drink this tea now instead of waiting for a year or two for it to settle. Overall, I am pleased with Canton Cannon. I would drink this again – it is warming, easy to drink, and a roasted tea lover’s dream of a daily drinker.
2022 Autumn Badger Stamp from the 2022 November White2tea Club
A small old arbor sheng cake, let’s go!
In the hot gaiwan, Autumn Badger Stamp smells fragrantly musky floral, concentrated funky stone fruit. After a rinse, this tea is sticky rice and nutty, with a background of strong floral.
First, Second, and Third Infusion: Oh wow, this is gooood. The 2022 Autumn Badger Stamp is soft to start, but engaging honey floral, lotus leaf, and sticky texture, like chewing on a fresh rice krispie square. The tea leaves a clinging marshmallow slickness in the mouth after drinking. After waiting a few moments, a heavy floral fruity bitterness slinks in – it’s almost jasmine like, but sucks me in.
Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Infusion: As Badger Stamp steeps, it shifts less floral honey and more leafy lotus and banana leaves. It’s bitey and bitter, but still sticky texture and aromatic.
Seventh and Eighth Infusion: 2022 Autumn Badger Stamp closes by being bitter – stewed mint and spinach, with a tinny sticky aftertaste, before blooming back to the bitter floral jasmine buzz. It is super bitter, so it might not be drinkable to some, but the aroma is worth it.
This autumn cake is excellent! Last year’s old arbor cake was amazing, but I cannot decide if 2022 is better. As always, these White2tea Club mini cakes are the best and high quality. This is a delicious young sheng with the kind of texture and aroma I like to experience in a tea session.
