With the temperatures dropping, I am excited to get my shou game on! I love how shou warms me up on cold days, along with its comforting rich flavor. Today is a pair of shou from Mandala tea, who have some of the best shou and are based in the US.
Both Antwerp’s Placebo and Scarlet Fire are available in cake (100g-200g) or mini tuochas – samples today are all mini tuochas.
2020 Antwerp’s Placebo Shou Puer
Antwerp’s Placebo Shou is 2017 Menghai material, processed in 2018 and then pressed later.
The mini tuocha has a sweet earthy scent. I used a 75ml gaiwan for a 5 gram mini tuocha – so around 1 gram per 15ml leaf to vessel ratio, gongfu steeped in boiling water. Antwerp’s Placebo Shou needed two rinses as the compression was tight and had a slight wet pile scent. After the 2nd rinse, there was no wet pile and now smelled of the garden section of Home Depot.
First, Second, and Third Infusion: Antwerp’s Placebo starts off sweet and earthy with a lick of old books. As I get more into this tea, it is more old paperback book flavor with wisps of bitterness. The texture is buttery and smooth to drink.
Fourth and Fifth Infusion: These Infusions opened up to taste like bittersweet chocolate, almond skins, and old books. This shou is like tucking into a well-loved paperback book with some dark chocolate to nibble on as I read.
Sixth and Seventh Infusion: Antwerp’s Placebo finishes off tasting sweet rock sugar and paperback books, all with rock sugar and sharp clean glass aftertaste.
Comments
Mandala Tea’s Antwerp’s Placebo shou puer doesn’t disappoint with clear and pleasing favors of books and bittersweet. This shou is a great and approachable shou with smooth texture and tastes.
2021 Scarlet Fire Shou Puer
2021 Scarlet Fire shou puer is a blend of Bulang gong ting and Mengsong large leaves. The mini tuocha has a sweet and earthy scent.
In contrast to other tea, this mini you fell apart after a single rinse, leaving a wild medicinal and sweet scent.
First, Second, Third, and Fourth Infusion: Very sweet shou! Scarlet Fire is creamy but the main flavor is sweet – each sip gets more of a black licorice flavor that gets deeper and darker. The aftertaste is more licorice and sweetness and the texture is creamy and balmy.
As much as I don’t like black licorice, I actually like this tea – the earth and licorice and something unique to a shou, making it extra dark tasting.
Fifth and Sixth Infusion: As if I didn’t think Scarlet Fire shou could get sweeter, it just did. I didn’t get many infusions as the leaf seems more chopped up, but it is finishing strongly sweet with a hint of pepper finish, with a lingering sweetness.
Comments
Mandala Tea’s 2021 Scarlet Fire is a unique shou with dark, very sweet, and licorice notes. If you love dark shou and sweet, this is a lovely one! This is a good first shou, or non-added flavored tea even, due to the comforting sweetness. 2021 Scarlet Fire would also make for good evening shou drinking as a dessert treat.
(free samples provided with tea order)
