Category: Bitterleaf Teas

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2019 Big Old Ass Tree Sheng Puer from Bitterleaf Teas

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I purchased a sample of 2019 Big Old Ass Tree with my last Bitterleaf Teas order. I am partial to Hekai these days as I like how potent and balanced it can be but also I can’t pass up old and wild tree teas. Leaf and Steeping Method The leaf scent is light but has a floral tangy scent. Steeped up the leaf smells lightly floral, creamy nutty with some fresh green bean. Tasting of Bitterleaf Teas’ 2019 Big Old Ass Tree Sheng Puer First and Second Infusion: The first impression is Big Old Ass Tree is it is thick… Continue reading, hoot!

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2017 Cloud 9 Fuding White Tea from Bitterleaf Teas

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Today’s tea is Bitterleaf Tea’s 2017 Cloud 9 Fuding White Tea. This white tea is interesting as it is old growth large leaves only, but not the huangpian ugly grade leaves. I purchased this tea as Bitterleaf Tea’s white tea offerings I find economical for aging. Leaf and Steeping Method Wow, 2017 Cloud 9 looks fun with the large flat leaves. The cake smells like stale hay and willow sticks, making me think this is rabbit food than tea. This tea is easy to pry pieces off of, however, it creates a lot of shattered dust if going the usual… Continue reading, hoot!

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2019 Eden Manzhuan Sheng Puer from Bitterleaf Teas

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Eden is a Manzhuan blend which is an ongoing tea in Bitterleaf Tea’s lineup. A number of my tea friends quote Eden as being one of their favorite Bitterleaf teas, whereas I’m the loon that likes The Bitter End LaomanE cake. I have to admit, 2019 Eden is my favorite wrapper artwork from Bitterleaf Tea’s 2019 lineup. Leaf and Steeping Method The dry leaf has a fruity tart cherry scent. As usual, I used a gongfu ratio of 1 gram per 15ml of vessel size, steeped in boiling water. After a rinse and a steep, the leaves smell of floral,… Continue reading, hoot!

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Bitterleaf Tea’s 2019 Monsieur Lafleur Jingmai and Year of the Pig Yiwu Sheng Puer

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On the tea table is a pair of affordable sheng puers from Bitterleaf Tea – 2019 Monsieur Lafleur Jingmai and 2019 Year of the Pig Yiwu. Bitterleaf teas have quite a few inexpensive young sheng options, with the “Year of the Yiwu” an ongoing series. This slow owl took so long that both teas are sold out, but I’ll be referring back when the 2020 teas roll in. Bitterleaf Tea’s 2019 Monsieur Lafleur Jingmai Sheng Puer The dry leaf smells like stale dried cherries. Gorgeous looking leaf with the long silver buds. Both teas I did my usual gongfu steeping… Continue reading, hoot!

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2019 White Crow Lincang White Tea from Bitterleaf Tea

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Bitterleaf Tea’s 2019 White Crow is a shou mei grade white tea cake from Lincang Yunnan. I own the previous year’s 2018 White Crow and I was impressed with the value it offered, so I didn’t hesitate to order the newest cake. Leaf and Steeping Method The leaf has a strong weedy and honey scent. As with most of my white teas, I steeped White Crow with a ratio of 1 gram of leaf per 20 ml of vessel size, gongfu style. Steeped up, the leaf smells like honey and laundry drying outside on the clothesline. Tasting of Bitterleaf Tea’s… Continue reading, hoot!

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2000 Gold Dust Fuzhuan Anhua Heicha from Bitter Leaf Teas

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I love moldy Fuzhuan (aka Fu Brick) teas. When Bitterleaf Tea came out with the 2000 Gold Dust Fuzhuan Anhua Heicha, I bought a full 250 gram bag. During the 2019 NW Tea Festival, this was the tea in my Fu Zhuan focus tasting class. As much as I love owning stupidly large bricks of Fuzhuan, Bitterleaf Tea’s broken bag makes it more convenient to drink. My package had three large chunks with some dust on the bottom to even out the weight. Leaf and Steeping Method Confirmed mold! Fu Bricks has a distinct scent, which Gold Dust also has.… Continue reading, hoot!

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2019 Skinnydip White Tea from Bitterleaf Teas

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2019 Skinnydip white tea is a 200 gram pressed cake with Simao material from Bitterleaf Teas. What attracted me to this white tea is the price, at this time, $14.50 for a 200 gram cake, so I couldn’t resist purchasing a cake. Skinnydip is flat out a budget tea for daily drinking or inexpensive aging. Leaf and Steeping Method Skinnydip has a strong scent of a sweet mowed lawn. The cake is a looser compression, making it easier to break off pieces, but also a bit messy as the leaf shatters. I used 1 gram of leaf per 20ml of… Continue reading, hoot!

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2019 Plum Beauty Black Mengsong Dianhong from Bitterleaf Teas

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Out of Bitterleaf Tea’s new non-puer teas, their new Plum Beauty Black Mengsong Dianhong tea caught my eye right away. This black tea is the same material as their silver grade Plum Beauty sheng. In addition, Bitterleaf Tea’s Mengsong Plum Beauty black tea goes through a roast session. An extra roasting adds some additional oxidation and aging potential. Leaf and Steeping Method These leaves are huge and spacious! You will need a gaiwan or a wide mouth teapot. The scent is strongly fruity. I saw a warning to do an 80-85F water temperature. I first debating hitting 200F/92C, but then said… Continue reading, hoot!

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2014 Your Ripeness Shou Puer from Bitterleaf Tea

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The Pacific Northwest has the weirdest weather in June. I’ve learned it is called Junerary as it is overly cold and rainy compared to the rest of the country. With this colder weather, I am still shou puer drinking. Today lets check out Bitterleaf Tea’s 2014 Your Ripeness, a Menghai shou/ ripe puer I love the wrapper art, the blackberry looks nicely juicy. Leaf and Steeping Method This 2014 has had ample time to unfunk itself. Right out of the package, Your Ripeness smells sweet and earthy. I ended up using 1 gram of leaf per 14ml of vessel size… Continue reading, hoot!

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White Crow 2018 Lincang Shoumei White Tea from Bitterleaf Tea

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I cannot resist white tea cakes, so I purchased Bitterleaf Tea’s White Crow 2018 Lincang Shoumei White Tea. The wrapper art is super cool! The tea smells like sweet straw hay. Cake feels firm and is on the thick side. It is easy to pry off pieces thankfully, but you do need a pick or knife. I used 1 gram of leaf per 20ml of vessel used, gongfu steeped in boiling water. The hot leaf smells like straw and cactus. Tasting of Bitterleaf Tea’s White Crow 2018 Lincang Shoumei White Tea First and Second Infusion: White Crow 2018 Lincang Shoumei… Continue reading, hoot!