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2021 Seven Steps Sheng Puer from Mandala Tea

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Mandala Tea has a number of incredible sheng that I hold dear to my heart, but also hold up as quality tea despite me drinking them very early in my puer drinking journey. Today, I got a sample of 2021 Seven Steps. I found the 2020 Seven Steps on their website, maybe this is a new one or a mislabel? Either way, this sheng is said to have some high tea energy, so let’s rock! Leaf and Steeping Method Seven Steps Sheng smells of amber incense and bruised apricots. My gongfu ratio is 1 gram of leaf per 15ml of… Continue reading, hoot!

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2021 June White2tea Club feat. 2021 Hype Sheng Puer

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Another year of HYPE! June’s White2tea club included a full cake of 2021 Hype Sheng Puer. The months White2tea includes a full cake is always a deal ($38 a cake vs $29.99 tea club price). Also included is a sample of 2021 Yesheng Gushu Baicha Maocha, which is available in cake form. 2021 Hype Sheng Puer from 2021 June White2tea Club The cake has a vegetal peppery scent. As usual, I used 1 gram of leaf per 15ml of vessel size, gongfu style with boiling water. The hot leaves have a steamed banana leaves scent. First, Second, and Third Infusion:… Continue reading, hoot!

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Umi Tea Sets’ Teapot and Shou Mei

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One popular site for teaware sets is Umi Tea Sets. They got practical tea sets, silver, miniature, novelty, but also loose leaf teas. Umi Tea Sets sent me one of their lovely teapots as well as a Shou Mei, so let’s get the whole set up a test run. Umi Tea Sets Teapot This cute lotus pot has a 150ml capacity and ergonomic kyusu design. I am left-handed and these right-handed kyusu pots tend to end in disaster for me, but the side lid knob that is offset makes it easier for me to get the right angle to pour,… Continue reading, hoot!

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Moychay Ivan Chay feat. Ivan in Red Robe Brick

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Moychay sent me a bunch of their Ivan Chay (Willow Herb, also known as Fireweed in the US) and I’ve been enjoying it for night tea drinking. Impressively, Ivan Chay mimics fruity black tea, without the caffeine. This tisane can be brewed in any method you like. Moychay offers a number of Ivan Chay options – different regions, processing, and blends. Today, let’s drink two Ivan Chays, one from the Tver region and another Tver but blended with Da Hong Pao. Tver Region Ivan Chay This Ivan Chay smells strong woodsy, apple bark, and mulled spices. Gongfu Style: I used… Continue reading, hoot!

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2021 Shui Xian White tea from Wuyi Origin

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I finally did a Wuyi Origin order. After many recommendations, what got me to order was their new 2021 Shui Xian white tea. This is a fresh Shoumei grade experimental Shui Xian, that is typically for oolong but processed as white tea. Leaf and Steeping Method The leaves smell like copy paper, but once I got my nose really in there with a heated gaiwan, it smells like a powdery floral bouquet. Despite being experimental and shou mei, these leaves are spectacular with fuzzy buds. I had a hell of a time getting 1g of leaf per 20ml into this… Continue reading, hoot!

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2021 June Old Ways Tea Club feat. Tai Ping Hou Kui

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The 2021 June Old Ways Tea Club came early for me, landing in late May. This club was sent out a bit early due to it containing some fresh Tai Ping Hou Kui. Also in the club is Yu Qilin and a Shui Xian. 2021 Tai Ping Hou Kui from Old Ways Tea Club I thought I was safe from more green tea this year, but I was not. Thankfully, Tai Ping Hou Kui is the least offense green tea to me (matcha is the exception of course). However, I love Tai Ping Hou Kui for the wild appearance of… Continue reading, hoot!

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2020 Honeybomb Sheng Puer from Crimson Lotus Tea

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This is for all the sweet sheng drinkers out there – Crimson Lotus Tea’s 2020 Honeybomb Sheng Puer! Honeycomb is an inexpensive Jingmai blend of young and old trees as well as huangpian (yellow/ ugly leaves) material with a focus on having a sweet profile. Leaf and Steeping Method The leaf has a sweet weedy scent. As usual, I used 1 gram of leaf per 15ml of vessel size ratio, gongfu steeped with boiling water. After a rinse, the tea smells of maple leaves and hay. Tasting of Crimson Lotus Tea’s 2020 Honeybomb Sheng Puer First and Second Infusion: 2020… Continue reading, hoot!

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2021 May White2tea club feat. 2021 Spring Old Arbor Sheng

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I was awaiting the yearly The Thing Is / RIP Chicken mini cake, but this year White2tea pressed it into 200gram cakes for everyone to purchase, so instead our $$$$ fancy mini cake is a 2021 Spring Old Arbor. Leaf and Steeping Method The scent is vegetal with a bit acidic but mainly smells very fresh. I used a gongfu ratio of 1 gram of leaf per 15ml of vessel size, steeped with boiling water. 200f/ 93c also would have been a good choice in water temperature. After a rinse, the tea has a sweet bell pepper and pan charred… Continue reading, hoot!

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We Bulang Together and 108 Shou Puer from Mandala Tea

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Mandala Tea keeps coming out with excellent looking puers and I got a handful of samples that came with my tRuth cake, as well as from tea friends who also love Mandala Teas. I grabbed We Bulang Together and 108 Old Tree, so let’s give these teas a go. Mandala Tea’s 2019 We Bulang Together Shou We Bulang Together is 2019 spring material. I am drinking the 2019 loose material, but Mandala Tea has the same maocha pressed into cakes in 2020. The leaves smell earthy and like a wooden bookcase. For both shous, I used gongfu style ratio of… Continue reading, hoot!

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2020 Electroflowercandy and Lovebeamcake White Teas from Kuura

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Kuura white tea cakes – names of party drugs or Shojo Anime Magical Girl power? Let’s drink Kuura’s 2020 Electroflowercandy and 2020 Lovebeamcake white tea! I purchased both teas blind as I have no willpower against fairly priced white tea cakes, but also Kuura loves their thick textures. 2020 Electroflowercandy White tea Electroflowercandy is Yunnan material, picked as intended for puer, then sun dried white tea. The dry leaves smell like floral pencil erasers. For both white teas, I used a gongfu ratio of 1 gram of leaf per 20ml of vessel size, steeped with boiling water. After a steep,… Continue reading, hoot!