This is the second black tea from Sichuan that I am reviewing as part of this competition. The first one was this (Chuan Hong Black Tea), and I found it fascinating.
This one, I thought, was fine, but it was not as complex. For instance, I was expecting a delicate sweetness, but it was not there. Both black teas came from the same area, same harvest and same maker. I think that what made them very different teas (and grades) was the picking standard. The prices are also considerably different; this tea is more than 50% cheaper than the Chuan Hong one.
The seller told me that this tea was cultivated from the tea trees at around 800 meters high in the Mengding Mountain and added that the tea should offer honey and milk flavour. I was disappointed that I did not get these flavours.
It had a beautiful golden liquor and the leaves smelt smoky like a charcoal-roasted oolong. It was mellow but not sweet, not deep. It did not get better in the further steepings neither. Good tea overall, but not as good as its cousin.
Tea Profile:
Type: Black
Origin: Mengding, Sichuan, China
Harvest time: Spring 2020
Leaf colour: Dark brown
Liquor colour: Golden
Tea aroma: Roasty
Tea taste: Mellow and slightly malt
Steeping/brewing: Place 4 g of this tea in a teapot or gaiwan and add about 100-120 ml water at around 90°C. Rinse after 5 sec. Steep for 30 seconds for the second time and increase the consecutive steeping time by 10 seconds each time. You can steep this tea up to three times.
Shelf life: 3 years