2014 TeaUrchin Lao Banzhang. An obscene value at $323/200g.
Well, what does it do good?
The dry leaf is very aromatic, and the soup is consistently aromatic very deep into the session.
It has decent thickness, though no interesting texture of note. Later infusions have drying astringency.
The flavor is fairly full bodied in the stereotypical Menghai manner--tobacco, mushroom, a bit of grains, a bit of honey, aromatic forest.
Extremely durable tea. Had at least 15 brews and probably had enough to last 25.
The issue is that it's not good in the way I count as truly excellent puerh--yesterday's Manzhuan is the better tea, despite the weaker taste and odd notes. There isn't much in the way of aftertastes in the throat at all, and only a little length, transformation, and light aftertaste in the mouth. There isn't a whole lot of complexity in the cup, nor does the session have any dynamic changes in character, so I got bored well before the tea was done. I also did not note much in the way of qi (although, I wasn't feeling well today, and that might have masked it) at all.
In general, the 2012 6FTM Hekai sold by TeaClassico is the better bet, besides being cheaper. Very close taste to this, and more potent besides.
I still have the 2013 version, so at some point, I'll make a comparison with that tea as well.
Well, what does it do good?
The dry leaf is very aromatic, and the soup is consistently aromatic very deep into the session.
It has decent thickness, though no interesting texture of note. Later infusions have drying astringency.
The flavor is fairly full bodied in the stereotypical Menghai manner--tobacco, mushroom, a bit of grains, a bit of honey, aromatic forest.
Extremely durable tea. Had at least 15 brews and probably had enough to last 25.
The issue is that it's not good in the way I count as truly excellent puerh--yesterday's Manzhuan is the better tea, despite the weaker taste and odd notes. There isn't much in the way of aftertastes in the throat at all, and only a little length, transformation, and light aftertaste in the mouth. There isn't a whole lot of complexity in the cup, nor does the session have any dynamic changes in character, so I got bored well before the tea was done. I also did not note much in the way of qi (although, I wasn't feeling well today, and that might have masked it) at all.
In general, the 2012 6FTM Hekai sold by TeaClassico is the better bet, besides being cheaper. Very close taste to this, and more potent besides.
I still have the 2013 version, so at some point, I'll make a comparison with that tea as well.