Yesterday, I had a very nice unknown tea, which I estimate to be something like a 2000-2005 8582 that has had capable warehousing. It starts out fairly light, and relatively fruity, but gains in old books, herbs, as the session goes on. The huigans are really good, mostly in the mouth, and pleasantly sweet. Much, much better than the normal fare of aged 8582 usually available. Excellent relaxing qi, not too strong, but there. This lasts a long time, but not too long. The back end of the session was only good for about two brews, so...fifteen brews? The major fly in the soup is that this has a degree of unpleasant astringency (probably from the wet store period), and a number of more years is probably needed to smooth that out.
I also had something that was plastic baggie sealed. I was expecting something fairly premium, especially since the leaves were nice, but this turns out to be hongchapu, with decent hongchapu aftertaste, but little top taste of good quality. Very similar to the 2001 Chen Yuan Hao yiwu.
Today, I tested out the unknown shu cake. Yup, tastes good, smells good, entry smooth, a bit of lasting taste in the mouth and throat, later part of the session sensately sweet. However, there may be an issue with an uncomfortable feeling on the tongue and throat, and that might be why it's not on some store shelf. Sort of a caustic feel. It could very well be pollen related though, so more drinking needed.
I also did a session with something merely labeled 2006 Gushu. Has a fruity aroma, pink bubblegum taste. Not much thickness in the soup, but there is typically some huigan in the mouth. Taste becomes more intense and complex as the session goes on, but it also become bitter. This is probably Jingmai, and tightly compressed. Not too much aging other than mellowing and that progressive bitterness that some Jingmai does as they age. This also had a tinge of woodiness that comes out late in this session. Maybe a tiny bit of qi.
I also had something that was plastic baggie sealed. I was expecting something fairly premium, especially since the leaves were nice, but this turns out to be hongchapu, with decent hongchapu aftertaste, but little top taste of good quality. Very similar to the 2001 Chen Yuan Hao yiwu.
Today, I tested out the unknown shu cake. Yup, tastes good, smells good, entry smooth, a bit of lasting taste in the mouth and throat, later part of the session sensately sweet. However, there may be an issue with an uncomfortable feeling on the tongue and throat, and that might be why it's not on some store shelf. Sort of a caustic feel. It could very well be pollen related though, so more drinking needed.
I also did a session with something merely labeled 2006 Gushu. Has a fruity aroma, pink bubblegum taste. Not much thickness in the soup, but there is typically some huigan in the mouth. Taste becomes more intense and complex as the session goes on, but it also become bitter. This is probably Jingmai, and tightly compressed. Not too much aging other than mellowing and that progressive bitterness that some Jingmai does as they age. This also had a tinge of woodiness that comes out late in this session. Maybe a tiny bit of qi.