Some quick notes:
Mengsong tea ball that was paired with the good Mengsong in the white2tea tea club--not very good. Had some stewed veggie taste and was otherwise fairly generic, with a decent viscosity.
Green shroom from the white2tea tea club--this is a product that's similar to a 7542 and is rather made well. There isn't the qi of great gushu or anything, but it has guts and a solid flavor, and is exactly the sort of tea that you stock up on by the tong to drink at least fifteen years later. I suspect it's too expensive, were it actually for sale in quantity to really do that.
Today, I had one of my own teas, the '07 XZH 8582. Really good--it's basically about the caliber of the Qixiang or so. Early brews were acidic and kind of strong, and needed sort brewing times longer than I usually give it. Top taste was a very nice papery wood that's followed by a northern bulang aged sweetness, a tiny bit like Xishishenpin, but with a sort of fruit almost apricot edge. A little high on drying astringency, but it's productive in generating a lasting mouthcoat. The mouthfeel was really good with good viscosity and a characteristic texture (that's also present in the XZH Longfeng as well). The original taste dies down fairly quick, as usual, but I stayed drinking because there was a good light residual taste still happening. Aroma was good, and lasts past the time the rich taste part is over. XZH has a big time lead over other premium tea makers in terms of consistent teas with great aromas. Qi was mild to moderate. Aftertaste didn't really penetrate the throat, but it it does hit the top of the throat, and there is a little feeling going down.
Mengsong tea ball that was paired with the good Mengsong in the white2tea tea club--not very good. Had some stewed veggie taste and was otherwise fairly generic, with a decent viscosity.
Green shroom from the white2tea tea club--this is a product that's similar to a 7542 and is rather made well. There isn't the qi of great gushu or anything, but it has guts and a solid flavor, and is exactly the sort of tea that you stock up on by the tong to drink at least fifteen years later. I suspect it's too expensive, were it actually for sale in quantity to really do that.
Today, I had one of my own teas, the '07 XZH 8582. Really good--it's basically about the caliber of the Qixiang or so. Early brews were acidic and kind of strong, and needed sort brewing times longer than I usually give it. Top taste was a very nice papery wood that's followed by a northern bulang aged sweetness, a tiny bit like Xishishenpin, but with a sort of fruit almost apricot edge. A little high on drying astringency, but it's productive in generating a lasting mouthcoat. The mouthfeel was really good with good viscosity and a characteristic texture (that's also present in the XZH Longfeng as well). The original taste dies down fairly quick, as usual, but I stayed drinking because there was a good light residual taste still happening. Aroma was good, and lasts past the time the rich taste part is over. XZH has a big time lead over other premium tea makers in terms of consistent teas with great aromas. Qi was mild to moderate. Aftertaste didn't really penetrate the throat, but it it does hit the top of the throat, and there is a little feeling going down.