This is one that I have almost exclusively at work, grandpa-style, but after having had White2tea’s 2016 Prolaxicorvatin, I decided to break this one out today in the gaiwan. The comparison wasn’t as straightforward as I’d have thought: this one operates in a much higher register, with almost all the flavor concentrated on front of the mouth bitterness. There’s some finish in the back of the throat, but most everything lingers, again, in the front of the mouth. I’m mostly getting sharper pine flavors from this, rather than some of the lower, slightly fruity bitterness from some of the other Menghai teas I’ve had; this combines with the mouthfeel to offer something of a soapy impression on the early steeps, which, despite the sound of it, is actually pretty enjoyable. I also got taken by surprise on some actual qi in the early steeps, though this didn’t last terribly long. The durability is so-so, and the taste gets pretty hollow in later steeps.
If this reminds me of anything, it’s probably a Dayi 7542 that I picked up from Yunnan Sourcing, although this doesn’t have quite the menthol character that that one does. In fact, I’ve had the back to back at work a couple of times and had to concentrate a little to tell the difference. If you’re into the bitter side of young sheng (and I am), you’ll probably like this one. It’s not the most complex tea out there, but it’s enjoyable for a workhorse, daily drinker.
Flavors: Pine
