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A very thick and hard brick of tea; this is truly a diamond cutter. The leaves give off an aroma of grape seed, oat, granola, some fig, as well as some other dark heavy fruits. I break off a piece and take in the aroma of heavy wood. I warmed up my pot and placed the chunk inside. The scent is pushed up into thick honey aroma along with some grape jam. The brick carries signs of some age, but due to compression it has some time to go. I washed the leaves once and prepared for brewing. I lift the lid after the first steep and identify the sweet and syrupy scent. The brew begins sweet yet rustic; a mild astringency lingers in the cup. I taste a lot of heaviness on the earth tones, and I suppose this what they meant when the referred to Shou in the description. The flavor moves into heavy muddled flavors. This was an odd tea. I couldn’t identify too much. I note astringent, earthy, dark wood, some fruit, and odd. The qi was very heady; I felt as though I would tip over. I thought this to be a very cloudy brew. Personally, I wouldn’t prefer this tea; however, it is a decent aged tea for the price. I could see some people enjoying this tea, but I don’t think its for me.

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This is a great example of fresh Naka. I received moacha, so the leaves were large and thin. they gave off a heavy aroma of powdered sugar, apricot, honey, light floral, and a background of caramel and cedar. This was a very sweet tea. I warmed up my gaiwan and pushed some leaves inside. The aroma opened up into a nice crisp sweet melon, some grass, oak, sunflower, and a bit of papaya. I washed the leaves once and quickly prepared for brewing. The session began sweet and smooth with a light anise after taste for spice. The spice was quickly soothed by a thick sweet melon flavor that lingered in the back of the throat. The tea progressed into some bitter grass tones with a hint of lemon. Then, the brew relaxes into some hearty greens and consistent grapefruit. I experienced an overdrive of power. The qi was crisp, swift, and penetrating. My tongue had gone numb a few sips ago, and my head was soaring with cool sensations and vibrating energy. I really enjoyed this tea. The flavors were spot on clean spring tastes, and the energy was perfect for a sunny day.

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It’s that time of year. I rarely drink Shu, but when it becomes freezing, raining, and snowy out; it’s time for dark ripe goodness. This is a solid tea for me. I’ve had it for awhile, and I enjoy sipping on a big pot full. The leaf is moderately condensed with a strong scent of damp wood, petrichor, sweet musk, and sharp earth. I warmed my zisha and placed a big chunk inside. The scent expands to toasted oats, wet moss, maple wood, and some slight brown sugar, I washed the leaves and prepared for brewing. The taste is odd but appealing. A strong flavor of petrichor and fresh forest air hits the tongue. This sensation is followed by a thick mouth feel of sweetness and a minor dry earth. This tea is not complex, but it is solid and pleasant. It continues with sweet warm earth and peat moss, and it progressively gains dry tones. The tea is crisp and clean; the way a ripe puerh should be.

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^ sorry for blurry, it’s clearer on Instagram…

This tea has quite an aroma. The leaf consists of long light tendrils loosely entwined together in a beautiful mess. I picked up wonderful scents of sweet strawberries, blueberries, apricot, golden sap, and a semi sweet tang in the foundation. A lovely treat for the senses. I warmed my gaiwan up and slipped some inside. The smell expands to crystallized winter honey, ripe apricot, and kumquat. I washed the leaves and prepared for brewing. I regret to inform you that the aromas have enthralled you, but it doesn’t give any more. The brew seems to lead up to a grand finale with its aroma and aesthetic appearance, but it does not deliver the goods when the moment comes to shine. The brew begins raindrop lightly sweet with a slight huigan. The leaves carry a nice body of soft yellow fruits. The background brings up tastes of cedar. The bitterness present will persistently ease in and out along with a companion of astringency. This creates a contrasting palette factor after each sip. Now, to return to my previous point, I am in no way discrediting the tea, but for me it lead up to an empty show. The tea was decent, but it was off-putting or disappointing. The qi was nonexistent. The best I felt was a relaxed buzz. Personally, I drink pu for qi, and this tea did not deliver.

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This was an interesting tea.

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This was a gift from a friend, and I think it is wonderful!

The leaves are very dark and incredibly aromatic. The wet Malaysian storage has done wonders to the this tea. The scent begins with minty camphor, fresh hay, mulch, and sweet pipe tobacco. I warmed up my shibo and placed what I had inside. The scent opens and builds into a dark green eucalyptus aroma. A strong backdrop of pipe tobacco rises along side some anise; the mixture of smells were very strong. I washed the leaves once and prepared for brewing. First, the steeped leaves give off a sensational aroma of honey roasted almonds. Second, the taste begins warm and sweet at the forefront. A thick honey taste covers the tongue along with a favorable huigan. This brew is nice and sweet. A slight earthiness rises later on along with a rough wood tone. The qi is killer. An intense drowsing effect takes over my body. The smooth woodsy brew drowns me with a balance of bitter tobacco, cooling menthol, and honey desserts. I brewed this until the liquor was clear. It was a delicious treat.

Note: I have the 2013 bao tang from Tea Urchin, and this tea is a wonderful comparison to educate on how drastic and important storage conditions really are.

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I liked this last year, so I was excited to try again.

The leaves are long and lightly compressed. I take a deep inhale and identify sweet and woody tones with a back draft of smoke and very faint blackberry. The leaves carry dark and heavy scents. I warmed my teapot up and placed a fair amount inside. The warmed leaf gives off fragrant aromas of wet wood, nectar, crystallized honey, dough, and some bitters. I washed the leaves once and prepared for brewing. The brew begins sweet and very tasty. I can instantly pick up strong floral characters, for I can even smell flowers in the liquor. The brew is potent and thick with a brief huigan and some slight sour tones. This tea is quite good. The qi is instantaneous with calming and an alert feeling. I call this type of “talk tea”, for I suddenly had the urge to converse, haha, My friend and I had a political debate while I was drinking this which fueled the qi even more. The brew warmed and settled my stomach and refreshed me. I was quite happy while drinking this brew. The later steeping yields almond tones with some honey. The qi beautifully developed further and further and caused caught a zooming sensation. I liked this.

Note: My second session was not nearly the same. The tastes were off and muddled. The qi was more aggressive. The aromas were faint. I don’t know what the problem was. It may have been storage conditions, for it became much colder than my first session.

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This tea is a bit more compressed than the rest of the 2016 lineup. I can hint at a light aroma of sweet wood, some green bean, and light honey with floral characters wafting off the leaves. I warmed my gaiwan up and placed a bit inside. The scent expanded to asparagus, some smoke, and a slightly sour tone. I washed the leaves once and prepared for brewing. The first steep has some minor sour characteristics, faint smoke, and a heavy vegetal base. This is a very bright tea, for the later steeping brought about an incredible amount of lemon flavor. I can take in some basil and other herbaceous tones. The huigan is swiftly brief but potent. The brew continues in this manner and doesn’t develop much further. The sweet aftertaste lapses between sips. I liked this tea, and it reminds me of spring. It’s a decent easy sipper. I did not note any qi apparent in this session.

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This tea reminds me of a jingmai pearl I once had from 2015.

The leaves are large, dark, and slightly aromatic. I pick up soft tones of Sichuan pepper, peppercorn, spices, and an underlying syrup sweetness. The Sichuan pepper note immediately brought me back to the jingmai pearl. I warmed my teapot and placed a fair amount inside. The scents changed into a roasted green, smoke, and bitters aroma. This tea brings about spice. I washed the leaves once and prepared for brewing. The taste begins heavy on the smoky side. This brew is fairly meaty with some grainy textures. The brew moves into some bitters, vinegars, and faint background of sweetness. Personally, I am not one for pungent tea or smoky. It’s just not up my alley. So, I did not continue my session. The aftertaste was odd, and I couldn’t quite place it.

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