Tea and Zen

This is part of my Sample Demolition: Verdant Tea series.

Way back when I found Verdant Tea I bought their "5 Teas for $5" and this was one of them that showed up. I hadn't tasted Da Hong Pao (Big Red Robe) from many retailers, and I still haven't. It's one of the wu yi's I am much less familiar with. I remembered the tea being pleasant. With that in mind I went into this tasting with high hopes I would indeed enjoy this tea again.

Wet leaves

The leaves weren't very aromatic. I picked up the distinctive "wu yi" rock minerality smell, honeysuckle, and a hint of vanilla.

I used 5g/120ml, 100C water, first brew was five seconds and added on 3-5 seconds there one out. Before tasting, I washed the leaves twice.

Brewings

After warming my gaiwan and gently shaking the leaves, they had a lovely chocolate aroma mingled with wood and a hint of melon. The liquor was incredibly buttery and smooth. There wasn't much to taste yet. I had hints of melon, honeysuckle, vanilla, and the characteristic minerality present in wu yi oolongs.

Dry leaves

 In the scent of the second cup there was some kamut (a grain) that I hadn't smelt before. The liquor still tasted minerally, but it had a strong, but not overpowering taste of vanilla and honeysuckle. The taste of melon clung the sides of the front of my tongue, and a raspberry-honey like flavor at the very back.

The third was more or less the same, except that the overall flavor had died down a little. The aftertaste was stronger.

Sipping on some water after the third cup made the aftertaste even more pleasant. The melon/raspberry flavor at the back of my tongue mingled with vanilla and honeysuckle in the middle of my tongue.

Liquor

The fourth steeping was very nice. I actually said "wow." It was more or less the same as what I've said up to now, except the flavors of the aftertaste were present while the liquor was still in your mouth. The liquor was now somewhat astringent, but not in an abrasive way. I was somewhat sad to see the incredibly smooth, buttery mouthfeel leave.

In the fifth the aroma was not nearly as strong. This was a sign to me that the tea is nearing it's last legs. The distinctive mineral taste had left, leaving the honeysuckle to run the show.

The sixth was my last cup because the aroma was all gone. There wasn't much in the liquor either aside the lingering aftertaste of honeysuckle. Unfortunately the wonderfully complex aftertaste from cups prior was more or less gone. I could still taste some vanilla on the sides of the front of my tongue.

Brewing leaves

Rating

Overall I don't think this was a bad tea. It wasn't anything to celebrate over, but I enjoyed it. The aftertaste was very pleasant, the body was amazingly smooth, and the liquor wasn't bad. I give it a 7. It's above average, but not absolutely incredible.

I unfortunately forgot to take pictures of some tea leaf samples when I made this. But, from the wet, steeping, and dry leaves I believe you are able to get a good feel of the leaf quality. 

If you are interested in buying this tea, you can purchase it here.