June ITD Tasting: Yancha

[Space Samurai]

got my samples, domo.

[olivierco]

Sample A.
My first wuyi so no basis for comparison for me.

Chocolate perhaps. As I eat only >85% cocoa dark chocolate, for me chocolate is associated to much sharper taste and light granulous (?) consistency.
Caramel especially on the smelling cup (the big transfer cup I use between the gaiwan and my actual teacup so that I won't spill too much tea...).
Floral/fruity complex notes.
Long and pleasant aftertaste.

Good stuff.
Many thanks!

[Salsero]

I posted some notes on Sample A with my TeaDay photo today, but since I think a number of ITD regulars don't read TeaDay, I am cross posting here.

First, I really liked A ... B was just too cocoa tasting for me, interesting but I would never stock it. Sample A also started out smelling like hot cocoa. Around the third infusion, however, it started tasting of dry dates, smooth and aromatic. As with virtually all Wuyi teas, I found little viscosity, but the middle infusions did present a smooth and aromatic character that was almost creamy in texture, not thick - like, say, a Pouchong or Gao Shan might be -- but almost as good as thick. The later infusions held notes of nutmeg and sweet plums. Even as the taste faded, the brew left a pleasantly oily feel on the lips. I lost track of the number of steeps. Normally I am happy to get 5 from a Wuyi Yancha, but this one went at least 10. Thanks Scruff, great tea!

I have no idea what it is, but if our kindly host ever reveals the provenance, I will probably get more.

[scruffmcgruff]

I'll reveal their identities in a few days, once some more people have a chance to try them.

[Thirsty Daruma]

Oops! Samples recieved. I've had a crazy week, but I should be able to taste them either tonight or tomorrow. Can't wait. Good work!

[joelbct]

First, I really liked A ... B was just too cocoa tasting for me, interesting but I would never stock it.

That is so interesting, I am certainly no Oolong Expert, but I preferred "B," while many of you preferred "A!" I wonder if he labeled mine wrong

[scruffmcgruff]

First, I really liked A ... B was just too cocoa tasting for me, interesting but I would never stock it.

That is so interesting, I am certainly no Oolong Expert, but I preferred "B," while many of you preferred "A!" I wonder if he labeled mine wrong

Well, which one was the smaller sample? It should have been B.

[joelbct]

First, I really liked A ... B was just too cocoa tasting for me, interesting but I would never stock it.

That is so interesting, I am certainly no Oolong Expert, but I preferred "B," while many of you preferred "A!" I wonder if he labeled mine wrong

Well, which one was the smaller sample? It should have been B.

Yah I think B was smaller. I was just joking, I'm sure you labeled them correctly. Just a lighthearted stab at the subjectivity of taste, even among rarefied tastebuds such as ours

[Salsero]

That is so interesting, I am certainly no Oolong Expert, but I preferred "B," while many of you preferred "A!" I wonder if he labeled mine wrong

Chacun à son goût. B is certainly a stunning tea the likes of which I have never had. It's just that I can't get over an impression of cocoa that confuses me. The goal isn't that we should all agree, just that we should enjoy some tea together and talk about it. I would say that Brent has come up with two fabulous items here that have very distinct characteristics.

Above the belt

• -------------------------- <---- The Belt

Below the belt


Besides, you have good taste in teaware even if your palate for tea itself is deficient.

• (Sorry, it's just too tempting to kick a guy when he's vulnerable. Sympathy is what they invented TeaMoms for.)

[scruffmcgruff]

I also liked A more, but my sample of B was essentially disintegrated, so I don't know which was truly "better."

(If we assume that price correlates with quality, B should be better. )

[joelbct]

The goal isn't that we should all agree, just that we should enjoy some tea together and talk about it.

Hear hear, I'll sip to that!

Besides, you have good taste in teaware even if your palate for tea itself is deficient.

And I'll pretend I didn't notice that one

(If we assume that price correlates with quality, B should be better. )

Ah ha! The golden tongue strikes again, me and my expensive tastes

[Thirsty Daruma]

So I just had B.

The raw aroma had caramel, cocoa, old tobacco and burnt chestnut smells, with a little fig sweetness. The steeped aroma (~25s) had, oddly enough, marijuana notes, with cocoa powder, dust and the rich chocolate smell of brownie batter. So, uh, marijuana brownies I guess. Flavor was lovely, on a really thick, smooth palate. Cocoa, chestnut flavors and a distinctive woodiness.

Second steep (~30s) ditched the marijuana aroma and brought more chestnut and cocoa into the aroma. Less tree bark, and the flavor was more or less the same but slightly weaker.

Third steep (~35s) was dustier, reminded me of the smell of attics, and Aspen tree bark, with more burnt chestnut notes. Flavor was still heavy on the palate, but generally a blander version of the other two steeps.

That aside, I liked it. Good, murky tea. No idea what it could be though. This is far beyond my studies.

[scruffmcgruff]

...oddly enough, marijuana notes...

Yes! I hadn't noticed that in this particular tea, but I have definitely smelled it in other yancha; one of teaspring's yanchas smelled very strongly of it. I seem to remember that Mary and one of her brothers noticed it too.

[Thirsty Daruma]

Good to know I hadn't lost my mind Scruff. My family, who aren't tea buffs, though Dad tries his hardest, had this to say.

Mom: "Smells like pot. You said this was a 'mystery tea'? Unlabeled? In the mail?'
Dad: "I like it. Has a new car smell and taste."
Sister: "Smells like poo. You drink this?"

At least they tried it.

So I'm having A now. I found the 15 second steep to be way too little, so I bumped it up to 30 seconds for the second steep.

I really like the aroma on this one. Light, kind of piercing, with cinnamon, a little nutmeg, maybe even the slightest edge of clove, with a deep orange sweetness too. Unfortunately I didn't get those reflected in the taste, which while it has an excellent light palate, seems a bit too neutral or "thin" as another poster said.

I do catch an aftertaste like water with a round of lemon in it, but besides that, not too heady this "A" one is. I much prefer B, but either way, thanks again for the sample and contest Scruff.

[Salsero]

I much prefer B ...

I am so happy to see that Joel isn't the only one with expensive taste!

This is really turning out great, Scruff. Sample B is simply nothing I have ever tasted before, absolutely nothing comes close. Maybe I will even work up the nerve to hazard a guess at Sample A, at least what it isn't. I say SAMPLE A is not

not Shui Xian, I've had a number of SX and none of them have been like either of these
not DHP, you wouldn't make it that easy
maybe Rou Gui, there seems to be enormous variation in offerings of Rou Gui
not Shui Jin Gui or Golden Sea Turtle, I've only had one of these, but it was nothing like this
not Bai Ji Guan, too dark for the Cockscomb
not Tie Luo Han

One of the more obscure Yancha? Maybe, but I don't think you are that devious (I could be wrong!)

So, that leaves me with a very shaky guess of ... Rou Gui from ... The Whoknowswhere Teashop. If I were forced to guess a shop, I guess I would deduce TeaCuppa as the most likely spot. Mostly because I can't think of another source that might have such high quality stuff.

Whatever it is, I say it is magnificent quality. Both of them are primo (anything that has pot mixed in has to be pretty good), but the A is one of the best quality teas I have had.