June ITD Tasting: Yancha

[Pentox]

I SERIOUSLY WANT that bowl!!!

Tell you what - if I see a set of them (like the one that was on Yahoo Japan), I'll let you know. Maybe we can even split the set. I mean, who needs FIVE identical yunomi...

I want some too!

[scruffmcgruff]

Oliver, they also sell the DHP in bulk 100g packages for a small discount. I can't remember how much the rou gui was, I'll have to check my order history.

[Salsero]

Sample B: 2007 Exquisite Da Hong Pao, also from Teacuppa ...
Sorry about the small size of the samples, especially B.

Sorry, Scruff, I think you are wrong about B ... it can't possibly be DHP.

As for the sample size, I am very much in favor of modest sized samples. This was perfect. If we were doing our tasting in person, we'd only have one session with each tea.

Am I reading the site correctly? Does that B cost over $1 per gram? Yikes!! Please do check your order history for the cost of the no-longer-available Rou Gui? I'll bet it was also muy alto, but I am curious about the relative cost.

This was an enormously generous gift. Thanks again.

... bulk 100g packages ...

Somehow, I have trouble thinking of 100 grams as buying in bulk!

[scruffmcgruff]

Salsero, your dancongs were equally generous IIRC, I'm just trying to keep up! Also, I just checked my order history, the rou gui was 18.50 per 50g.

Part of the reason I did this tasting was so I had a chance to taste these teas as well; I'm not sure I could justify buying such nice tea for just myself.

[Salsero]

... I'm not sure I could justify buying such nice tea for just myself.

Yeh, I know the feeling ...

That A was a pretty good deal, not cheap but quite reasonable for something that quality. I suppose that's why it's sold out!

[Thirsty Daruma]

I'll take my prediction of cinnamon on the Rou Gui as a humble victory. Just had another Rou Gui yesterday and got the cinnamon again, so it's nice to see the pattern.

Many thanks again!

[Salsero]

I'll take my prediction of cinnamon on the Rou Gui as a humble victory.

Wow, that's amazing. I went back and re-read your review and it screams cassia bark, and they always say that Rou Gui has the flavor of cassia or cinnamon. The one time I had a Rou Gui that tasted like cassia, it was so strong and obvious that I am pretty sure the taste was sprayed on. Since then I have never noticed cinnamon-like flavors, including in my one session with this puppy, but I have the other half remaining and will look with my nose more carefully.

Truly an amazing proof that Rou Gui does have a cinnamon-like taste and that you are a true blood hound on the tea trail!

[Space Samurai]

Sorry about the small size of the samples, especially B. I should have limited the number of signups, but I didn't think so many would be interested!

Hush. Thank you very much for the tea. I enjoyed B, but haven't tried A yet. I should get on that.

[Thirsty Daruma]

I have a Da Hong Pao from another tea store so I'm eager to see if there are parallels there too. These Oolongs are all VERY exciting. A whole new world...

[Space Samurai]

I can't really tell one yancha from another, qi lan, da hong pao, rui gui, they all taste the same to me, but they all taste good.

I just brewed some of sample A in a gaiwan, its very smooth, smooth in this case meaning I couldn't over brew it.

[Proinsias]

I can't really tell one yancha from another, qi lan, da hong pao, rui gui, they all taste the same to me, but they all taste good.

I know the feeling. The only yancha I've spent excessive amounts of cash on is da hong pao so I think my brain is sort of wired to really good = da hong pao.

That's the best excuse I can come up with at the moment for being completely wrong, more shall follow as I think of them.

[scruffmcgruff]

I'm not sure if the "standard" flavor profiles of different types of yancha are statistically significant; I kinda feel like there is more variation between individual teas than there is between varietals. There are some trends, I think, but I didn't think either of these two was very typical.

Had I tasted the Rou Gui blindly, I'd have probably guessed Shui Jin Gui or Tie Luo Han, and had I tasted the DHP blindly, I'd have definitely guessed Shui Xian. The former is probably because I personally didn't pick up too much cassia/cinnamon, though individual tastes obviously vary.

Just my 2 cents.

[Thirsty Daruma]

So how exactly are all these yancha characterized then? The flavors may bleed together, but apparently somebody thought certain teas deserved their own subcategory. Is it by region or preparation? Or season? Or none at all?

[scruffmcgruff]

So how exactly are all these yancha characterized then? The flavors may bleed together, but apparently somebody thought certain teas deserved their own subcategory. Is it by region or preparation? Or season? Or none at all?

I think they're different breeds of plant, but I could be wrong. Maybe there is also a regional requirement. Bai Ji Guan seems to be the only one that is produced really differently than the others.

[Thirsty Daruma]

The different breeds of the tea plant is a very scary place to tread, Scruff. Only trained, professional botanists have made it back alive. Maybe I should just be happy to drink these and enjoy them - no investigative research.

By the way, does Yancha = Rock Oolong?