Few of us were drinking and we concluded that, Tacha 08 and 11 are quite similar in taste and flavor, but 08 is much better cause it has already aged a little. Can feel the warm and smoothness. 11 gives more of the fresh feeling. Both are quite good. Just not strong tea but with sweet aftertaste. The astringency is minimum/light even with soaking. No bitterness.shah82 wrote:auhckw, how did the '08 and '11 LBZ compare to the one you bought so early on?
The one I bought earlier (Hojo's LBZ). Taste totally different. Also good just different from Tacha's LBZ. I have let 2 other friends (who have more experience than me) try it before, and both said Hojo's LBZ is suspicious.
Both vendor claimed theirs are pure and non mix. Price category is within same category, but taste is totally different. If I were to bet, I think Tacha's version should be correct as many people are buying it preorder and it is sold out every year during preorder cause very little quantity.
Anyway, I don't know how both vendor's LBZ can last in another 10 years. It is so light kind of tea. Not sure by then will it still have any more taste....
Edit: I wonder is it possible that both can be pure LBZ but since the location of the tree of harvest / age can be different, and therefore the taste is different? I'm speculating...
