Northern California is beset with a rainy week thanks to the "Pineapple Express". In previous years, wet winter days such as this meant cracking open tea boxes for a day of brewing. It has been too long I have cracked open any beengs and choose a few to see how they are getting along- a '05 Changtai Lao Chen Bulang, '06 Changtai Nannuo, and a '05 Yiwu Zheng Shan Song Pin Xing.
I'm looking for a daily drinker to share at work. We have had a green tea shortage at the office and I've been for dawdling for months making a selection. The two Changtai's are pretty decent- reasonably bitter, dense and sweet. I am briefly stoked that these beengs have turned a corner into drinkability.
The Yiwu is still mild and inoffensive as ever- mildly bitter and mildly sweet. I'll probably bring the tamer Yiwu in since bitterness of the Changtai would be considered off the charts for regular green tea drinkers. The "reasonably bitter" designation is for fellow sheng drinkers who are used to a punch in the mouth. I wouldn't bring such brute teas into a place of work. Or wouldn't I?
The handsome octopus teapot was a Xmas gift from my husband. How does it brew? Even though it's a mass produced pot, it has so much character that it need not rely on it's brewing abilities to merit a permanent spot on my dining table. It's too much of an inconvenient brew and the size I prefer for solo sessions is this tiny friend from Petr's Pots and Tea Club.
I'm looking for a daily drinker to share at work. We have had a green tea shortage at the office and I've been for dawdling for months making a selection. The two Changtai's are pretty decent- reasonably bitter, dense and sweet. I am briefly stoked that these beengs have turned a corner into drinkability.
The Yiwu is still mild and inoffensive as ever- mildly bitter and mildly sweet. I'll probably bring the tamer Yiwu in since bitterness of the Changtai would be considered off the charts for regular green tea drinkers. The "reasonably bitter" designation is for fellow sheng drinkers who are used to a punch in the mouth. I wouldn't bring such brute teas into a place of work. Or wouldn't I?
The handsome octopus teapot was a Xmas gift from my husband. How does it brew? Even though it's a mass produced pot, it has so much character that it need not rely on it's brewing abilities to merit a permanent spot on my dining table. It's too much of an inconvenient brew and the size I prefer for solo sessions is this tiny friend from Petr's Pots and Tea Club.
The tea in the photo has a nice color developed. Seems like your storage is spot on for it.
ReplyDeleteAh Cwyn, color sadly does not tell the whole story. The Changtai Nannuo(in photo) was from Red Lantern with humid storage till 2014. The Changtai Bulang was with me since 2006. The colors are similar but Changtai with more humid storage definitely tastes mellower. Since they are from different regions, I can't say the harshness is not due to the Bulang punch.
ReplyDeleteH