Confection 2001 Liu Bao Heicha

Gongfu!

Enjoyed this session with a few blackberries snacked on in between the steeps. Though not quite as intense and full-bodied as expected, this was still a rich session with a smooth and more forest-y leaning flavour. Woody with that brothy and more umami sort of undertone that I see so commonly described as mushroom-like. Also just a bit creamy, but more in the sense of cooking cream and less a sweet, custardy creaminess. Probably because it is woodier in profile with some pine-y element, but I did taste rosemary and juniper at different points. The finish and aftertaste of infusions are where this tea is at its sweetest. Many years ago, a coworker gifted me a bunch of ouzo flavoured hard candies because she knew how much I enjoy the taste of black licorice, and the notes I’m picking up here are reminding me heavily of them: very anise and even absinthe-like.

I wanted to try this tea because of BLT’s description of it as more herbal and licorice-like (spot on!), and I feel like it really didn’t register to me that this was a twenty-four year old tea until halfway through this morning’s session. That’s wild. If this tea was a person, it would have hit all the big milestones: getting its license, voting, legal drinking age. What an incredible treat and luxury it is to get to enjoy aged teas like this one!!

Tea Photos: https://www.instagram.com/p/DJpgo0UStjb/?img_index=1

Song Pairing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFRJCKVhwJs&ab_channel=OliverMalcolm-Topic