Tea Tasting Notes: 2018 Spring Raw from white2tea

This is a 100G cake from w2t’s puer basics sampler pack, which, when I bought it, I didn’t realize was all raw puer (I was a serious newbie back then - all of about a year ago).  Not a big fan of any of those teas, and I’ve read less-than-flattering comments about the pack on reddit.

https://white2tea.com/collections/tea-sample-sets/products/basics-puer-tea-sample-set

First try shortly after receiving it about 9 months ago:  Similar to the 2018 Huangpian cake - astringent, not enjoyable.  [Betting I brewed that at full boiling back then]

Second try: Well, my guess is that I was brewing this at full-on boiling the first time.  Brewing per raw puer - 200F, 7G leaf in 120ml pot (might be a little heavy on the leaf, but we’ll see)

• 1st: Not astringent or bitter, a bit of a bite (I don’t really know what the fancy term is for that); dark golden liquor; not a dominating flavor - it’s OK at best
• Got about 7-8 infusions before it ran out of flavor, well, really before I decided I was done with it.  Not exactly my favorite flavor profile.  Maybe it’s got some camphor/menthol working, that isn’t quite my “cup of tea” (pardon that….).  If so, I may not be in for a treat when I eventually try my minis of w2t Camphornaught.

Tea Tasting Notes  2023 Spring Old Arbor Raw Puer w2t

Got a 50 gram cake of this in a recent White2Tea tea club shipment.

Smells like fresh cut grass, etc. Looking forward to trying this! The aroma dissipates quickly after it’s out of the wrapper, nowhere near as strong in the pot for the dry leaves, or for the brewed ones; steeped at 200F like typical for raw. It’s a raw all right, not super strong flavor-wise; it’s good. It’s ever-so-slightly got that raw bite, but is largely oolong-like floral (just subtle, not in-your-face like some oolongs) and “sweet”. I’m getting to like raw more than before…..maybe because I’ve tried some decent ones lately?

Second try 2023-08-22: 200F, 6G in 120ml pot: golden/yellow color with a tinge of green/brown; again, slight raw puer bite, a bit grassy/herbal, still reminds me a bit of an oolong, but only slightly so; it’s enjoyable; will probably let is sit for a few months and try it again to see how it’s changed, if at all. Started at 10 seconds and added 5 seconds with each new infusion, but accidentally added 10 seconds at the 4th;

• 1st, 2nd infusions: Gives a little bit of a rush - not familiar with the fancy term I’ve seen used, not a “relaxing” tea
• 3rd: Very floral flavor like an oolong, green tea grassy, vegetal smell to the leaves; that “rush” is gone
• 4th: went 212F, brings out more of that floralness and something else I can’t place, again reminds me of oolong; a tiny bit of astringency and bitterness - very tiny
• 5th: 200F, will go back to 212F for the next one, not as intense flavor, but zero astringency/bitterness
• 6th: didn’t make any notes
• 7th: It’s losing oomph, flavor is lighter, a floral hint; liquor is still yellow golden, just not as deep color as before. 45 seconds
• 8th: Still try 90 seconds this time to see what happens
• 9th: 90 seconds brought back most of the floral/oolong flavor with no astringency or bitterness; feels more “dry” in my mouth than previously
• 10th: Will go 180 seconds and see what happens…..a tiny bit roasty, tiny bit of astringency; not much of a reason to go further