Black Tea, Today's Tea

Shōu Gōng Lì Zuò Jīn Jùn Méi, 手工力作金马均眉, Handmade Masterpiece Jīn Jùn Méi

#TodaysTea – Spring, 2017; var. unknown; #Wuyishan, Nanping, Fujian; bud only, hand processed; 1100-1400m

Infusion: 5g in 200ml for 1-2min.@90-95deg. C

Dry leaf aroma: malty, mildly/faintly smokey; chocolate, raisin, hints of black cardamom;
Wet leaf aroma: damp fire ash, touch of dried tangerine peel;
Liquor: deep Golden color with a spicy, vegetal aroma;
Mouthfeel: thick, viscous, syrupy, tingling, slightly bitter, vaguely sweet finish;
Taste: mildly malty, slightly ashen, watery, chrysanthemum stem vegetal with retronasal floral overtones;

Opinion: This is the light style of Jin Jun Mei, and has rather large buds. It is hard to reconcile with this particular Tea because it seems to lack in depth and complexity of a dark roast and it also seems to miss on the characteristic honey notes. This tea is not challenging or confronting to the drinker, as such it’s easy to drink without having to think about it.