Cha Crusade

Last session with this sample of 2015 "Nagajuna" tuo #rawpuer once offered through #kuuracorp. Potent Mengku material with very nice Taiwanese storage. This was a "special occasion" tea that didn't disappoint! (at Cammeraygal) https://www.instagram.com/p/CqPCRsRBO55/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

It's a full house today 😋 . Drinking Full House #dancong #tea from #white2tea. (at Cammeraygal) https://www.instagram.com/p/CqJfAtyBxeZ/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

The experimental 2022 "Blood Moon" from #white2tea: Is it a white tea? A black tea? An oolong? Perhaps this spooky Frankenstein tea that resembles a hairy spider curled up into a ball is best saved for Halloween. I'm not sure my cursedly small bag of minis will last that long, though, because it's quite delicious. For anyone who has tried white2tea's "Hot Brandy" productions (a physical blend of Yunnan white and black teas), this tasted quite similar to me. Very forgiving to brew, thick texture and "tingly" prolonged mouth activity, the taste itself is good: unmistakably moonlight white and dianhong black at the same time, but not overly strong as either, even with extended steeps. In a way I found this drew my attention more to those other aspects of the tea. I feel that those with a Hot Brandy cake aren't missing out on much but with this production selling out quickly I'm sure we'll see it return of it in the future. (at Cammeraygal) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cp6fknPBe81/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Aside from the convenience, one of my favourite things about dragon balls is how all the unbroken leaves look as they expand through a session. Here I'm drinking "Slow burn" 2022 Lincang #rawpuer from #bitterleafteas from the "Treat Yourself" standard set. Light taste but elegant bitterness that I definitely associate with 'older tree' material. (at Cammeraygal) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cpyv71jBvaW/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

I've had a handful of sessions with this "Year of the Tiger" (2022) Yiwu #rawpuer from #bitterleafteas and there's a lot to like about it. It's billed as inexpensive but "possibly one of the best daily drinkers out there" – a big call! The price was indeed good for a 357g cake. I found it to have low bitterness and a pleasant but 'pungent' green taste. There was some nice aftertaste but it didn't stick around very long. I found this pungency to be very engaging but also something I'd only want to drink when the mood strikes. It will be interesting to see how it changes with time! The same material was used to produce a red tea and a white tea. I am a big fan of the red and posted about it earlier several times (I haven't tried the white). I am also a big fan of the accompanying tiger artwork by @1percenttalent, with a different tiger variant for the pu'er, red and white productions. I was pleasantly surprised to find a sticker included with the cake! It is unfortunately long sold out but no doubt Bitterleaf will be doing a similar production for the year of the rabbit soon! (at Cammeraygal) https://www.instagram.com/p/CprIKknBvT1/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Morning red tea with some #kuuracorp Recombinator. Glad to have reached the end of several busy weeks 😮‍💨 (at Cammeraygal) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cplat6rhcJ3/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

The journey continues: The cake is now at the stage where it's hard to maintain the disc shape, but my tea pick (actually an oyster shucker – an excellent recommendation by @oolongowl) has let me carve off enough for another session without having to compromise its circular purity... for now. (Drinking 2021 "Prismo" #rawpuer by #kuuracorp) (at Cammeraygal) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cosyz0xhxnZ/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Probably the cake from my 2022 #kuuracorp haul that I'm going through the fastest right now is "Subsurface" #rawpuer. I've had many days at work where a single session of this has lasted the whole workday. Aside from the impressive longevity, it has decent bitterness with growing sweetness and good prolonged aftertaste. While not super complex it hits the basics really well, especially considering its price. (at Cammeraygal) https://www.instagram.com/p/CokBd5phwH2/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

"Citrus Grandis" dancong oolong from #bitterleafteas. Floral and fruity but also with deeper notes that I really enjoy. This kept me company through countless steeps during my entire workday. It still blows my mind that leaves from a tree can be made to taste and smell this good. (at Cammeraygal) https://www.instagram.com/p/CoZYe3-h1bK/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Really enjoyed the #kuuracorp Sydney tasting event at the wonderful @teaangle studio today! We tried four of the higher end raw pu'ers from Kuura's 2022 lineup: "Heresy" (in collaboration with #white2tea), "Glossolalia", "Exotic Other" and "Entheone". I've already posted about my love for "Heresy". "Glossolalia" was similar to past "all-rounder" high end Kuura productions like "Dissolver" and "Prismo". By this point my face had mostly melted off 🫠 so my impressions of the others were hazy. I think this is the first in-person tea event I've attended since the pandemic, and also the first time visiting the new Tea Angle studio since they moved from Enmore to Marrickville. It made me realise how much I've missed meeting old and new tea friends in person! A big thanks to Ayden, Matt and Dawn 🙏 (at Tea Angle) https://www.instagram.com/p/CoRygv7h3Yb/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Some of last year's green tea. While not bad as such, it's a good reminder to drink it while it's fresh. (at Cammeraygal) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cn9Hx5dB957/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Found some more time to enjoy another session of 2022 "Heresy", the #white2tea + #kuuracorp raw pu'er collaboration. Often I don't like to make sweeping statements about what I'm drinking due to all the variables and the inherent subjectivity of taste, but this is right up there with some of the best young #rawpuer I've ever had. It really hits hard on the things I like. Thick, plummy, resinous, extremely low bitterness, enduring, sweet, strong relaxing energy. Perhaps the only flaw I can find is some astringency when pushed. Whilst already sold out at #white2tea it still seems to be available at #kuuracorp. I'm strongly considering buying more before it runs out 🤔 (at Cammeraygal) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cn5zNHMhJr9/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Drinking some of the last of my 2020 "Dissolver" raw pu'er from #kuuracorp while pondering why Australia is the only country in the world where our national day celebrates the *start* of British colonisation 🤔 It's just not right. #alwayswasalwayswillbe #invasionday #survivalday This is beautiful artwork by @sarritaking_artist – be sure to check out her other stuff! (at Cammeraygal) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cn3Dx53Bs6-/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

This #bitterleafteas order finally arrived after a journey of exactly 100 days. Praise to the shipping gods that it was not lost forever 🙏 (at Cammeraygal) https://www.instagram.com/p/CnzIoEVByv3/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Happy lunar new year! 🧧 I enjoyed some celebrations over the weekend but am now unfortunately super busy at work. This 2020 "Ao ne me" #rawpuer from #farmerleaf faithfully kept me company through the whole day. (at Cammeraygal) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cnwb5F4BtSJ/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Adding my voice to the numerous positive reviews of "Scrye", an autumn 2022 dianhong from #white2tea. The description on the website sounded exactly like what I look for in a Yunnan red tea: thick and enduring with a plummy/raisiny flavour profile. I was really happy to find that it lives up to this. If it's still around next time I'm ready to put in an order, I'll be sure to grab a cake! (at Cammeraygal) https://www.instagram.com/p/CnqHe9nBIUi/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

A couple of weeks and my sense of taste and smell is back to normal (Thanks for the adventure, Covid!) I certainly now have extra appreciation for my body's ability to experience tea 😅 This afternoon I enjoyed some KUURA-Cola #ripepuer during this unseasonably cold and wet summer weather. (at Cammeraygal) https://www.instagram.com/p/CnmF1npB8iQ/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=