#steepster

This oolong boasts a rich charcoal and mineral aroma. Its flavor is dominantly roasted, accented with hints of stone and fruit like a freshly rained on mountainside. Nicely sweet with a smooth, oily texture, it’s delightfully free of bitterness. It strongly emanates that rock oolong flavor amidst the charcoal. An enjoyable tea. Slightly more roasted than most duck shit oolongs, but just as good.

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

This aged ripe has a strong energy and thick flavor. It’s now one of my favorites from Yunnan Sourcing! The wet leaf smells of wood, chocolate, and mashed berries. I may have a bias for aged shou, but the flavors are very pleasant. A nice broad wet wood flavor with hints of vanilla at the forefront. Behind it, there are notes of brown sugar and rich earth. This tea lasted me many steeps, however the tuo is tough to break apart. You will need a strong tea pick for this one! I found this shou to be a perfect example of what an aged ripe can be. If you’re planning on making a Yunnan sourcing order, and have never tried aged shou, this is the tea for you. It’s affordable, but is a lovely goalpost for new sippers.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Not to be silly, but I cannot recall if I’ve reviewed this one yet!

This delightful blend of Heicha and Sheng Puerh, adorned with the infamous Fu Zhuan aka Golden Flowers, exudes strong, invigorating energy. The aroma is youthful, with hints of green wood, fresh fruit, and sugar. Each sip reveals a sweet, juicy flavor that intensifies with each steep, as the liquor deepens in color. It's like tasting the essence of a sunlit orchard, where the sweetness and vibrancy grow with each passing moment, leaving you both energized and enchanted. This tea is distinctly APPLE to me… and doesn’t bother my stomach as much as some fu zhuan does. Still, don’t drink on an empty stomach or with a gluten intolerance.

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

I am very silly, and bought this mini because the reference on the wrapper made me laugh. I love Documentary Now. Maybe I’ll ramble about it over on instagram later, but for now I will talk about the tea itself. The description of this tea that W2T gives is interesting; they note the tea is made of some older material they were waiting to press. Once again, we are all left to ponder what this material exactly “is”, which W2T always leaves a mystery. Aroma hit me as punchy, at first. I was worried about the bitterness as the aroma seemed young and green. But, it also smells sweet, sugary, and fruity. It smells a lot like Yiwu, but I’m uncertain as W2T is a strange mysterious wizard with its sources. Liquor is gold, crisp, soft. Cloudier and thicker than some young sheng I’ve had recently. This tea is a treat for sweeter young puerh drinkers. It’s quite a special tea. Notes of jasmine, wood, and fresh fruit. Leaning a tad on the floral side rather than the fruity. Give this mini a try if it sounds good for you. Maybe snag a cake if you’re feeling ballsy. It’s a good one.

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆