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Tasting loose sheng puerh teas (Mao Cha) from Norbu
July 2010

2010 Shi Tou Xin Zhai Mao Cha, Nan Nuo Shan, Xishuangbanna, Yunnan
2009 Lao Ban Zhang Mao Cha from Xishuangbanna, Yunnan*
2009 Wulian Shan Mao Cha from Dali Prefecture, Yunnan

I have been enjoying the Lao Ban Zhang Mao Cha for several months, since I first tried it as part of a tasting on egullet.org, so with my last order from Norbu, I tried a couple other Mao Cha, to see how they compared.  This is my first brewing of other two young shengs.    As expected, these are wonderful teas, with more capacity for infusions than I have space in my bladder, even with the very small gaiwans, so sometime after 10 or 12 infusions, I stopped drinking the full infusions, and did a series of longer steeps, discarding the liquor, and then did a final infusion, which I estimate to be about the 20th for each, so I could finish the tasting, get the photos of the spent leaves, and go to bed!

Overall?  I love all of these.  The Shi Tou Xin Zhai is the most approachable in the early infusion, and is one I'll take to work to share in some one on one meetings with other tea lovers--it's less likely to bite back if I get a bit distracted.  But at the however-many-it-finally was infusion, when all were pretty dilute and mostly had just a gentle sweetness left, I found a little more depth or complexity in the LBZ in than the other two.   So....if you're anxious about bitter, start with the Shi Tou.  If you're already a connoisseur of young sheng, and want the maximum complexity, go for the LBZ.  And if you're more interested in spicy, get the Wulian.  Or just enjoy all of them.

*Actually, turns out the LBZ is sold out.  Greg tells me that the Lao Ban Pen Mao Cha on the site is very close, and maybe better.  I have a hard time believing anything could be better, but as good, maybe....

Tasting setup

Used 1.0 grams of tea in small 40 mL gaiwans
Infusions 205°F/96°C-212°F/100°C
2 rinses at about 10 seconds each, before first 10 second infusions

2010 Shi Tou Xin Zhai Mao Cha, Nan Nuo Shan, Xishuangbanna, Yunnan

Dry Leaves:  long dark twists of intact leaves with some stems, sweet woody anise scent
Liquor, 1st infusion:  light tan liquor, sweet anise flavor predominates
Liquor, 2nd infusion:  the anise sweetness continues to make this one mellower than the other two
Someplace about the 8th or 9th infusion:  still the mellowest of them, even after the dregs in the cup sat a bit and bitterness started to come into play; how is it that the youngest is the least harsh?  
Liquor, many?-th infusion:  sweet, dilute, still that lovely hint of anise   
Wet Leaves:  olive green leaves with reddish accents, woody earthy spicy scent

2009 Lao Ban Zhang Mao Cha from Xishuangbanna, Yunnan

Dry Leaves:   long dark twists of intact leaves with some stems, scents of mushrooms, soy sauce, darker than the Shi Tou Xin Zhai
Liquor, 1st infusion:  light tan liquor, sweet and vegetal
Liquor, 2nd infusion:  spicy, sweet, with that smooth earthy depths, and hint of bitterness
Someplace about the 8th or 9th infusion:   sweet, earthy, lovely as usual, but the astringency of the aftertaste is definitely present and noticeably more than the Shi Tou or the Wulian
Liquor, many?-th infusion:   sweet, dilute, earthy
Wet Leaves:  olive green leaves of uniform color, sweet, spicy, asparagus scents

2009 Wulian Shan Mao Cha from Dali Prefecture, Yunnan

Dry Leaves:   long dark twists of intact leaves with some stems, scent sweet and vegetal and like clean earth
Liquor, 1st infusion:  light tan liquor, sweet, vegetal, bit of astringency
Liquor, 2nd infusion:  spicy, herbaceous, sweet with astringency and some bitterness
Someplace about the 8th or 9th infusion:  sweet, earthy, again, a little spicy/herbaceous accent that in addition to and distinct from the astringency that forms part of the aftertaste of the LBZ
Liquor, many?-th infusion:   sweet, dilute, mellow
Wet Leaves:  olive leaves with reddish accents, sweet spicy vegetal scent
 


Photos:

Left         2010 Shi Tou Xin Zhai Mao Cha, Nan Nuo Shan, Xishuangbanna, Yunnan
Middle    2009 Lao Ban Zhang Mao Cha from Xishuangbanna, Yunnan
Right       2009 Wulian Shan Mao Cha from Dali Prefecture, Yunnan



dry leaves



wet leaves

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