Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Mystery Sample #3 From Thomas at Tuo Cha Tea (later found to be a Yu Lan Xiang from www.longfeng.cz)


Outside cold winds blow at what few leaves still manage to cling to dry branches.
Inside one awakes at the crack of dawn to prepare tea.

One sits down with a few lonely sprigs from a blossoming Camellia sinensis to keep one company. The Camellia blossoms, in their silence, tell one that winter will soon be here.

One carefully chooses the charcoal for the brazier. This charcoal, now glowing, brings water to a boil. The water is drawn and plummets from the pyo chew bak (pumpkin like gourd) into a pot full of dry leaves that are a mix twisted dark blackish leaves accompanied by some smaller lighter green leaves.

The rinse is short and brings with it a peppery-cinnamon floral scent that rides plumes of rising steam.

The first infusion brings a soft, flowery, milky taste as the flavourings of Dan Cong fills one's mouth. The mouthfeel is smooth and just dry enough to be stimulating. Its aftertaste mirrors the initial taste and lingers in the mouth.

In the second infusion a milky citrus plays about on the tongue. This tea caries a fruity-flowery flavour, a very good flavour.

The chaqi is nice, muted, bright, cloudy. Like the bright morning sun rising into the sky of a cloudy day. The energy descends before unnoticeably traveling outward to the limbs.

As the cycle of gong fu cha plays itself out like life, flowery, milky, and fruity tones remain pretty constant with some tones of 'melon' and 'soapiness' stopping by from time to time. Gradually, exhausted, these tones weaken and wain. Leaving a mouthfeel as though one's tongue and mouth is covered in thin cilia or moss. One relishes this feeling.

With minutes between infusions and hours later, this tea's essence stays on ones breath for hours as a reminder of a good tea.

Thanks again Thomas,

Peace

Note: One believes that this sample is perhaps the Single Bush Ba Xian Dan Cong... what do you think Thomas?

5 comments:

Tuo Cha Tea said...

This is definitely a dancong but I think it's not the single bush sold by www.longfeng.cz, but one I got from Cha Dao teahouse in Prague - it's Yu Lan Xiang.

geneviève meylan said...

beautifull , so pure ,so simple , tea connected with life ( outside and inside).

tsultrim topden said...

doesntmatter whether is single or not,. it seems like a yulan ,thats good tea ,. btw i noticed a beautyful blossoming camelia,.remarkable,.

Anonymous said...

I like your posts, they feel like a written meditation.
The camellia photos are beautiful.

Matt said...

Thomas,

Thanks for the Lu Lan Xiang one really enjoyed this dan cong. There aren't many good ones around here. Will make the appropriate corrections to the blog.

Ginkgo,

That is why having flowers next to your tea setting is always a great idea. Korea tea rooms especially make a point of including flowers as it adds to the naturalness the Korean tea room tries to create.

Tsultrim topden,

Yes, it wasn't the single bush afterall but one was only basing this guess on Thomas' blog which didn't post about Lu Lan Xiang. Your right though... it was a great tea.

Nutmeg,

Your comments only add to the peace.

Peace