2007 Iron Staff

In a Sentence

Malty Sweet, with light texture.

Wet Leaf Aroma

slight smokiness, forest honey, fruity - hibiscus, molasses, floral notes, chrysanthemum

Tasting Notes

The first steep presents a strong sweetness and a herbal, slightly watery bitterness with a sandalwood body; The texture is light yet the mouthfeel remains oily and viscous. As steeps progress from five to six, the body thickens, gaining maltiness and a fuller taste that hints at aged tea (reminds me of some good Xiaguan), while keeping its brightness. Also it gets more juicy and mouthwatering while maintaining its low bitterness and soft sweetness. Good aftertaste, The tea requires quite a few steepings before reaching its peak.

What it feels like

Energetically fizzy with a centering effect; slightly invigorating, the energy is felt first in the heart area and then spreads through the body.

Quick

Sheng ★★★★ Global Tea Hut

Details

Entry Date

07.10.2025

Country

China

Region

Composed of the old-growth leftovers of a set from many mountains through Yunnan

Price EUR/50g

Link

globalteahut.org

Properties

Journal

2025-10-07

Fall has arrived, and with it a Shipment from Global Tea Hut with some old Tea. Accompanying it, a sample of this 2007 Iron Disc Cake. The description says: This cake is called “100 mountains” in Chinese because it is composed of the old-growth leftovers of a set from many mountains through Yunnan.

Many small pieces of Leaf, tightly pressed together, and dust in the cup. This tea has a surprising patience, this few grams I used today went on for many steeps (I did not count, but judging from the amount of water remaining in my kettle), and became more and more full and coherent in Taste as we moved beyond 5/6 Steeps.

2025-12-29

Revisiting this tea, I have to adjust my original tasting notes because surprisingly they are quite different this time. The tea is so much smoother, rounder and sweeter than on my first tasting using the same Zini teapot (and also as always a clay water kettle). Maybe it's because of the nature of the iron cake; last time there was a lot of debris in it, and there was also some this time, but perhaps less so.

The first cup strikes me with a surprisingly sweet, velvety, soft and malty taste, and some scratchiness in the throat.

The second: smooth liquor, malty‑sweet and a nice long aftertaste. Nice.

Third: sweet, toffee, hint of bitterness noticeable, a touch of smokiness is barely noticeable, but adds to the complexity. There is a light cooling sensation on the tongue. Scratchy throat.

Fourth: some herbal bitter notes coming through (longer steep). That's more like what I know as Factory cakes as. There is a noticeable fuzzy energy in the head and I can feel my heartbeat. Noticeable scratchiness in the throat

Fifth and later: still sweet, but less dominantly so; more of the herbal character comes through. Bit of tartness So yeah, I might have to revisit this Tea again to get towards its true nature, but I feel this session is closer to what it probably is. We had tried it too early after shipping as well.

Apart from those impressions I find it a very enjoyable tea, nicely aged and good complexity, mouth watering and sweet - Probably more a 5 than a 4.5.