2011 Bingdao Gushu
from Nannuoshan
In a Sentence
Smooth Operator.
Wet Leaf Aroma
Overall not very strong smell. Hunches of: dried wood, smokiness, barnyard, faint floral notes, hints of sweetness
Tasting Notes
The first infusion presented a silky and velvety mouthfeel with a gentle rich body. Herbal notes of ginseng or licorice wood emerge, accompanied by a soft sweetness reminiscent of rock sugar. There is no particular flavour standing out. This one speaks more through the mouthfeel than the taste. Following steeps revealed dried fruit notes alongside a subtle woodiness. The overall taste is characterized by its softness, smoothness, lack of bitterness or astringency with a slight stickiness to the (gentle) sweetness. A bit of medicinal note is also present. Later infusions exhibited a hunch of resin, adding complexity to the flavor profile and a cooling sensation in the throat.
What it feels like
Soft, comforting and centering, like a calm grown up.
Journal
2025-04-21
First time tasting a tea from the Bingdao area — and it’s very enjoyable! While it doesn’t present a distinct flavor profile, or high complexity, it offers a thick, smooth sweetness and a calm, mature character. No tangyness, nor Astringency. It feels grounded and quietly expressive—like a tea that has something to say, even if it speaks softly.
I brewed it in a zini pot this time; next round I’ll try a hongni or shiboridashi to see if a less porous clay might bring out more higher notes.
Nice smooth and sweet tea!
2025-12-22
Viscous, sweet, quiet.
nicely balanced and smooth - mostly about sweetness and mouthfeel. Cooling in the throat. I find it very enjoyable.