2019 Lao Man E

2026-01-05

This morning I was craving something with a bite to it, and Lao Man E immediately came to mind. I had tasted this tea a few times last year but never wrote about it. It’s a good example of LME, I find.

At first the bitterness is quite present, but the body adjusts quickly.

Once that happens, the focus naturally shifts toward the energy and activity of the tea. From the first sip on, it’s interesting to observe how it interacts with the cavity, - how the bitterness changes, moves, and opens up.

The aftertaste stays active for a long time, with lingering bitterness, mouth-puckering sensations, and a lot going on in the background. A tea that takes attention.

I like the mouthwatering thickness and oiliness here, the sense of complexity. There’s something satisfying about this constant mouth-watering quality.

In the later steeps it does seem to get more smooth in its own way, longer steeps bring out some deeper layer of sweetness there, while the bitterness has receded a fair bit.

Not a daily drinker for me, even though it’s a fair, clean Lao Man E. There are certainly rougher examples out there.

Still, every now and then the lively activity of these leaves is a pleasure, especially given the quality of the material.