2022 Yiwu Smuggler

In a Sentence

An enlivening young sheng - green wild herbs and softness.

Wet Leaf Aroma

Herbal, green sheng, honey, orchid, wild herbs, buttery green

Tasting Notes

The tea starts softly, reminiscent of Chinese Green Tea: vegetal (cooked potatoe) and herbal notes intertwine with buttery feel alongside a brimming aftertaste. Nuances of vanilla, wild green like thyme or basil are present along with a flowery touch; hints of pine needles emerge followed by the sourness characteristic of topaz apples. Overall it feels quite "green" – displaying typical young Sheng tartness - but its soft character makes for an enjoyable drinking experience, barely astringent especially when steeped briefly. Bitterness is medium-high, Feels clean.

What it feels like

Has a nice depth to it, qi is young and invigorating, heating up my cheeks.

Quick

Sheng ★★★★ Meetea

Details

Entry Date

20.03.2025

Country

Laos

Region

Ban Sinan, Phôngsali, Laos

Price EUR/50g

Link

store.meetea.cz

Properties

Qi (1-5) i The tea’s felt effect on body and mind.

Journal

This marks the third Laos production I've tried, and a consistent characteristic across all three is a distinct vegetable, wild herb greenness. They also share a pungent leaf material and appear to be processed quite green, leaving behind a tartness that may not suit everybody stomach.

These teas feel very clean and powerful. It’s intriguing to consider how they will evolve in five or ten years as the youthful freshness mellows—it holds considerable promise with its current soft character.

2025-07-17

We drank it again today on the front porch, and it was very enjoyable. There was a noticeable hint of vanilla and a touch of floral notes, like jasmine. The bitterness and herbal character were still present, but perhaps due to the lower brewing temperature, the texture felt much silkier this time. Clean and invigorating.