An enlivening young sheng - green wild herbs and softness.
Herbal, green sheng, honey, orchid, wild herbs, buttery green
The tea starts softly, reminiscent of Chinese Green Tea: vegetal notes intertwine with buttery and honey alongside a brimming aftertaste. Wild green nuances 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. Feels clean.
Has a nice depth to it, qi is young and invigorating, heating up my cheeks.
4
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.