February 20th, 2021
The maocha I had on hand changed massively over the year and was visually darker, fruity and sweet without any of the green 'asparagus' character from when the maocha was very fresh. The cha qi was also surprisingly powerful. I am now out of the first batch of this tea and have restocked from my supplier in Kunming. This tea really held up beautifully and opened up wonderfully over the year, and the new batch will of course age the same way through 2021!
This is a lovely fresh maocha of mixed grades from a renowned producer in Yunnan. There is everything from tips to broken mid-grade leaves in the blend. The dry leaf has an interesting floral/fruity aroma that reminds me somewhat of Jingmai maocha. After the first rinse, I get a note that reminds me of asparagus, which is a first in maocha for me!
The liquor is sweetly aromatic and thick. While not very complex, there is pleasant and light
kuwei (sweetness that follows bitterness). There are floral and fruity flavors in the cup as the liquor cools (something like orchid/osmanthus), as well as some cantaloupe. This tea is definitely not very bitter at all. There is some asparagus in the cup as well, which makes for an interesting drinking experience, coupled with the sweet aroma and
kuwei! As the liquor cools, I also detect some umami.
The cha qi is nice and calming, which is often the case with fresh maocha, and why I love drinking it! Fresh maocha has green tea-like effects, along with the exotic aromas and flavors you only get from pu erh. Last year I said I'd be switching to maocha for my morning greens, and considering how much fresh maocha I've purchased recently, that definitely seems to be the case.
This maocha is excellent value and I'll definitely be bringing some home for my own consumption!