This tea is one of the most complex yellow teas that we have tried. It has undergone the traditional "three smother three bake" and has the characteristically dark leaf color that this process creates. It does not however have as much of the sweetness that yellow tea should possess. The tea can be downright astringent and should be treated like raw Puer when brewed. Just like raw Puer, this tea can take multiple infusions and loses its sharper edge over time. The strong body feel and diversity of flavors and aromas that can be enjoyed over an extended session merit this tea some consideration. It's more than worth its price.
Huifeng's Master Li is interested in having consumers compare the 2021 Coin and Loose variants. He has a hunch that loose storage results in better aging, but has heard conflicting information from more experienced producers in Yunnan and Fujian. We won't tell you what we think. Please send us any feedback that we can pass on to Li about your experience and tasting notes. Both the production and storage are still very much experimental. Li and the local government are various curious to know what kind of yellow tea international drinkers will prefer.
The coins are six grams a piece and have been stored unwrapped in a semi-open metal drum from the last two years. They were pressed in Fuding under the direction of a white producer based in Diantou Township. They are supposedly the first instance of yellow bud being commercially pressed into cakes, and are certainly the only caked tea we saw in Huoshan County.
This is hands down my favorite tea in my pantry. I drink it almost daily. I love how savory and smooth the soup is while still maintaining its depth and thickness.
Did not know what to expect, but the chocolatey, earthy, roasty taste is exceptional. Very mellow, smooth, and relaxing-feeling. A wonderful first dive into yellow tea for me.
