Photos

Recent photos I’ve posted to Instagram.

chacrusade

Love the look of the big, gnarled dry leaves of th

Love the look of the big, gnarled dry leaves of this @teaangle Old Tree Red.

Pouring one out for #RBG.

Pouring one out for #RBG.

Picked up some winners during the #white2tea back2

Picked up some winners during the #white2tea back2noschool sale a little while back ✌️

Some #zhenshanxiaozhong (non-smokey) red tea. Dark

Some #zhenshanxiaozhong (non-smokey) red tea. Dark sour cherries up front with a lovely persistent cacao aftertaste.

A 2020 Nightlife mini from #white2tea. Like drinki

A 2020 Nightlife mini from #white2tea. Like drinking honey 🍯

Enjoying some 2020 Naka gushu second flush from @f

Enjoying some 2020 Naka gushu second flush from @farmer.leaf.

More @mountain_stream_teas sampling. This time 202

More @mountain_stream_teas sampling. This time 2020 spring classic Alishan oolong.
Again, really enjoyed this one. Extremely buttery, sweet vegetal taste with a nice persistent aftertaste.

Tried a sample of the spring 2020 "Sanxia" white t

Tried a sample of the spring 2020 "Sanxia" white tea from @mountain_stream_teas. Very pleasant flavour that persisted well after the session.

Weekend Dethflow sessions are so good. #kuuracorp

Weekend Dethflow sessions are so good.
#kuuracorp

Enjoying this #white2tea 2015 Little Walk #rawpuer

Enjoying this #white2tea 2015 Little Walk #rawpuer, now very mellow and plummy-tasting as it changes with age.

Tried the 2020 "Biscuits" from #white2tea, made wi

Tried the 2020 "Biscuits" from #white2tea, made with 2015 #rawpuer material.
Snapped off half a biscuit for a 6g session. The tight compression meant several rinses to open up.
Due to the age on the material I wasn't expecting such strong bitterness up front, but this could be related to the challenge of brewing tightly compressed leaves.
It smoothed out into quite a nice session.
The biscuit form might be good to take travelling or for bringing to a group session. Unfortunately it might be quite a while before we're doing any of those things 😭

Tea stalk tries to escape gaiwan during pour, unsu

Tea stalk tries to escape gaiwan during pour, unsuccessfully.
#rememberyourehereforever

Third steep, opening up.

Third steep, opening up.

Lafu spring 2020 #rawpuer from @farmer.leaf. Remin

Lafu spring 2020 #rawpuer from @farmer.leaf. Reminds me of a green tea but way more complex and satisfying.

Ostensibly a Baoyan jincha (Xiaguan tuo cha, 沱茶宝焰紧茶) of #rawpuer from 2000.
Starting to break it up for a canister, taking my life into my own hands 🤺
#baoyanjincha #tuocha

First time trying Liu'An heicha. This one is from

First time trying Liu'An heicha. This one is from 2014, procured from @longstea.
I wasn't sure what to expect, seeing as I've only ever had ripe pu'er in this broad category of "post-fermented" tea. I found it to be completely different – much closer to some aged raw pu'er that I've tried, with a complex strong medicinal/leathery taste. No earthiness/geosmin at all.
It was particularly strong initially but quickly mellowed into a relaxing session, perfect for a rainy day such as today! ☔️
#liuanheicha

Finally got around to trying this unique Taiwanese

Finally got around to trying this unique Taiwanese (#cameliaformosensis) wild old growth purple bud white tea cake from @mountain_stream_teas.
Creamy fragrance, decent thickness. The base taste is definitely recognisable as a white: a subtle hay/straw base, but with some dark cocoa.
The biggest stand-out for me wasn't the taste, though. The energy was very strong, leaving me feeling like I was melting into a puddle on the floor. I think there is some serious caffeine in this one.
I was brewing about 6g in 85ml at 95C.

My online order from @longstea arrived in a couple

My online order from @longstea arrived in a couple days! I particularly wanted to try their 2010 Liu An heicha, as I haven't had much experience with different heicha outside of ripe pu'er.
With no #sydneyteafestival this year, I wasn't able to make my usual purchase from their stall but their web site is very convenient.

Some 'Respite for the Damned' #ripepuer. Probably

Some 'Respite for the Damned' #ripepuer. Probably the least earthy-tasting ripe that I've encountered.
#kuuracorp #respiteforthedamned

Spring 2020 Ao Ne Me from @farmer.leaf. This was i

Spring 2020 Ao Ne Me from @farmer.leaf. This was included as bonus sample in my recent order.
Light but very fragrant with enduring mouth and throat feel. It lasted many steeps, changing slightly over the session between sweeter or more savoury brews, and a floaty qi.
Checking the description of the tea on their site makes for an interesting read and mirrors my own experience with this session.
I will seriously consider picking up a cake of this 👍

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