Photos

Recent photos I’ve posted to Instagram.

chacrusade

Zhangping shuixian (ZPSX or 漳平水仙) from @te

Zhangping shuixian (ZPSX or 漳平水仙) from @teaangle in a 9g 'pillow' serve.
It's a beautiful light oolong with a very creamy taste and smell. I was able to get many steeps out of this (lost count) and also had to remove some leaves from my 110ml gaiwan as the session progressed and the leaves expanded.
I'm still yet to unpack my other brewing vessels since moving house but I might try my larger 200ml gaiwan next time for this one!

More #bitterleafteas spring 2021 dancong, this one

More #bitterleafteas spring 2021 dancong, this one called "Bouquet". It's unusual in that it's made of "huangpian" material, i.e. the rough bits (larger/yellow leaves and stems) taken out of other high end productions and combined.
It's not the prettiest to look at but priced significantly lower than its peers while still being delicious and making for an engaging session.
Definitely worth picking up some if you happen to be ordering from them anyway.
(Folks who follow me closely know that I'm a big fan of #white2tea's Snowflake dancong, which is similar in that it also uses the larger leaves of a dancong production, albeit a winter production instead of spring. But that one is still mainly leaves and not really any stalks. Both are wonderful daily drinkers IMO.)

New 2021 dancongs from #bitterleafteas have arrive

New 2021 dancongs from #bitterleafteas have arrived! Really enjoyed this rougui "spice it up" one, particularly its incredibly long-lasting aftertaste.

The last of my "Old Tree Red" from @teaangle. Must

The last of my "Old Tree Red" from @teaangle. Must be time to stock up again!

Settling in with some #white2tea 2013 gongmei.

Settling in with some #white2tea 2013 gongmei.

Finally had time to get my tea setup unpacked and

Finally had time to get my tea setup unpacked and back in action after a very rough house move earlier in the week.
By "luck" I managed to pick the one day to move where the weather was bordering on cyclonic 🌪🌧
Taking comfort in this #white2tea snowflake dancong 😋

Packing in preparation for moving house in a few d

Packing in preparation for moving house in a few days. Always a sobering experience for those with an 'established' tea collection.
#teastickers

Floating Point red tea from #kuuracorp powering me

Floating Point red tea from #kuuracorp powering me through a day of pre-house move chores.

I was planning to hold on to the last of this #whi

I was planning to hold on to the last of this #white2tea "four am" 2017 sample until the eventual heat death of the universe, but I brought myself around to finishing it off today.
I first tried this tea in the #shengolympiad2018 and was struck by its depth and complexity compared to a lot of the young sheng I was starting to get into around that time.
My tastes have changed and the tea has changed but I still enjoyed it a lot. There's more of a honey sweetness now than what I remember. Maybe I should get a cake of it one day... 🤔
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#2018shengolympiad

Drinking "Big Old Ass Tree 2021" from #bitterleaft

Drinking "Big Old Ass Tree 2021" from #bitterleafteas (Hekai #rawpuer).
Very engaging bitterness combined with a creamy floral taste and long aftertaste made this a great session. The last of my sample from the "top shelf" tasting set 😭

Getting some lovely date notes from this #kuuracor

Getting some lovely date notes from this #kuuracorp "Floating Point" dianhong from 2017.
Just like this tea, I have also put myself out for a wither in the sun while we wait out another lockdown in Sydney.

"Snow mist" white tea from @mountain_stream_teas i

"Snow mist" white tea from @mountain_stream_teas is a beautiful tea. Meadow flowers and sweet hay, a bolder flavour than I expected with a persistent aftertaste

La Sombra. #white2tea

La Sombra.

#white2tea

Leaves in the sun after their rinse. This is some

Leaves in the sun after their rinse. This is some "Concrete Jungle" #rawpuer from @teaangle (2016 Bulang material pressed in 2019).
Aged flavours are definitely present but soft. Bitterness is there but can be kept under control with quick steeps. I also find that it leaves a bit of a numbing sensation in the mouth.

This Ganlu (again from Sichuan) is my third (of fo

This Ganlu (again from Sichuan) is my third (of four) #white2tea 2021 greens, and this one is a banger.
It's all buds and they're completely covered in fluffy trichomes, many of which puffed out of the packet when I opened it 💥
The flavour is both delicate and violently thrust upon you at the same time. After many steeps, it graciously fades out to a light sweet broth.
One of the best green teas I've had.

Enjoying some @404tea "Infiniti" #rawpuer. 2018 ma

Enjoying some @404tea "Infiniti" #rawpuer. 2018 material from Bangdong in 50g cake form.
Thick and brothy, tastes a bit like savoury melon.
Good to see more Australia-based pu'er vendors popping up!

More #white2tea 2021 #greentea: This one is "Book

More #white2tea 2021 #greentea: This one is "Book Cover Green", an inexpensive but solid one from Sichuan.
This is the one I imagine people throw in their flask and sip to power them through the day.

Pre-qingming greens from #white2tea finally arrive

Pre-qingming greens from #white2tea finally arrived! This one is "Cloud Mist Green" from Sichuan, bursting with fresh flavour and crispness.

Enjoying a blast from the past: an autumn 2017 #ra

Enjoying a blast from the past: an autumn 2017 #rawpuer "róu" ball from @bitterleafteas from their "Palate" tasting set. This one is made from Yiwu material.
Excited to see their 2021 spring line-up released! I've already placed my order for a few things.

Congratulating myself for remembering that I'd ord

Congratulating myself for remembering that I'd ordered a sample of 2020 "I Am" from #white2tea and had my first try of it today.
A very engaging session with a complex pleasant taste, prolonged aftertaste and good energy. I can see why this one is a favourite of many!

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