dry leaf
The box reveals a spectrum: 2014’s silver-green curls shift to 1998’s dark, glossy leaves freckled with golden tips. Aromas of dried jujube, camphor, and antique wood.
wet leaf
After rinse, leaves open into supple, intact fragments. Younger teas emit fresh, grassy warmth; the oldest release a profound, cellar-like earthiness reminiscent of old libraries and leather.
liquor
Liquors range from pale amber (2014) to deep mahogany (1998), all brilliantly clear with a viscous, oily sheen.
aroma
The air rises with notes of aged bamboo, honeyed stone fruit, and flinty minerality. As sessions deepen, hints of sandalwood and dried tangerine peel emerge.
taste
The 2014 offers a bright, slightly astringent entry with lingering sweetness. By 2005, bitterness transforms into a silky, earthy broth, while 2001 shows mellow plum and subtle smoke. The 1998 is thick, medicinal, and coating, with an almost herbal, numbing quality.
finish
Finish is long and evolving: younger teas leave a cooling huigan; older ones settle into a deep, resonant sweetness at the back of the throat, lasting many minutes.