Mattcha’s Tasting Set Reveal and Commentary
In addition to revealing the identities of the teas I sent Matt this year, I wanted to say a few things about each tea, so I will comment on them below. I’ll quote Matt so that I can have a jumping-off point for the discussion.
I will start with Mattcha’s least favourite and move up to his favourite tea.
“6- #5– creamy! and acidic at times with a wood varnish taste with somewhat spacey Qi and faint body tingles. This reminded me of 2003 Hongkong Henry Serious Prescription in some ways. Shows some drier storage qualities 2003-2006 factory production.”
Tea #5 was the famous 1997 Menghai Tea Factory Shuilanyin (water blue mark). This saw a bit of hong kong traditional storage and a long period of natural Taiwan storage. The tea is still punchy, bitter, with quite strong energy and a very concentrated liquor. The acidity is right on, a much stronger version of the same acidity that is present in, for example, 502 7542.
“5-#2– This is a well stored a bit smoky Malaysian stored factory production from 2005-2007 that reminds me lots of the famous 2005 Nanqiao Double Lions Bulang but much less powerful. The balance of smoky BBQ Mesquite and creamy pasty sweetness is nice. Expected enlivening factory energy.“
Matt is spot on with this description, as this is the Yao’an Fuyuanchang reproduction cake from 2004 as stored by a collector and friend in Malaysia. This is a great example of how an inexpensive non-famous tea can shine with the proper storage. I have tried several versions stored in Taiwan and they were all quite bitter and overly astringent, so this version from Malaysia was quite a surprise.
“4- #3– not sure I quite understand this one but it was pretty enjoyable and an interesting a new experience for me… These aged old loose leaves smell look and feel old but the taste of fresh watermelon with interesting juicy fruity taste coupled with aged dirty books and faint fruity incense it sort of reminds me of fruity hooka! For some reason Lao Man E came to mind. Has a warning make-you-sweat Qi with an enlivening happy vibe!”
I wanted to throw Matt for a loop and he could tell something was going on… This is a 1980s “Village Liubao” made from extra large leaves and not intended for export. One of my favourites for a deep aged comforting session.
“3- #4- is an interesting example of Hongkong Traditional storage shu brick with interesting an unique if not a bit crude tasting. Have never quite tasted this profile from an old HK Traditional shu before especially interesting subtle slower revealing tastes in the first handful of infusions. Downside is a bit of throat scratchiness. I hope this is one TeasWeLike can bring in as a cheaper drinker but it’s quite old at least 90s so …“
This is an infamous tea among my friends — it is a 90s shou brick with embarrassingly crude material that caused an uproar on the tasting panel. I enjoy this kind of HK Trad storage, more on the ginseng end with very little geosmin, I enjoyed the subtle smooth profile and was happy that it had none of the rotten taste that I often find in shou. But it is quite weak compared to better quality shous, and the embarrassingly crude material is indeed crude, so it was relegated to the pile of rejected samples…
“2- #6– as above this is another tightly compressed smaller leaf puer. This one has obvious drier Taiwanese storage and is a very subtle puerh with lots of complexity and nothing overpowering or strong at all. Nice aged out feeling around 20 years I’m guessing and a Contemplative Qi experience.“
This is one of my personal favourite HK Trad stored factory cakes. It is the 2001 MTF 7432 that we were lucky enough to source and IMO one of the best examples we have offered at TWL. Rich, full and strong, with the ideal HK Trad profile for me, which means no geosmin but lots of mineral and medicinal notes.
“1- #1– this one had really nice energy about it and reminded me of Chawangshu energy so excellent qi experience- strong spaced out feeling with subtle neck releases that you find in the high end stuff. Tighter rolled smaller leaves had great stamina. Yiwu Gushu feeling!“
I hesitate to reveal this tea as it may cause a run on stock (a joke). But believe it or not, this is one of the many storage samples we have been trying of the 2011 Dayi 7542 recipe. By far the cheapest of the teas I sent, I am thrilled to see that Dayi still has the magic; It may not be a single-origin Chawangshu or a “secret hidden garden gushu”, but who cares if it can delight the senses.
Again, this was fun and cheers to another year of exploration!
October 29, 2022 @ 12:13 am
Marco,
What a hoot!
1997 Menghai Factory Water Blue Mark- thanks for sending this one as I have been wanting to try this for many years now! The Qi and acidic and creaminess stand out to me. Looking back this one had some aspects of some other famous MTF cakes I’ve tired such as some of the creamy taste and Qi of the Qingbing and acidic and power of the Simplified Yun. Just before posting the tasting notes on this one I re-read my notes and they seemed like I should have enjoyed it much more than I did so I added the last line “re-reading the notes it seems a bit unclear”- that’s an understatement.. haha
2004 Yao’an Fuyuanchang- loved the Malaysian storage on this and wonder if we have tried this collectors storage before?
1980s Village Liubao- love it! So fun to try one that is a completely new experience!
1990s Hongkong Traditional Storage “crude shu”- I’m with you bring it in!!! Would be a simple fun HK drinker
2001 Menghai Tea Factory 7432- crazy I still have a hard time believing this is that sample. My notes are sure of the dry Taiwanese which is actually Hongkong Traditional! I really really enjoyed this one a lot! It was also a sample I really wanted to try.
2011 Dayi 7542- hahaha Whaaaaat? I guess I’ll be the first to tong this when offered on the site. Have never tried a 7542 past 2010 and wonder where the classic Menghai power has gone??? I wonder what fucked up headspace I was in when I sampled this…
So fun, thanks again.
Much peace