Yesterday I spent time with, and wrote up a wonderful Wen Shan Bao Zhong, and I couldn't resist opening a sample of the 'same' from Mantra Tea to have a little comparison. Alas, I find I cannot. I am too in the moment when tasting the teas, perhaps tomorrow I will feel like creating an 'experiment' but I cannot promise, it seems disrespectful somehow not to just be WITH the tea! All I can say then is I loved this version but cannot compare it. It is something I would like to do, and perhaps while I still have both I will steep them with the same amounts of tea, both in gaiwans and see and taste and find out, but for now all I can do is report on
this tea, the Wen Shan Bao Zhong currently still lingering on my tongue. It deserves my full attention, not a pseudo-science experiment. I am really not that guy, I am just a taster for the moment alone. This will be my challenge as I continue to delve into Gungfu tea,
not comparing. I must leave that for the more experienced of us, the ones who were made for it with the experienced palate and the intellectual know-how to make suggestions as to what is better and why.
So here is what I have on this delicate Bao Zhong:
Very light first brews, using 4 grams in my 110ml Dragon-Egg. Just kept hitting it over and over and by the third steep it was opening itself well, lemon and slightly peppery, very subtle and pleasant.
A very warming tea, it left me feeling lively, energized, sweaty and ready for another round of steepings. Tomorrow I will brew it in the Gaiwan to see what its full capabilities are, I am really looking forward to it. This will be a good way to start the day without a doubt!
