My Gongfu brewing of teas from Thailand continues with this aged Oolong, Lao Chin Shin from 1995!

Wow, is this a different tea experience from any other. This is not a simple tea session, I am tasting a lot of things and my mouth is being put through some trials and tribulations of change, all of which are proving to be interesting! I taste a little honey, some fruit notes like figs perhaps, hay and that taste of 'age' that is hard to explain. In later steeps it seems I am tasting even more warm hay, and a slight earthiness as well. By steep seven it has faded to a great degree, though the color remains a gorgeous lush amber. Here is what the Thai company Tea-Side has to say...

'Lao Chin Shin, Aged Oolong Tea from harvest of 1995.

Growing Region: Chiang Rai province, northern Thailand. 1500 metres.

Appearance: Semispherical, slightly roasted, lightly fermented, hand-picked from the high mountains (1500 meters) of the northen Thailand.

Taste: A thick, deep taste with rich aroma of cherry, chocolate, sweet red apple. Velvety aftertaste of aged tea with cinnamon and bark notes. It is not like any of the Chin Shin Oolongs that I ever tasted.

Lao Chin Shin Oolong - it is very unusual tea. It's pretty picky about the water, It can be brewed up to 6-7 times and stronger oolong I've never met.

In addition to amazing taste and flavor, it gives a very powerful state. By the third-fourth brew different metamorphosis of consciousness begin to happen. The tea has a calming effect, it always brings relaxation to my mind and body and fills me with tranquility and light euphoria. I would gladly recommend you to drink it at night. (It helps to sleep and brings sweet dreams.)

Tea is a very delicate thing. It can show itself from different angles, depending on people around, the level of your care and attention, experience and native sensitivity.

Moreover, this Lao Chin Shin is really unique. If you look at the photo you can see a memorial plate confirming the age. There are numbers: 2538, witch mean the year of the harvest of this oolong. Don't be scared, Buddhist 2538 is only 1995 for the Christians. It was the first harvest on the plantation and the owners decided to memorize this event in such way. To my great regret, this plantation of Chin Shin have been totally cut down long time ago, so we can't try any fresh tea from there. But this old Chin Shin also remained just in a few amount on the farmers' vaults, so it's trully threatened spice! Hurry up to order!

(I agree, you best hurry on this one if you want to try it!)