Lu Gu Lao Cha Wang, AAA, 2007

Lu Gu Lao Cha Wang, aged for 18 years.

This spherical rolled oolong is medium-sized and black in color with small brown stems. As you warm it with your breath, you'll smell the aroma of milk baked with cooled embers from a campfire. The 90°C water hits the leaves, and the aroma becomes much richer. There's chocolate, tobacco, coffee, cream, caramel, and if you pair it with teas, the spectrum of aromas expands even further. A cognac infusion. The taste is soft and viscous, enveloping the mouth with a lingering creamy coffee aftertaste with hints of expensive cigars, cognac, and spices. With each new sip, and this tea can withstand a lot, new flavor facets are revealed. I'd like to emphasize the sweetness of chocolate, nutmeg, cookies, caramel, cream, a touch of vanilla, and a few nuts.

On the back, a delicate and pleasant bitterness of tobacco, charcoal, coriander, and a touch of smoke. You can also detect a slight metallic saltiness and a slightly sour note. The effect is powerful. This tea relaxes the body and clears the mind of unnecessary thoughts. It fills you with a pleasant feeling of unity and harmony. It allows you to look deep within yourself and focus on what matters most. A meditative tea for the afternoon.