With many Chinese teas I find the bitterness to be somewhat overwhelming, but while this tea has some definite bitterness, it is pretty smooth and not at all unpleasant. It's a strong tea with a mild grassy aroma. Very astringent. A bit of a sour aftertaste. On the second steeping when the bitterness was significantly diminished, I could maybe taste a hint of watermelon.

Bold and energizing. A good breakfast tea.

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Alex Zorach wrote: on September 17th, 2015

I also liked this tea. When I tried it I found it very low in astringency, but that was some time ago. I could have brewed it differently, or it could be that its character has changed over time. But overall I also found this tea pleasantly smooth.

If you like this tea but want something a little less astringent, it's slightly pricier, but you could look to the Ancient Golden Yunnan from Rishi. It is similar but a little higher grade of a tea, very aromatic and a lot less harsh...it's able to be brewed very strongly before it gets too bitter or astringent.

Also, if you want to branch out with other companies, I'd point to Keemun. Rishi sells a good Keemun, also worth trying, but it's hardly typical for its style (who knows, you might like that one too). I've found most Keemuns, including even inexpensive ones, to have a very pleasant aromatic character yet while being on the smooth side.

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