This was a pleasant, if somewhat disappointing tea that I found tasted better as it cooled.

The dry leaf is long, wiry, and grayish black, and has a mild aroma that initially is a sort of sweet chocolatey quality, underlain by a deep maltiness. It reminds me of a chocolate shortbread cookie. Overall, the dry leaf doesn't suggest much depth or complexity.

Upon steeping, however, this tea really comes alive: the aroma is much richer and more multifaceted, with a strong aroma of wet autumn leaves that was absent in the dry leaf, and a hint of wet, clean stone or cement. The flavor is interesting: it tastes sort of muted, but very balanced. There is a light bitterness, sweetness, and savory quality.

Interestingly, I found this was one of the few teas that I started enjoying more as the cup cooled. I found the malty notes came out more.

This tea did not resteep as well as I had hoped. The second cup, even if making only 2 infusions and steeping the second for a very long time, was pleasant but disappointingly weak and flat in aroma. It had more of a dusty "clean stone" aroma and less of the rich, warm, maltiness of the first steep. There are a few vegetal notes that I didn't notice in the first cup, but they were subtle: I wish that these were stronger. Like the first cup though, I enjoyed it more as it cooled.

This was not among my favorite teas, but it was still enjoyable to drink. I'd say it was almost too smooth. In spite of not being a favorite, I still think it is bargain-priced for its quality. It says a lot that this is the lowest rating I've given to a tea from Yunnan Sourcing and it's still an 86/100.

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