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2008 Chen Yuan Hao Yuan Man (2008 陈远号 圆满)

2008 陈远号 圆满

Yuan Man is translated as “perfect” into English language. This cake from Yiwu leaves certainly embodies this translation in terms of value. Made from 2008 spring tea leaves of small trees, it has such good taste that it’s often mistaken as a big tree tea cake.

The Yuan Man cake itself has shiny tea leaves. It has bold fragrance of sweetness and it is transitioning to the savoury plum fragrance of old Yiwu teas. The orangey body of this tea is thick with very good viscosity contributed by tea oil. There will be much sweet aftertaste behind your cheeks. It leaves the tongue slightly dry therefore encouraging salivation.

A very satisfying tea!

2008 陈远号 圆满

2008 陈远号 圆满

2008 陈远号 圆满

2008 陈远号 圆满

2008 陈远号 圆满

2008 陈远号 圆满

2008 陈远号 圆满

2008 陈远号 圆满

2008 陈远号 圆满

2008 陈远号 圆满

 

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2016 Chen Yi Zi Hao aka Yi Wu Cha Wang (2016 陈易字号 易武茶王)

2016 Chen Yi Zi Hao aka Yi Wu Cha Wang (2016 陈易子号 易武茶王)

This tea gives out light yellow and very clear broth. Dried leaves have strong sweet sun-dried leaves smell while the tea has sugar cane and honey fragrance.

As with previous years, you’ll notice the fineness of the tea once it enters the mouth. Tea penetrates deeply into the core and the returns with floral and honey like sweetness in mouth cavity. The aftertaste lingers and brings out a calming qi. The tea has very good thickness from all the minerals of very old trees. It stands up well to long soaking as it will only return a hint of fast dissipating bitterness from an abusive brew.

2016 Chen Yi Zi Hao aka Yi Wu Cha Wang (2016 陈易子号 易武茶王)

Dry leaves

2016 Chen Yi Zi Hao aka Yi Wu Cha Wang (2016 陈易子号 易武茶王)

2nd brew

2016 Chen Yi Zi Hao aka Yi Wu Cha Wang (2016 陈易子号 易武茶王)

Leaves at 2nd brew

2016 Chen Yi Zi Hao aka Yi Wu Cha Wang (2016 陈易子号 易武茶王)

Tea at 2nd brew

2016 Chen Yi Zi Hao aka Yi Wu Cha Wang (2016 陈易子号 易武茶王)

6th brew, 2 minutes soaking

2016 Chen Yi Zi Hao aka Yi Wu Cha Wang (2016 陈易子号 易武茶王)

Leaves at 6th brew

2016 Chen Yi Zi Hao aka Yi Wu Cha Wang (2016 陈易子号 易武茶王)

Tea at 6th brew

2016 Chen Yi Zi Hao aka Yi Wu Cha Wang (2016 陈易子号 易武茶王)

Spent leaves

2016 Chen Yi Zi Hao aka Yi Wu Cha Wang (2016 陈易子号 易武茶王)

Spent leaves arranged

2016 Chen Yi Zi Hao aka Yi Wu Cha Wang (2016 陈易子号 易武茶王)

2016 Chen Yi Zi Hao aka Yi Wu Cha Wang (2016 陈易子号 易武茶王)

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2016 Chen Jun Zi Hao aka Gua Feng Lao Zhai (2016 陈君字号 刮风老寨)

These long gangly leaves from Gua Feng Lao Zhai (刮风老寨) produces golden colored tea. Somewhat darker soup than the rest of the new teas. It has on higher notes floral fragrance and on lower notes, the obvious sun-dried maocha (毛茶) fragrance.

The tea is smooth and consistent, lasting many brews. It’s something to slow start a day. The tea has no bitterness or astringency and taste very balanced. The tea slides down gently and returns a slightly sweet huigan (回甘) with some smooth qi. For stronger taste, soaking the tea will level up the goodness in the leaves.

2016 Chen Jun Zi Hao aka Gua Feng Lao Zhai (2016 陈君子号 刮风老寨)

Dry leaves

2016 Chen Jun Zi Hao aka Gua Feng Lao Zhai (2016 陈君子号 刮风老寨)

2nd brew

2016 Chen Jun Zi Hao aka Gua Feng Lao Zhai (2016 陈君子号 刮风老寨)

Leaves at 2nd brew

2016 Chen Jun Zi Hao aka Gua Feng Lao Zhai (2016 陈君子号 刮风老寨)

Tea at 2nd brew

2016 Chen Jun Zi Hao aka Gua Feng Lao Zhai (2016 陈君子号 刮风老寨)

6th brew (2 minutes soaking)

2016 Chen Jun Zi Hao aka Gua Feng Lao Zhai (2016 陈君子号 刮风老寨)

Leaves at 6th brew

2016 Chen Jun Zi Hao aka Gua Feng Lao Zhai (2016 陈君子号 刮风老寨)

Tea at 6th brew

2016 Chen Jun Zi Hao aka Gua Feng Lao Zhai (2016 陈君子号 刮风老寨)

Spent leaves

2016 Chen Jun Zi Hao aka Gua Feng Lao Zhai (2016 陈君子号 刮风老寨)

2016 Chen Jun Zi Hao aka Gua Feng Lao Zhai (2016 陈君子号 刮风老寨)

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2016 Chen Yuan Hao Wan Gong (2016 陈远号 弯弓)

Tasting Notes

2016 Chen Yuan Hao Wan Gong

The dry leaves seem browner than typical Yiwu. When brewed, it's golden tea has no smokiness but has the fragrance of honey and deep forest grassiness.

The tea is thick and without astringency. There is a hint of fast dissipating bitterness that turns into sweet aftertaste. If it's soaked long enough, there will be lots of vegetal grassiness and then more bitterness that translate into sweeter aftertaste. 

2016 Chen Yuan Hao Wan Gong

Tea at 2nd brew

2016 Chen Yuan Hao Wan Gong

Closer look at 2nd brew leaves

2016 Chen Yuan Hao Wan Gong

Closer look at 2nd brew tea

2016 Chen Yuan Hao Wan Gong

6th brew after 2 minutes soaking

2016 Chen Yuan Hao Wan Gong

Closer look at 6th brew leaves

2016 Chen Yuan Hao Wan Gong

Closer look at 6th brew tea

2016 Chen Yuan Hao Wan Gong

Spent leaves

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2016 Chen Yuan Hao Ma Hei (2016 陈远号 麻黑)

Tasting Notes

2016 Chen Yuan Hao Ma Hei

Dry leaves

This tea is made with plenty of tender leaves and quite dark in color. The dry leaves has the usual sun dried fragrance. When brewed there are lots of sweet ripe fruit fragrance and void of any smokiness.

It brews light honey like sweet tea. The aftertaste is floral and lasting sweetness. Few initial brews has some velvety creaminess to it. There is no astringency or bitterness in this tea. If you punish it with soaking, it will payback with some grassy and leathery taste. You can amp up the already good cha qi by soaking this tea slightly.

This tea will easily last 10 brews and will give you sweet water beyond that.

 

2016 Chen Yuan Hao Ma Hei

Closer look at the dry leaves

2016 Chen Yuan Hao Ma Hei

2nd brew of the tea

2016 Chen Yuan Hao Ma Hei

Closer look at the tea leaves at 2nd brew

2016 Chen Yuan Hao Ma Hei

Closer look at the tea color at 2nd brew

2016 Chen Yuan Hao Ma Hei

6th brew soaked 2 minutes

2016 Chen Yuan Hao Ma Hei

The spent tea leaves

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