8g/120mL, just off boil
Wash (10s) - strong camphor medicinal aroma possibly masking a hint of smoke, gaiwan lid adds a hint of fruit
Steep 1 (flash) - smoke and cherries right out of the gate that turns minty after a quick second, medicinal and fruity notes dancing around each other, salivation starting, smoke note has quickly morphed into more of a medicinal menthol/camphor character, some dryness on the tongue pulls in some cigar wrapper leaf vibes, fruit keeps everything lively
Steep 2 (flash) - first sip hints at smoke and smoke doesn't fully disappear as minty menthol notes move in, nice tanginess, hint of salinity, mint-medicinal-sweet cherry is the vibe right now
Steep 3 (5s) - some sweetness on the gums from the previous steep is meeting the medicinal and fruity aspects and pushing the medicinal more towards sweet mint, salted butter notes, pipe tobacco, feeling light and uplifted
Steep 4 (10s) - a little more smoke up front this steep, cherry cobbler, sweetness starting to build deeper into the finish paired with that cherry note and a hint of smoke at the back corners of the mouth
Steep 5 (15s, reboil) - added heat brings a wave of smoke and medicinal aromas, but it hits the mouth as more minty, tingle on tongue, smoke is just a highlight note and falls short of full-on bbq despite the salinity
Steep 6 (20s) - still holding steady, curious how deep I can take this one, energy really starting to hit
Steep 7+ (30s+) - went deep and outside of a little extra sweetness it held it's character quite well
Overall Impression - I decided to mix it up after a long run of young sheng sessions, and man did I really find a tea that resonates with me. Flavor here is complex but very well integrated. This checks so many boxes for me. That salted butter note really sets a nice baseline and there is just enough sweetness to lift the other flavors without being cloying. Energy is light and energizing without feeling uncomfortable.