Different Twins
2.5 This review helped: 0 / 0
Judging by sight you can say that we have already reviewed this tea here. But don’t be mistaken, this is completely different tea in the same wrapper. Well, we have two teas here:
- 2005 Nan Nuo Shan Raw Chi Tse Bing Cha "7549" 375g – referenced in the text as 7549; We have already reviewed this one.
- 2005 Nannuoshan TF Menghai Raw Puerh Cake 357g – regarded in the text as: Nanuoshan Menghai
You can spot several differences just by visual comparison. The wrapper of 7549 is thinner and it is almost transparent. Then, 7549 is more compressed and also contains more broken leaves and stems. Nanuoshan Menghai is less compressed and quality of leaves looks higher.
You will agree with me that we have here two completely differ teas just after you flush leaves for the first time and smell them. 7549 smells distinctively fruity and sweet. Nanuoshan Menghai has deeper, more matured scent, but lucks fruity body.
The colour of first brew (15s) is almost the same for both teas.
The taste of 7549 is more astringent, souring. Astringency is quite intensive and you can feel it at the back of your mouth.
Nanuoshan Menghai is completely different. It is more matured and astringency is not so pronanuced.
The second brew (8s) – colour of 7549 is a bit lighter than Nanuoshan Menghai.
You can easily over steep 7549, and then it becomes really astringent and almost undrinkable sour. But if you make it good the taste is pleasantly fruity.
Nanuoshan Menghai is more matured, earthier, but it completely lacks fruitiness in taste. Also after 3rd steeping there is this not quite pleasant bitterness in the taste and a sharp edge appearing in your throat. This bitterness stays there till about 5th steeping.
After one year….
I am coming back to taste this tea after one year. There is again this bitterness in the taste after 3rd steeping. Well, it is a bit smaller than year ago. At least there is no trace of this sharp itchy edge in the throat, but the bitterness is still present and I do not like it.
7549 on the other hand is comfortably fragrant and fruity.
Well, Nanuoshan Menghai perhaps has higher leaves grade, yet the bitterness in taste is unpleasant. It is slowly fading away. May be it will be completely gone next year and Nanuoshan Menghai mature to decent tea. We will see next year.
Personally I prefer 7549 for its fruity nature even though the quality of leaves is lower comparing to Nanuoshan Menghai.
The price of Nanuoshan Menghai is now on $39 (2105). The price of 7549 is $45.
Left 7549, right Nanuoshan Menghai
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