This is a lovely aged Oolong from 1995, a Lao Chin Shin that initially I didn't know what to do with. The smell from the bag was plummy and like cherries, but the brew I steeped was pale and almost flavorless. I knew it couldn't be the tea, it had to be me! I had sleepily assumed it was a loose sheng and put a small amount to check it out in my dragon Yixing pot, and I got very little out of it. Asked a couple tea friends on the Facebook Page, 'Beginner's Mind Gongfu Tea' and they steered me in the right direction. I had gone to the Tea-Side site and did not see it in puerh-style teas and so figured it was no longer available. Blaming the lack of sleep on that Sunday morning I admit to not even looking into their list of Oolongs. So sue me. I'm new.Found it, (after being given a link by said tea-buds on the Facebook page) and this morning set about to treat this tea with a more awake and present, attentive condition on my part and the results were totally different. A lovely tang, cherries indeed, and chocolate, but just a hint and just one of those teas that benefits from taking time to play around with.
From the Tea-Side website:
Lao Chin Shin, Aged Oolong Tea from harvest of 1995.
Growing Region: Chiang Rai province, northern Thailand. 1500 metres.
Appearance: Semispherical, slightly roasted, lightly fermented, hand-picked from the high mountains (1500 meters) of the northen Thailand.
Taste: A thick, deep taste with rich aroma of cherry, chocolate, sweet red apple. Velvety aftertaste of aged tea with cinnamon and bark notes. It is not like any of the Chin Shin Oolongs that I ever tasted.
Lao Chin Shin Oolong - it is very unusual tea. It's pretty picky about the water, It can be brewed up to 6-7 times and stronger oolong I've never met.
In addition to amazing taste and flavor, it gives a very powerful state. By the third-fourth brew different metamorphosis of consciousness begin to happen. The tea has a calming effect, it always brings relaxation to my mind and body and fills me with tranquility and light euphoria. I would gladly recommend you to drink it at night. (It helps to sleep and brings sweet dreams.)
Tea is a very delicate thing. It can show itself from different angles, depending on people around, the level of your care and attention, experience and native sensitivity.
Moreover, this Lao Chin Shin is really unique. If you look at the photo you can see a memorial plate confirming the age. There are numbers: 2538, witch mean the year of the harvest of this oolong. Don't be scared, Buddhist 2538 is only 1995 for the Christians. It was the first harvest on the plantation and the owners decided to memorize this event in such way. To my great regret, this plantation of Chin Shin have been totally cut down long time ago, so we can't try any fresh tea from there. But this old Chin Shin also remained just in a few amount on the farmers' vaults, so it's trully threatened spice! Hurry up to order!