Tong of Tea Cakes (Yunnan Black)

I am a fan of Shai Hong tea and I like my tea to come in cakes. Also, sometimes I can't resist buying a whole tong just for the feeling of opening it. This cake from Teawala seemed like a good pick so I didn't hesitate for long and ordered the full package.

First, I was pleasantly surprised that it only took two weeks for the parcel to come to the Czech Republic. Then it was time to test the tea, very nicely wrapped. I enjoy the aroma very much, both the liquor and wet leaves smell fantastic, exactly as advertised. The taste is smooth, I can taste dried fruits, some maltiness, some earthy notes typical for this type and it is indeed very sweet. One of the teas that makes you think, how could it taste like that with no added sugar? But what I love most is the velvety aftertaste, very long and super pleasant. However, I do not always get it. My approach to tea preparation is very easygoing. I do not time or scale or anything, and I think you probably need a prolonged steep to get this aftertaste. Also, it is true what some other drinker wrote here that it is not full-bodied, you get a great aroma, light and sweet taste, and then there is this awesome aftertaste.

Anyway, the tea is a quality one by all measures. Big, evenly fermented leaves, the cake is not dusty or chipped or anything, and there are no suspicious smells indicative of problematic processing or storage. I can only recommend you get one too. I´m loving it and I´m very much looking forward to finding out how it will develop over the years to come.