Bamboo Shell Shou Brick (Circa 2000)

This is a tea I first drank probably ten years ago, and one that I really liked from the beginning. Compared to some of the more popular teas in my source's collection, I think this one has flown under the radar. I hadn't had it much in the previous few years, but revisited it while preparing the Taiwan Wet Storage Sampler. The connection I felt with this tea then is still there now. 

The flavor profile has nice complexity and evolves over the session. It's medicinal, sweet, earthy, and woody, with mushroom notes and some spice. There's a noticeable aftertaste and lingering sweetness in the mouth and throat. The texture is smooth, and despite its darker flavors, the tea isn't heavy. It has a pleasant lightness to it.

It's very comforting and makes for a good daily drinker. As a shou drinker, it's nice to have in the arsenal when I'm looking for something that feels a little lighter. Not lighter in flavor, but in the overall experience.

I recommend using more leaf than usual, around a 1:10 ratio, or 1 gram of tea for every 10 ml of water. At 1:20, some may find it a little light, though it can also be very pleasant that way. More leaf gives it a heavier, more concentrated character.

Approximately 480g per brick