I have been really busy the last few days so I needed a delicious and comforting tea. Liu Bao has never let me down, so I brewed the 2005 4 Gold Coins Liu Bao to see what it had to offer and to fully relax as well. I bought it at Lao Tea Shop several months ago but never wrote an article about it.
2005 4 Gold Coins
4 Gold Coins Liu Bao is really famous for its distinctive flavour profile. It’s made using material from Guangxi itself, but also from Vietnam and other neighbouring areas. The recipe of this tea/blend is not publicly known so it’s different from other Liu Bao teas. Many people like this one because of the unique flavours.
This 2005 4 Gold Coins Liu Bao is from 2005 and this was the first year they actually started packing it in 1kg plastic bags. This one was stored in Malaysia for around 15 years.
Tea Tasting
- Water 99°C
- 6.3g for a 140ml Duanni teapot
The leaves are twisted and relatively big. They have a uniform brown colour and I see some stems as well. When smelling the leaves, I’m definitely getting camphor and a touch of wood. Once they get wet, I’m getting walnuts and a tiny hint of berries.
Infusion 1 (20 sec): such a clean and pure infusion. There is definitely camphor on the forefront and it waltzes through the infusion. It’s gentle and delicate but the flavours feel really intense at the same time. It’s difficult to describe but it tastes so good. It’s camphor with a creamy finish.
Infusion 2 (25 sec): the colour is darker and the flavours are slowly evolving into a typical Liu Bao flavour profile: deep, dark and delicious. It starts out with some camphor and slowly transforms into a creaminess in the finish.
Infusion 3 (30 sec): this is an interesting infusion because it feels silky and delicate while offering robust flavours of nice and strong Liu Bao. There is creamy camphor right from the start and I feel there is some damp wood as well. The finish and aftertaste feel thick and creamy.
Infusion 4 (35 sec): the liquor looks so thick and syrupy. I feel the camphor is stronger at the start, but it’s not as creamy as the previous infusion. I’m getting intense camphor right from the start and it goes straight to the end and well into the aftertaste.
Infusion 5 (45 sec): camphor is still there and it feels creamier again. Such a relaxing infusion; just what I needed.
Infusion 6 (long): this was a long one and camphor is still going strong. It flows well and it goes down easily. It’s as if it’s drinking itself and it feels lubricating.
Infusion 7 (long): it has faded a little, but it’s still really enjoyable. The infusion itself feels good. The aftertaste has almost disappeared, just like the creaminess. Nevertheless, I’m still getting what I like: camphor!
Infusion 8 (long): the colour is quite a bit lighter so this will be the final infusion. Really nice that camphor is still coming through, despite its lighter colour.
Conclusion
I was looking forward to this tea session and it definitely delivered. I wanted a relaxing and delicious tea and that is exactly what I got.
The 2005 4 Gold Coins is one of my favourite Liu Bao teas because of its complexity and delicious flavours. There was a lot of camphor throughout the session in combination with a thick and lubricating creaminess in some infusions.
If you want to try the 2005 4 Gold Coins yourself, you can buy it over here.
