A new week so that means more opportunities to write about one of the Liu Bao teas I haven’t written about yet. It’s been really busy at work so I’m happy I’m able to write an article today. Today’s tea was the 2011 Zhong Cha Worker’s Special Grade Liu Bao from Lao Tea Shop.
2011 Zhong Cha Worker’s Special Grade Liu Bao
The 2011 Zhong Cha Worker’s Special Grade Liu Bao is a tea that consists of material from 2011, while it was packed in 2018. For me, I look at this tea as being from 2011 and not from 2018.
It is made using an old recipe and they used super grade material. It was produced by CNNP in the Wuzhou tea factory in Guangxi province. If you buy 250g of this yea, the tea will come in a nice metal tin.
Don’t know where to buy tea online? I made a page on the website with 300 online shops and I keep updating it regularly. You can check it over here.
Tea Tasting
- Water 99°C
- 6g for a 140ml Duanni teapot
The leaves have a uniform dark colour. I see some stems and mostly smaller-sized and twisted leaves. The uniformity is really high, both in colour and form; nothing seems out of place. The aroma is mainly camphor and a slight creaminess. In general, it’s a subtle aroma. Once the leaves get wet, more notes of wet wood are popping up.
Infusion 1 (20 sec): it’s a really good infusion to start the session. I’m getting camphor and a slight creaminess. There is also some betelnut coming through in the finish. The aftertaste is camphor and is quite noticeable for a first infusion.
Infusion 2 (25 sec): this one seems really thick and even a bit oily. There are no big changes flavour-wise as it’s still mostly camphor. The aftertaste seems to be less intense, but it’s still good.
Infusion 3 (30 sec): there are no more traces of creaminess and the flavours have become a bit edgier and fresher. I’m still getting subtle hints of camphor, but it’s mainly notes of wood. The aftertaste is not that long.
Infusion 4 (35 sec): this one feels a bit creamier again and there are also some camphor notes towards the finish and in the aftertaste. The aftertaste is definitely noticeable, but it doesn’t stay around for long. In general, this is a rather subtle infusion.
Infusion 5 (45 sec): the liquor still has a fairly dark colour, but the flavours are subtle. It’s slightly woody with hints of camphor. The aftertaste has some traces of camphor and it doesn’t feel as thick anymore.
Infusion 6 (long): more of the same flavours with hints of camphor. No real finish and aftertaste. Still good, though.
Conclusion
In general, this was a really pleasant session. It was not as special as the 4 Gold Coins Liu Bao, but it’s in a different price range. For me, this is a perfect Liu Bao to drink every day. It has a camphor flavour profile with some notes of wood during some infusions and even a creaminess at the start. For its price (57.5 € for 250g / 0.23 € per gram), you cannot go wrong with this one. If you’re looking to try Liu Bao for the first time, this one can be a good place to start.
If you want to buy it, click here.
