2009 First Flush Qing Dao Lao Shan Green Tea

A friend of mine brought me back a 2009 first flush Qing Dao Lao Shan on his visit to China recently. To be absolutely honest, I didn't expect too much from this tea, but I was pleasantly surprised.

The bag is very nice too, with different caligraphy writings of "cha" on it.

The leaves are curled, but are still whole. Has a smell similar to sencha, fresh and vegetal, but with a hint of nuts, more to the pistacios variety.

First infusion:

Tea: 1 tsp

Water: 1 cup

Water temperature: boiling. I don't know why, but that was the instructions on the box. Strange though for a chinese green.

Steep time: 30 seconds

Review: Quite suprisingly good. The nutty, creamy, vegetal taste is very obvious. And smells heavenly. Not astringent or yucky like other Chinese greens first infusion.

Second infusion:

Tea: 1 tsp

Water: 1 cup

Water temperature: boiling. 

Steep time: 40 seconds

Review: Still not bad, but strange for a Chinese green, not as good as the first infusion.  Not nearly as fragrant and slightly astringent, may be because I left it in for too long. 

Third infusion:

Tea: 1 tsp

Water: 1 cup

Water temperature: boiling. 

Steep time: 45 seconds

Review: Flavour is lighter, but pretty consistent with the second infusion.

Kinda hard to imagine that I just made Chinese green with boiling water. But since those were the instructions, I had to try it this way. Next time, I shall make it normally =_=