2014 KingTeaMall "Yi Wu - Gua Feng Zhai - Huang Pian" (Yiwu - GuaFengZhai - Huangpian / Yellow Leaf) Brick 250g Puerh Raw Tea Sheng Cha

I had long wanted to try a Huang Pian tea, though I didn’t have high expectations. Recently, many vendors and blogs have been trying to move it to the top shelf, but essentially it is still a kind of an end-of-season workers’ tea. Yet, for me, that is exactly what gives it its charm.
I approached this tea based on an earlier review, so I used a smaller Yixing teapot from the start. I began with a longer first rinse to help open up this otherwise very tightly compressed tea. After that, instead of the usual 10-second first infusion, I started with double the time and gradually increased the brewing duration (about [****] seconds, etc.).
For me, even the first infusion already had a beautiful amber color leaning toward brown, with a strong mushroomy and only slightly earthy aroma. Even with a little longer steeping time than usual, the bitterness was minimal, while saliva production was enhanced. The sweetish flavor is absolutely detectable; it is not at all the robust, rough tea I had expected from a Huang Pian. It isn’t especially long-lasting, but 7–8 infusions can be easily coaxed out of it.
It was a surprise for me, highly recommended.

This is an unusual tea for me. I tried to brew it in a gaiwan and I was unimpressed, quite weak. I tried again in a teapot, with a much longer brew and the tea gave a lot. An earthy floral taste, with zero bitterness. Quite sweet. I drink it almost every day. Be careful, you might find bits and pieces of stuff compressed in the brick. But at that price it is a very good way to familiarise with Yi Wu sweetness.