In 2004, XiaGuan Tea Factory produced a unique batch of Seven Sons Cakes following its restructuring. This tea is particularly special for several reasons:
- The trademark features the company's own Pine & Crane logo for the first time.
- The packaging is printed in traditional Chinese characters.
- The packaging does not display a recipe number, though it is believed to follow the 8653 recipe.
These unique characteristics have made this batch of tea highly distinctive and precious among tea enthusiasts, who refer to it as "Traditional Character Pine & Crane" or "No Number Iron Cake."
Appearance: The tea threads are reddish-brown and oily, reminiscent of ripe tea.
Water Color: The liquor transitions from a bright orange-red in the early steeps to a clear and bright orange-yellow in the later infusions. The tea liquor consistently exhibits a beautiful, translucent, and oily sheen.
Flavor and Taste: The tea starts with a mellow and smooth taste, accompanied by a sweet aftertaste. As the steepings progress, the flavor develops a rich floral and fruity note intertwined with the aged scent. The taste becomes thicker and richer with a slight fruity acidity and a faint astringency that quickly dissipates. This astringency transforms into a refreshing, sweet aftertaste with a soft throat sensation. In the later steeps, the tea maintains its purity and richness, with the fruity notes blending seamlessly into the tea liquor. The astringency becomes more pronounced but is balanced by a continuous, salivating sweetness.
Aroma: Upon pouring, the tea releases a strong, lingering fragrance with a rich aged scent and a hint of elegant honey. This aroma evolves to include rich floral and fruity notes, which are pure and enduring. In the later steeps, the aroma remains persistent but less intense, featuring a subtle blend of floral and fruity scents intertwined with the aged aroma.
Overall Experience: This tea provides a visually stunning and enticing experience, with a pure and elevated aged aroma carrying a rich, mature fruit fragrance. The flavor profile transitions smoothly through the steepings, offering a complex and enjoyable tasting journey. The unique characteristics and the balanced interplay of sweetness, acidity, and astringency make this tea an exceptional choice for enthusiasts.