2016 Chen Yuan Hao ChaWangShu (T5)

I have been drinking puerh for 14 years, and I have tried many hundreds of teas. This one topped them all. There’s only one other tea I’ve had with comparable thickness, savory flavor intensity, depth of aftertaste, and persistence of aftertaste. It was an iron cake with 40 years of Hong Kong storage and a higher price point than this. Of course, that was a very different flavor profile and a completely different tea but it is the only thing I know of that had comparable thickness, flavor intensity, and aftertaste. Chen Yuan Hao’s 2016 Chawangshu is a rock star in several areas where it is at a level not exceeded by anything else I know of. These areas include flavor intensity, thickness, hui gan, qi, and aftertaste. It coats the throat with a strong, savory flavor that can be noticed deep in the throat even quite a long time after drinking. There is no astringency even when brewed quite strongly. Its bitterness is soft, subtle, and perfectly balanced. It goes down easy, inducing saliva production. It offers good complexity with floral notes complimented by leather, chocolate, wood, and grain. Whereas many modern Yiwu productions have disappointed me by being overly light, weak, and/or thin, I found that this tea struck a sharp contrast against all that. The powerful strength of this tea’s effect on my body made it most necessary to ensure that I had eaten well before drinking it. The qi is enveloping, comfortable, and enduring relaxation. In summary, it is exceptional in several areas, better than most in a few others, and lacking in none.