Floral Class offerings tend to be spring material on the tippier side. Bitterness can be a prominent feature given the season of picking, though often mellows over time. Older productions expressing florality have deeper notes reminiscent of honeysuckle and lily-of-the-valley. Rose is a common note among Fengqing, Lincang the most renowned maker of oxidized productions known as “black tea” but confusingly is known as red tea in China. In any event, this distinctive rose note can emerge in puerhs not from Lincang, but only after considerable aging of 15-plus years. Piercing, perfumy floral offerings conversely reflect youthful brashness. The way modern processing techniques tweak expression is another story largely unexplored, as most Puerh Junky offerings hail from an era where characteristics of traditional processing methods apply.
’14 Jasmine Breeze
This spry Jingmai is part of a hefty 1 kilo cake. Bright bold aroma. Huigan excels, truly quick, thick, sweet, and long lasting, evocative of jasmine in the breeze. Haixintang. Stored in LA since April ’23.
’11 Creme Florale
Very sweet creaminess. Light floral finish. Developing old-taste notes. Bold astringency. Lincang material from Mengku Rongshi, reputable resolute “no spray” (i.e., pesticides) operation since inception. In LA since Feb ’24 and Feb ’21.
’09 Snowy Florale
Citrus and rose honey nose with a deft balance of sweetness and astringency. Sour battles bitter batters floral in an offering that possesses a full expansive qi. Piques salivation, very active in the cheeks and tongue. Mengku Rongshi, reputable resolute “no spray” (i.e., pesticides) operation since inception. Daxueshan. Stored in Los Angeles since Dec ’20.
’07 Honeysuckle Rose
Honeysuckle top notes with rose coming through beneath and back end. Honeysuckle-Rose sweet huigan. Exhilarating. Tippy Wuliang Mt material from Tulin’s Grade A Tuo. In LA since Jun ’21.
’06 Zhang’s Signature
Brewed strong, Zhang’s Signature expresses a ferocious Yunnan Gold (dianhong) black tea personality. Brewed lightly, yields a wonderfully sweet floral/fruity brew. Durable. From one of the Five Flowers of Menghai TF Zhang Jian-li, Bulang Old Tree, Xinghai TF batch 602. Stored in Los Angeles since Sept ’22.
’06 Honeysuckle Classic
Classic high mountain, early spring elegance with impressive huigan resonance. Mushroom and kerosene back notes linger amidst honeysuckle fragrance. Resolute and quick-hitting qi. Gold metal at the 2002 International Symposium on Chinese Pu’er Tea. Menghai (Hekai?) Fohai Silver Pekoe from one of the Five Flowers of Menghai TF Ruan Dian-rong, Six Famous Tea Mountains. Stored in Los Angeles since Nov ’19.
’04 Uncle Creme Florale
Uncle has been stored under rather conditions affording delightful cream note and sweetness while not overshadowing the floral backbone. Comprised of Bulang material commissioned by famous Macao vendor. Stored in LA since Mar ’22.
