Reflections ’10 Tiger, CMS
The ’10 Tiger, CMS continues to impress me as being the best puerh I’ve ever had. This is not to be confused for my favourite, which varies on season and mood. The Tiger simply tastes like no other puerh I’ve ever had. The leaves in the pot consistently smell like some poisonous herb, strange and offensive, like patchouli and andrographis, something definitely medicinal. The smell in the pitcher is considerably more intriguing amidst a cloud of butter scotch mixed with a rubber band note, which some call banana or date and usually found in ripes.
The Puerh Junky has been drinking the Tiger since Aug of ’21. Stunned was my initial impression. The strange aroma yields a broth that nothing short of moksha. Put the idea of tasting good out of one’s head and just taste what the tea has to offer. In the earlier infusions its star anise that is the prevailing taste. In later infusions the patchouli is more evident. The first few infusions are quite sweet on day two and the thickness is excellent. It seems to be around 100yr old trees, there’s still quite a lot of sass in later infusions.
The only other production that even approximates the Tiger is Quincy. The latter went through quite a spell where its aroma was off-putting. My last tasting of Quincy started to find an emergent strawberry note on the underside the medicine notes. The impressions of the Tiger are by contrast much more convoluted given its dynamism. As session in Oct ’22 yielded a watermelon session, the taste of Jolly Rancher candies. Other fruit includes cantaloupe, but fruit isn’t its overriding expression.
Even as the taste begins to wane the huigan remains potent, filled with agarwood, clove, and dried ginger. My wife found it a bit heady qi wise though I only felt a moderate opening in the chest, pleasant and refreshing. Its effect in stimulating the digestive system was noted even more.
Additionally, the age and quality of material impart durability. There’s no crash landing while brewing. Even when pushed toward the end it did not lose character. The bitter along stride sweetness throughout the second half of the session. Given that most of these spice notes exist in sweet and savory dishes, the experience is suspenseful.
The Tiger, CMS seems most appropriately placed in the Spirits Class. It resembles spicy digestives consumed after a meal in the old country.
