Star of Week: ’07 T861 Tulin
The T861 Tulin is a precocious little bugger. For being only nine years old, it is easily one of the most aged treasures in the Puerh Junky’s collection. It has been stored to perfection, neither too humid nor too dry, but sufficiently humid to allow for rapid transformation. It has lost nothing along the way. Moisture has kept it alive. Earth and camphor aromas emanate enticingly from the dry tuo.
The broth color is already on the red ale side. It is clear and full-bodied: sweet, mushroomy, and camphory. In the warm weather, the camphor surprisingly induces a cooling effect. On the back end, the melange fades to trademark Wuliang Mt medicine notes and earth. Brew judiciously, no more than five seconds. The leaves,pressed to perfection, release quickly. Extending the brewing time makes it too tannic, though the tannins are otherwise just another balancing effect of a well constituted brew.
The T861 is sweeter, more camphory, and smoother than either the ’06 Silver Buds or the ’07 T868, all by Tulin. It seems like it’s about five years older than the two. The T868 is the “youngest” among the three, with an astringent bite and hint of smoke similar to the Silver Buds. As it opens up, it expresses a macho florality similar to the Year of the Rat. The T861, on the other hand, is like the wise grandfather who has seen it all.
8g T861
150 ml water at 200f
5s infusion time
