Crab's Claw

Out of my third big shipment from Yunnan Sourcing hid an unsuspecting gem. I've been enjoying some high quality teas here and there but nothing yet a revelation. This Crab's Claw attractively labeled the "Parasitic tea living on the thousands year old tea-tree in Menghai" brewed a cup so surprisingly refreshing, I was utterly frustrated to find almost no web gleanings on this tea. I brewed the tea lightly for fear of being overwhelmed by the reputed medicinal sour taste. I had chosen this tea for C's old man cough and thought I would tuck away this beeng until next winter's first cold. This puppy tastes little of a young sheng puerh. I can only liken the sensation to drinking from the most refreshing cool mountain stream one finds when hiking up to the remote monastaries in Korea. Koreans call such water "YakSu" and I am certain when Sof tries her first cup, she will undoubtedly bubble out "Wauooo. Yaksu, yaksu da."

To think a few leaves can transform ordinary Berkeley tap water into memory and longing. This tea has a dimension which cannot be pinned down to any flavor but of being soothed. I was afraid to drink this a second time, but now I brew myself a late night cup from leaves which should have been tired from being brewed all day long by C and I am happy. Sipping and closing my eyes.