EOT’s Bulang teas are heavyweights that pack a punch. The teas are strong and potent providing brews that are thick and substantial. Hardcore tea drinkers will enjoy drinking EOT’s Bulangs. I found 2011 to be the most aggressive and powerful and not one I will be in a hurry to get back to. Thus ensuring it has plenty of time to age and mellow before I decide to put myself out there to take another wallop. 2012 being the youngest possesses a noticeable green character that displays a bitterness that is more piercing and lingering. Whilst displaying some sweet notes the overall complexity and depth are not at the same level as the others from previous years. 2009 shines by being the most complex and exhibiting the most obvious emerging age characteristics. I found the age floral character of the 2009 to be exquisite and the thick and silky texture provided a refinement to the brew that made 2009 standout. 2010 was good and solid expressing shared elements of tobacco, herbs and wood that make up the common characteristics. Like all EOT’s Bulangs the delivery was loud, aggressive and full-on.
In conclusion I would have to surmise that it is much too early to be expecting any prominent age characteristics whereby none of the teas have yet to reach their first decade of age. The emerging age character of 2009 is not well developed whilst the others are too young to display anything of significance. A noteworthy trait of EOT’s Bulang that I found reassuring is what I would associate with the “good bitterness” in puerh tea. It is my opinion that puerh tea with good bitterness that can transform into other more refined characters is more agreeable towards aging well. EOT’s Bulangs have this in spades with teas from 2009 to 2011 showing the most obvious signs. I look forward to revisiting these teas in the future.
See the range of EOT's Bulangs in their original compressed form as teacakes in Part 1
Additional Note
Brewing parameters: 2g/60ml/5min
The first time I setup the competition style steeping for the teas I got side tracked by a phone call. What resulted was 15 minutes of negligence and 4 brews that had become intensely aggressive and potent to the point of being overwhelming. It caused me to reschedule my tasting for another time and switch to recovery mode such was the numbing sensation that had compromised my taste buds. It was an important reminder that you can’t afford to switch off when brewing tea and especially with potent and powerful teas like the Bulang. Handle with care tea friends!