I need to do it.

Without being too cliche, this past year has been an emotional roller coaster.  Really, it has.  I have found myself in the most unplanned of circumstances, in the most dreadful of situations, with the most dreadful of persons.  Subsequently, I found myself in the most wonderful of circumstances, in the wonderful of situations, with the most wonderful of persons.  It's been quite a ride.

And, so - I am taking the opportunity to relax for 11 days.  Yes, I actually get to relax.  That is such a foreign thought to me!  I am, in every sense of the word, a hyper-planner.  I plan everything.  I schedule myself for weeks - months - of commitments.  I go to everything I'm invited to and usually get there early to help set up.  I plan the get-togethers, I help people with their birthdays, weddings, design needs, babysitting, etc. etc. etc.  

Don't get me wrong, I love it.  I love being "that person" that people can rely on, I really do.  But, I am also looking forward to no responsibilities, no plans, no agenda, nothing.  Hooray for nothing!  Nothing is wonderful!

So, my trip with consist of leaving my city of trees on July 18th and commencing on what will be my very first time traveling alone.  This is a huge feat for me.  At 22, I have never ridden on a plane alone, found my way in an airport alone, entertained myself on a plane.  I have always had a travel companion.  Always.  And, so, I will make my first trek to Hawaii, Lana'i specifically, all by myself.  Silly, I know, but this is a big deal for me.

I will spend my trip relaxing, having some quality girl-time, and basically being young.  I am taking a step back from the instadulthood that I succumbed to at such a young age.  Hooray for me.  :)

And, now, I have to fight the urge to plan those 11 days.  It's not easy for me...

Da Yu Qi Dancong (Tea Habitat)

This tea was another gifted sample from Imen of Tea Habitat. I'm not sure what the name means.

As is visible in the photo, the leaves of this dancong are long, gem green, and whole. The dry leaves have a notably muted and unplaceable aroma. Post-rinse, the wet leaves have a low, thick nose of citrus and honey, like if there were such a thing as an orange pie.

This dancong promised to yield an interesting session.

I chose to brew the Da Yu Qi dancong in a thinner 150ml gaiwan instead of a pot, and because of its larger leaves and volume of the vessel, I used nearly all of the sample Imen provided me. In the end, I think this was a successful way to highlight the strengths of this tea.

This Da Yu Qi has brawn. The aroma's low stoutness predicted the power of the flavor. Jammy, almost chewable, starchy and aromatic, the tea swallowed like molasses and tasted like dates and tangerine, without acidity. Each of the first 5 brews or so gave this flavor and feeling consistently.

Later brews thinned, went down the throat like brine and with some salty flavor and orchid nose. Eventually, it ended in ephemeral citrus notes. It carved a trail in the throat--not the usual coated feeling, but like the tea did something to my throat as it went down. This feeling lasted for nearly an hour after I stopped drinking it.

I noticed, somewhat late in the session, that I wasn't feeling particularly tea drunk or hyper, but I drank this after finishing off an intoxicating pu'er from the previous evening.

Da Yu Qi is a dancong weighted toward its flavor rather than its aroma, making it more interesting on the tongue and easier to brew than the average dancong. It might not please someone looking for the usual experience with this genre of tea, but I enjoyed it.