Brewing and Tasting "Xinshidai": The Grand Layer Evolution from First to Fifteenth Steep
Tasting "Xinshidai" is a gustatory journey from boldness to gentleness. From the first steep's impact to the fifteenth steep's lingering sweetness, each stage has different brilliance.
Brewing and Tasting "Xinshidai": The Grand Layer Evolution from First to Fifteenth Steep
1. Pre-Tasting Preparation
Environment Requirements
| Requirement | Description |
|---|---|
| Room temperature | 20–25°C |
| Humidity | 50–60% |
| Lighting | Natural light preferred |
| Quiet | No disturbance |
Tea Vessel Selection
| Vessel | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Teapot | Yixing teapot (150ml) |
| Cups | White porcelain tasting cups |
| Fairness cup | Glass fairness cup |
| Tea tray | Simple tea tray |
Tea Quantity
| Parameter | Recommended Value |
|---|---|
| Tea quantity | 8–10 grams |
| Water temperature | 95°C |
| Tea-to-water ratio | 1:20 |
2. Steeps 1–5: Bold Opening
Steep 1: Impact
| Indicator | Performance |
|---|---|
| Liquor color | Light golden yellow |
| Aroma | Orchid dominant; with Bangshang's boldness |
| Taste | Entry is bitter; dissolves quickly |
| Body sensation | Abdomen begins warming |
Steep 2: Momentum Expands
| Indicator | Performance |
|---|---|
| Liquor color | Golden and bright |
| Aroma | Orchid and honey interweaving |
| Taste | Bitter with sweetness; huigan begins |
| Body sensation | Back warming |
Steep 3: Bitterness and Sweetness Interweave
| Indicator | Performance |
|---|---|
| Liquor color | Golden yellow |
| Aroma | Floral, honey, slight bitter aroma |
| Taste | Bitterness peaks but acceptable |
| Body sensation | Forehead slight sweat |
Steep 4: Dissolving and Huigan
| Indicator | Performance |
|---|---|
| Liquor color | Deep golden yellow |
| Aroma | Honey dominant; orchid fading |
| Taste | Bitterness dissolves; obvious huigan |
| Body sensation | Whole body warming |
Steep 5: Turning Point
| Indicator | Performance |
|---|---|
| Liquor color | Deep golden yellow |
| Aroma | Honey dominant |
| Taste | Sweetness begins dominating |
| Body sensation | Body sensation comfortable |
3. Steeps 6–10: Gentleness Blooms
Steeps 6–7: Yiwu's Gentleness Emerges
| Indicator | Performance |
|---|---|
| Aroma | Yiwu's floral begins to appear |
| Taste | Sweet and gentle; almost no bitterness |
| Liquor texture | Smooth begins to appear |
| Huigan | Persistent |
Steeps 8–10: Sweetness Dominates
| Indicator | Performance |
|---|---|
| Aroma | Honey, slight floral |
| Taste | Entry is sweet; no bitterness |
| Liquor texture | Smooth, delicate |
| Huigan | Long and persistent |
4. Steeps 11–15: Prolonged Aftertaste
Steeps 11–12: Aftertaste Begins
| Indicator | Performance |
|---|---|
| Aroma | Woody notes begin to appear |
| Taste | Sweet and persistent |
| Liquor texture | Slightly watery |
| Huigan | Still obvious |
Steeps 13–15: Final Brilliance
| Indicator | Performance |
|---|---|
| Aroma | Light woody |
| Taste | Clear sweetness |
| Liquor texture | Light but still has substance |
| Huigan | Persisting 30+ seconds |
5. Overall Tasting Summary
Aroma Evolution
| Stage | Aroma |
|---|---|
| Early | Orchid dominant |
| Middle | Honey dominant |
| Late | Woody dominant |
Taste Evolution
| Stage | Taste |
|---|---|
| Early | Bitterness dominant |
| Middle | Sweet-bitter balance |
| Late | Sweetness dominant |
Body Sensation Summary
| Stage | Body Sensation |
|---|---|
| Early | Warming, impactful |
| Middle | Comfortable, warming |
| Late | Light, comfortable |
6. Comparison with Other Teas
| Comparison | Xinshidai | Bangshang | Yiwu |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early | Orchid + impact | Bold bitterness | Gentle |
| Middle | Sweet-bitter balance | Bitterness dominant | Sweetness dominant |
| Late | Lingering sweetness | Bitter aftertaste | Persistent sweetness |
7. Closing Thought
Tasting "Xinshidai" is a gustatory journey from boldness to gentleness.
In 15 steeps, it demonstrates the richest layers Puer tea can achieve — from Bangshang's boldness to Yiwu's gentle sweetness, from bitterness to sweetness, from impact to lingering.
This is the charm of blending: not the solo of a single raw material, but the symphony of multiple mountains.
Related Topics
Bangshang's boldness and Yiwu's sweet gentleness are two extremes of Puer tea. Through exquisite blending craft, "Xinshidai" lets these two contrasting styles blend perfectly in one cake.
Bai Shuiqing established strict fixation and rolling standards for "Xinshidai." Every parameter from temperature and time to leaf quantity and pressure has precise control, ensuring quality stability.