Cary was kind enough to gift me a cake of this one, and I’m glad he did because I find myself reaching for it pretty frequently. While this cake was gifted to me, these are my own words and opinions. I’ve had the 1973 Cake a few times now, and every session reminds me why I enjoy it so much. It opens with a rich maltiness and dark honey sweetness, with notes of chocolate and aged leather developing as the session progresses. The sweetness really sticks around, lingering on the tongue long after each sip and giving the tea a satisfying finish. Yet again, this tea exemplifies Orientaleaf’s clean storage. There’s a depth and richness to it that makes it incredibly easy to drink, while still having enough going on to keep me engaged. This is the kind of tea I’m happy to sit down with for a full session, and clearly one I’ll keep reaching for whenever I’m in the mood for a good cup of shou. If you’re looking for a rich, satisfying shou that you can reach for again and again, I’d absolutely recommend picking up a cake of this one
