The thing I like most about pu erh is that I feel completely neutral about it. I enjoy it well enough, but I have no expectations. I am completely detached from the experience and free to fully enjoy even the humblest cup of pu. Because of this I have better luck with tasting notes, identifying different nuances. Its good practice.
Its a mini tuo cha of some shu pu, and my experience tells me that no one seems to waste quality tea on these things. When I first opened the package there was a stronger aroma that's gone now, but I can't remember it.
Each piece is about 4 grams. I use one in a 150 ml pot, rinse twice for 20 seconds each, and steep for a minute. Its a thin brew, a faint hint of camphor, and the finish has a whisper of astringency that threatens to turn harsh. As it cools I can pick up a smidgen of cacao.
In the second infusion I can taste the chocolate now that I know its there. One piece was only good for two infusions. I doubled the steep time for the third and doubled it again for the fourth, up to 6 minutes, but the liquor was fainter, and the tea a bit watery.
The wet leaves are standard bits and pieces.My over all impressions are for an average tuo cha, this was an enjoyable tea while it lasted.
4 comments:
Forgive a pu-erh ignoramus, but wouldn't the tea have a stronger flavor if you used more than one piece?
You take very good pictures, by the way. They enrich the posts a lot.
Trey,
Thanks for the compliment
Yes, using more than one piece will make it stonger, but this time it would've meant using 8 grams or so, and I didn't feel like using that much leaf. But I have used two mini tuo cha several times before. Just depends.
You guys ever try PurePuer.com? I'm not a real die hard Pu-head or anything but I like their teas a lot. And they're organic. Ive tried the 2006 Jin Yu Yuan Black Cake, Delicate for a puer. Slightly earthy and slightly sweet. And Ive also tried the 2007 Thousand Year Wild Tree Green Cake, Very nice, No bitterness at all, again earthy, a little smokey, vegetal and sweet. The tea ware is beautifull. The owners Larry and Yang Su are very nice people. They actually follow up w/ you to make sure you liked your purchase.
I've not had the pleasure yet, but thanks for the recomendation.
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