Maybe one day Dexter3657 will come and make me pu’erh and I will at once understand everyone’s awe at this and I, too, will marvel at its deliciousness. Until then, dexter3657 should stop sending me pu’erh samples for they are wasted. Wasted.

Dry leaves smelled fishy to this novice. I rinsed longer than I should have probably, just to get rid of as much as I could. Then I steeped, multiple times. Now I have to caution you that in this case tea tasting does not equal tea drinking. First steep, wood. Second steep some sort of sea water. Third steep much of the same. And on it went.

Where is this cream, chocolate and berries?!? Where’s the caramel?

The moral is this. I shall no longer try to drink pu’erh until I have detailed steeping instructions, and maybe someone who knows what they’re doing next to me. Cause, like with most recipes, just reading the instructions doesn’t always mean everyone can have yummy results.

Dexter3657 thank you so much for showing me I am not ready for pu’erh, much less for Mandala.

Sil

Haha at least you tried!

Garret

Sorry to hear that you did not enjoy your experience with this tea. But we at Mandala have way more teas than just ripe style pu’er. I am wondering if you have had the opportunity to try raw style pu’er tea. It is an entirely different tea. Many raw style pu’er purists do not care for ripe at all. Raw teas are alot of fun and they are the type of pu’er that really ages (if stored well) – 10, 20 years is far from unheard of. A completely different experience with aroma and taste (and energy, too) than that of black style pu’ers.

I’d recommend giving raw tea a shot. My biz partner, Jamie, is all about the raw style pu’ers.

I’m also curious about what you are using for water when you make your tea. This can have a HUGE impact on aroma, flavor and overall experience.

Thanks for the write-up!!

Garret

Nxtdoor

Garret, thank you for your comment and advice. I have only tried your silver buds raw pu’erh, again courtesy of the generous Dexter3657. You’re right, that one did not taste so frightening as the ripe one, but I would in the future like to get to a place where I am able to enjoy both. Unless the taste for one means you don’t care for the other. I don’t know.

As for water, since you asked, i know you will cringe but I use tap water. The water where I live, north of toronto, is quite good when compared to other regions. I use spring water at the cottage and while I can taste the difference, I have to say it is not always for the better. For the financial bracket I’m in and the amount of tea I drink, purchasing bottled spring or filtered water is crazy talk.

Dexter

How in the world did I miss this tasting note? I’m really happy that you tried it, you don’t have to love it – but this is AMAZING Pu’erh – IMHO If you don’t like this, you just aren’t going to like ripe pu’erh. Yes the raw is different – and yes you can love both. Wow fishy – me thinks that if you find this fishy you should just be happy with the experience – and don’t go playing with the cheap icky stuff (now that’s fishy).
I don’t think you can do this one wrong, that’s why I sent it to you. I’ve steeped this at temps and lengths that would probably make lots of people cringe – it always works for me. Shrug, dunno I love you don’t have to.

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Sil

Haha at least you tried!

Garret

Sorry to hear that you did not enjoy your experience with this tea. But we at Mandala have way more teas than just ripe style pu’er. I am wondering if you have had the opportunity to try raw style pu’er tea. It is an entirely different tea. Many raw style pu’er purists do not care for ripe at all. Raw teas are alot of fun and they are the type of pu’er that really ages (if stored well) – 10, 20 years is far from unheard of. A completely different experience with aroma and taste (and energy, too) than that of black style pu’ers.

I’d recommend giving raw tea a shot. My biz partner, Jamie, is all about the raw style pu’ers.

I’m also curious about what you are using for water when you make your tea. This can have a HUGE impact on aroma, flavor and overall experience.

Thanks for the write-up!!

Garret

Nxtdoor

Garret, thank you for your comment and advice. I have only tried your silver buds raw pu’erh, again courtesy of the generous Dexter3657. You’re right, that one did not taste so frightening as the ripe one, but I would in the future like to get to a place where I am able to enjoy both. Unless the taste for one means you don’t care for the other. I don’t know.

As for water, since you asked, i know you will cringe but I use tap water. The water where I live, north of toronto, is quite good when compared to other regions. I use spring water at the cottage and while I can taste the difference, I have to say it is not always for the better. For the financial bracket I’m in and the amount of tea I drink, purchasing bottled spring or filtered water is crazy talk.

Dexter

How in the world did I miss this tasting note? I’m really happy that you tried it, you don’t have to love it – but this is AMAZING Pu’erh – IMHO If you don’t like this, you just aren’t going to like ripe pu’erh. Yes the raw is different – and yes you can love both. Wow fishy – me thinks that if you find this fishy you should just be happy with the experience – and don’t go playing with the cheap icky stuff (now that’s fishy).
I don’t think you can do this one wrong, that’s why I sent it to you. I’ve steeped this at temps and lengths that would probably make lots of people cringe – it always works for me. Shrug, dunno I love you don’t have to.

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I started drinking loose leaf tea in the spring of 2013 (why do we feel compelled to mark the date of tea drinking somewhat like addicts counting their sobriety days?)

Never been much into tea before. Growing up in Romania, tea was something mom made for you when you were sick. As an adult, my hot beverage of choice has been coffee, both flavoured and regular. I’ve recently stumbled upon Teavana and DAVIDs TEA and quickly got addicted to the latter. Then came steepster and all else followed.

Formerly a mathematician and insurance adjuster, I gave up the corporate world and am now a professional chef. I drink wine and sometimes cheat on it with tea.

I lean heavily towards flavoured black teas. I’ve started to crave the occasional straight oolong and green but so far unflavoured black teas leave me unimpressed.

I’m learning so I drink them all. Am even introducing myself to pu’erh. So far I can do fine with the sheng cause frankly, they don’t taste like pu’erh to me. The shou is another story.

Note*: The virtual cupboard does NOT contain any of the samples I hold since most of them are one-cup quantity.

Note**: My partner, our home improvements, gadgets, mortgage, travel, wine and food have budget priority over tea.

Location

Toronto-ish, Canada

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