314 Tasting Notes
I brewed this in my travel mug to bring to work. I intend to drink this all day—just resteeping the same leaves.
Impressions of the first steep (after rinsing): Surprisingly mild with a thick, slatey-ness. I have an image of of grey paving stones after a spring rainshower. They’re set in a green garden with loamy, rich, dark soil.
Wow, I’m drinking a pu’erh (the much maligned yet admired infamous pu’erh)….and I like it! I feel like I’ve been formally initiated into becoming a proper “tea aficionado”! ;)
I chose Teas Etc. for my first pu’erh because of the ease of ordering and I’ve tried their other teas before and liked them—so I was confident that they would offer no less than the best quality product (at least in this price range).
The little nest bowls are so cute! The tissue paper wrapping makes them seem like bite-size treats.
I remembered to “rinse” the leaves first by steeping the nest in boiled water for about 15 seconds then discarding the water. I was suprised on how immediately the nest disintegrated while in the water. The leaves themselves are small and broken—they almost look powdered.
Then I poured fresh hot water in my mug and I’m drinking it now (without removing the leaves). The liquid is as dark as coffee.
Here are the notes I’m detecting as I perceive them (semi stream of conciousness style):
Tree bark, loamy soil, smoke, ash, plums (?), deep green plants and roots. There is a dryness to this that is really refreshing. I had a stomachache because of a large dinner, but this seems to be easing it a bit. It does taste “powerful” but no worse than in the way of a hearty breakfast blend. This is like a breakfast blend squared—without the bitterness….and with added peat moss.
I’m also detecting notes of slate, lichen and mushrooms. This is definitely earthy—but earthy in the way of an ancient forest at midnight—on the edge of a cliff by the sea—cool and mysterious.
And there is a lingering sweetness at the back of the throat—interesting!
Last Thoughts: This is a tea I know I will be drinking often. It’s like some mysterious and magical elixir. :)
Your 1st 2 sentences remind me of myself!=D
Why do you rinse your pu-erh before steeping?
Rinsing pu-erh before steeping is a tradition / rule. It’s to clean impurities / open up the leaves a little.
hm.
Jim, it keeps me from making me puke. LOL!=D
I’ve learned about the rinsing from the good people here at Steepster, also just today, I confimed from a co-worker (and drinker of puerh’s who is also originally from China) that one should rinse puerhs first (even just a quick swish and rinse—not necessarily for 15 seconds) because they can get dusty from the aging process.
Pre-Steepster, I’ve never heard of rinsing tea before! :)
Traditional I’ll buy, but useful I’m not convinced of. Do as you please, of course.
Prevention from puking sounds useful to me:) A lot of people rinse oolongs as well.
I’m not trying to be argumentative or quarrelsome, I’m just dubious about this “opening the leaves” and “dust”/“impurities” business (which were probably later justifications attached to an earlier purely ritualistic action). Whether or not unrinsed pu-erh would make someone puke, on an individual basis is sort of impossible to discuss in any meaningful way - but I’ve been drinking it nearly daily, unrinsed, for several years with no apparent ill effect. If it makes you enjoy the tea better, go for it! :) I just like not to waste any of the solubles, and they extract from pu-erh so quickly I would be reluctant to rinse mine. Hope I’m not on anyone’s toes, here. Because of the way this site is set up, it is impossible to move conversation to something private unless you’re following the people involved in the discussion.
@JIm Marks, it was a joke- I was just being funny. Sorry if I didn’t convey that well enough. I’ve just had a very vile experience w/ pu erh, and doing it this way makes it much more drinkable for me. I, too, was reluctant to “waste” the flavor but I’ve found that the subsequent infusions are very good (and raw pu erh is down right delicious!). Again, I’m really sorry if I offended you, it was absolutely not intentional.
No, not at all. People will do what they do. I am still confused, and still dubious, but not offended.
Ugh, I keep forgetting that these apps convert emphasis lines into strike outs. Feh. How are you doing bold?
Bold is done like this * word * (but don’t put spaces between the actual word).
Rinsing is strange, but the more I read about pu-erh, the more I see that this is is part of the process of preparing it.
Just a little tasting note blurb….nothing really useful to add except that I can’t stop drinking this, it’s so good! It’s like I have to have at least one cup everyday.
This is my first hazelnut flavored tea—I wonder if they all taste similar to this or if everyone uses their own propietary flavorings? I wonder, is there one kind of hazelnut flavoring that’s sold that all tea blenders use? It would be neat to find out.
Yay! My second Teas Etc. order arrived today! I immediately steeped this one. Some quick impressions (because I’m supposed to be working):
This tastes like sunshine! So bright and sunny. It’s immediately uplifting. I imagine running through a meadow at springtime like Laura in Little House on the Prairie.
It’s a beautiful day here (a strange but cool combination of sun with intermittent rains) and I’ve been feeling good today so this matches nicely. :)
For some reason, I’m feeling kind of anxious tonight. I needed something calming and light. So I chose this and brewed it stronger than normal (2 heaping tsps. in 12oz with boiling water). As expected, it’s much more milky and sweet with a pronounced toastiness. This time, I detect no fruitiness (like my previous tasting note). There’s a lot of brown rice in my mug. It tastes very “home-y” and relaxing.
Love it! Just what I wanted.
You need something light so you steep it stronger than normal? lol:)
Yep..I wanted it to be more milky—and it worked! I know it sounds weird.
Lupicia says that their matcha Kirara Rice Tea (which is a matcha gen mai cha) pairs well w/ milk. Personally that seems really gross LOL- but I bet that’s something you’d love so maybe you should actually add milk to this to get the milky flavor=D
I brewed this dark and strong—about 2 heaping teaspoons in 12oz. It tastes like hazelnut coffee! A little smoky and spicy, the hazelnut flavor is very strong and rich. There is a natural sweetness to this but I’m not sure if the flavoring they use is sweetened or not.
This is a refreshing change from the black teas I’ve been drinking all week!
I used the last of my 1oz. tin (about 2.5 heaping teaspoons in my 12oz. mug). The scent is super tangy and sweet—very “pink”. The tea itself is a pinkish amber and very “downy” because of the feathery white leaves. I’m tasting mostly rose petals and a little bit of strawberry. The coconut appears only as a hint of sweetness. The aftertaste reminds me a little of Cap’n Crunch’s Crunch Berries® cereal!
I think I may order more of this, eventually—but not for awhile because there are so many other teas out there to try!
I feel so exhausted tonight…and lazy. I have just enough energy to jot down some quick impressions:
Scent: Almost sweet and a little like pine?
Color: Typical black tea appearance—deep brown amber liquid.
Taste: Astringent and woodsy with a hint of menthol—but it’s not mint. This is not as strong as Thomas Sampson—it’s much lighter-bodied.
Images: For some reason I’m reminded of those old-fashioned lacquered chinese jewelry boxes. My mom had a few. Maybe it’s the wooden aspect of the taste.
Final Thoughts: A classic black tea with an “antique” feel to it. Very easy to drink and not bitter.
UPDATE: This is so strange—I’m now on my 3rd infusion and it’s not just getting mellower, but sweeter too! A smooth and smokey honey note.
I think Jackee’s a bit shy—he lowers his guard and sweetens up only after he gets to know you.
