This is probably my favorite black tea that I own/ have had in awhile. I think the trick here is that it’s a pretty quality Yunnan black tea blend that is mixed with a tiny bit of pu-erh which makes it bright with a smokey aftertaste which is complex and exciting (I’ll address this point later, but it’s not at all a pure pu-erh.) I wouldn’t say this is the most amazing black tea ever, but it is a great standard cup with a lot of complexity.
I used to drink this every morning, probably two or three infusions, but I stopped drinking tea for awhile after I moved. I think it was the stress of relocating and settling into a new place. I’m having my first cup in awhile. This is a warm and comforting cup of tea, and the fact that I haven’t had it in awhile makes it even better.
I’m really excited to drink the second steeping, which I remember liking a bit more than the first. If I remember correctly, the tea loses a bit of the acidic bite at the end of the sip and rounds out to be smoother with the second infusion.
But now I need to address the name of this tea. It’s not a pu-erh. You can look at the leaves, especially when they are brewed, and differentiate from the darker leaves and the more golden leaves. I’m almost certain the lighter leaves, which are the majority of the blend, are the Yunnan providence black tea. Anyway, this tea doesn’t taste like a pu-erh, although it has hints of a pu-erh in it. It tastes much more like a high quality black tea. I love this tea, but never once while drinking it have I thought—wow, I’m drinking a recognizable pu-erh tea.
Still, it’s a great cup of tea.
