Given the choice, I inevitably choose shu puerh. Truth be told, I like this tea, although I’m finding it difficult to find the tell-tale characteristics of a traditional shu.
The aroma of the dry Tou-Cha is unremarkable. After a quick wash and warm up, the aroma emitted from this tea is really amazing….sweet corn with butter roasted over a fire. Appealing.
First infusion: 5 sec – light liquor, straight forward corn smell, no complaints. The flavor is as advertised—corny. Clean, refreshing, and direct. I’m not finding a lot of complexity, just corn, butter in a velvety mouth coating.
After many, many short infusions, still only about 10-15 secs, I’m getting a beautiful amber color with consistent aroma and flavor. I’m trying hard to detect some other subtle flavors or hints, but apart from a pleasant tingle in the center of my tongue, I’m getting only corn.
Two extraordinary attributes this puer displays are endurance and throat. This Tou-Cha will outlast my drinking session. It has a LOT of life in it. Secondly, and probably the highlight of this tea, is its persistent, clean throat. This tea leaves me happy after I swallow. Sniffing the cup is as enjoyable as the taste, and probably more memorable.
