Thank you so much for sending a sample of this one a while back, MzPriss. It’s been a while. Maybe I’ve been avoiding this one, since if my palatte doesn’t like THIS raw pu-erh, I probably won’t like any of them. But nothing will beat the cocoa/coffee of ripened pu-erh for me though. I used eight grams (stated on the sample) for my eleven ounce mug.
Steep #1 // 25 min after boiling // rinse // 45 second steep
The rinse didn’t seem to break the leaves apart at all. Luckily, it’s very good! Completely different flavors from the few raw pu-erhs I’ve had. The flavor is very smooth – like a syrupy texture. There is also a slight buzzy quality, though I don’t have anything to compare it too…maybe when you eat too close to the edge of a pineapple, which is odd, since the flavor does seem a little like sweet pineapple. It’s very juicy, also a little creamy, hints of apple. Really, the best possible results of a raw pu-erh. I also love the name ‘wild monk’. The color of the steeped tea looks like a green oolong. Usually raw pu-erh is too woodchipy for me, and this is certainly the opposite of that.
Steep #2 // 18 min after boiling // under a minute steep
Hmm, this one certainly doesn’t taste the same. I always seem to have a problem with any steep after the first. I think I shouldn’t have steeped this one this hot or for a minute. The flavor was tough to figure out, but it was a little too strong for these lovely leaves. Almost like old tobacco and a bitey flavor. I HAVE to remember that with second steeps of raw pu-erh, the leaves get much more unraveled and they don’t need so much steep time.
Steep #3 // 30 min after boiling // under a min
Another cup that was a little too bitter. Such a shame to ruin this one! I know it was my fault… the first cup was so nice. It seems I can never learn with these pu-erhs. The first cup is always nice but with the following steeps, the flavors get a little odd. It is my fault, but they don’t seem to be very user friendly.
