Blood Orange Pu-erh

Samovar = serious master blenders. I mean that. Man.

So, I was trying to figure out what I would drink today, and I searched through takgoti’s Magic Box of Wonderful Tea that she sent me. I figured I’d drink my lucky number (#12) and came out with this little number. Blood Orange Pu-erh. Interesting.

I’m not the biggest fan of oranges. I don’t mind the flavor of them, but the texture kind of grosses me out. The pulpy membrane… eesh. And since citrus tends to upset my stomach, I tend to avoid them. But this one smells pretty interesting, and it’s a pu-erh, so I decided to give it a go.

The dry leaves are that thick, heavy-looking black leaf splotched with brown that usually sings pu-erh to me! There are chunks of orange rind and seeds (I think?) and pieces of ginger. The entire concoction smells like dark citrus. Not bright, sunny morning, Florida-weather-orange. More mysterious and exotic, with an earthy base and spiciness from the ginger. Mmmm.

So I actually rinsed this one, which was a first for me. I had no idea how to go about this, so I poured about 6 oz. of boiling water over the leaves and left it for about 15 seconds, then dumped it. Fresh boiling water over it again, and then the actual steep… almost immediately the water started turning that signature dark, pu-erh color. The bits of dried fruit began to puff up, and swirl around the pot.

Then it came time for the pour! And boy, is this dark. I just love the color of pu-erh. I can’t see the bottom of my cup, at all. It looks like a bruised-black, and the smell coming from it… the smell is complex. I’m getting mostly deep blood orange notes, accented by a bit of ginger, and then a smoke-like earth component.

I raised my spoon, and took the first sip. Let me pause for a second, for a big, “Mmmmmm!” Even though I finished my cup about 10 minutes ago, the flavors are still echoing in my mouth in big ways, and it’s great.

The blood orange is definitely the body of this flavor, and it’s almost rich and satisfying. It’s an almost brassy note, if I had to color it, very strong and full, but never overwhelming. It’s not really sweet, or tart, but wonderfully and distinctively orange. You’d never mistake it for anything else. The ginger really creeps in at points, with a spicy, warming quality, that pairs wonderfully with the citrus of the orange flavors. The pu-erh is not really the focal point here, but it really does its job of holding the tea together and grounding it in the earth. I think that’s what really makes this one special. It’s dark and rich and deep, reminded me of moss and deep forest.

Pu-erh to me, is a liquid manifestation of earth. I don’t really associate it with a dirt-like flavor, but I tend to think of it more as a mushroom, or a truffle. Rich and satisfying and delicious.

I’m really a bit surprised at how much I like this one, since I’m not one to truly love citrus, and I wasn’t sure how flavored pu-erh was going to go. But it’s an absolute, clear winner, and I was happy to share the morning with this cup! Another big victory for Samovar! And takgoti as well, for sending me some of this delicious stuff!

The first time I had this I made this with the general pu-erh steeping parameters, rinse, 15 seconds, add 10-15 seconds for each additional infusion. Well, it turned out a tad light. I decided to give it a go and try it with the parameters listed on the packaging (2-4minutes).

Honestly, I don’t think it made much of a difference, except that the tea was darker and a bit stronger. From what I noticed, the pu-erh aspect of flavored pu-erh teas are generally really faint. Normally, I don’t get the fish tank smell that people find in pu-erh, but with this tea it’s pretty apparent why people might associate pu-erh with that smell. I’m getting that fish tank smell along with ginger and citrus orange peel. I would say the citrus blood orange smell is dominant, but you can smell the ginger too. I think the ginger is what makes this tea interesting, distinct and memorable. It starts off as a weakened pu-erh, yet very citrus-y tea, then finally the ginger sweeps in to end each sip. While I like this tea, I can’t say I love it. I still enjoy unflavored pu-erh better. Can’t wait to try the other pu-erh’s offered by Samovar.

Sam O. Var is my new love. I’m going to elope with him. Right now. He can do no wrong, in my book.

I know what you’re going to say — it’s just so much pixie dust, that tinkling of little bells you hear in your mind, that image you see of little cartoon hearts floating up around your head like soap bubbles, that frisson of anticipation. He’s bound to disappoint you at some point. Just give it some time. It always happens.

You could be right. You could be. But not today. I am six for six today, six for six of Samovar samples that I would most definitely drink again. (Now if only Breakfast Blend would come back in stock in the large tin, I could complete an order and qualify for free shipping.)

The aroma out of this packet is deliciously orange. Not tart, not thin, not artificial-smelling. It’s a rich orange smell, almost creamy, like the orange in fine orange-flavored chocolates. It predominates over the pu erh until the leaves and those little bits of orange rind and ginger are wet, when the tea starts to share the stage. After multiple steeps, the aroma of the wet leaves and the tea itself is still deliciously orange, and the grapefruit is there as well. The ginger is pretty subtle, but that’s fine with me. I like my ginger subtle.

The orange in the flavor is mellow and deep, like a very ripe, very juicy orange — but more. The fact is I don’t think I’ve ever eaten a fresh orange that is this orangy. It must be a synergy in the blend, with the other flavors bringing more orange out of the orange. I suspect this is the primary role of the ginger, along with adding a bit of spice that stays on the tongue along with the orange in the finish, and persists, pleasantly, for quite a while.

This is not a star vehicle for the pu erh; rather it is part of a terrific ensemble cast. It balances, it interacts, it comes to the front from time to time to deliver a forest-floor-after-rain note and then retreats to a foundational presence with the rest of the flavors.

I took this through 5+ steeps. Unfortunately I was interrupted with a phone call during the third, and didn’t get off the phone until it was time for the fifth. All the more reason to add this to my next order, so I can enjoy it again in peace.

Yesterday, I came to the realization that pu-erh and I will never be more than passing acquaintances. There is just something about the strong earthy, hay-like sweetness that comes across as cloying to me. But the citrus in this along with the gingery tingle (one that reminds me of my super-yummy Midel Ginger Snap cookies) gives fantastic balance to that super-sweet pu-erh-ness. The sweetness is there but it is lurking in the smell and under the ginger citrus. In fact, that now-subdued sweetness reinforces the ginger snap feeling. The aftertaste – sweet with a strong ginger tingle and a certain freshness – is the same aftertaste I get from my gingersnaps.

So yeah, this might smell a bit like citrus-scented dirt when brewing (though it smells like delicious citrus-peel citrus when dry) and that just isn’t the most appetizing thing, but this is gingersnap cookie tea for me. So I like it.

^{PS – I used my entire sample (which was around 5g) in my 10oz cup, so I did go a little heavy on the leaf. Dunno what exact difference that might make but I’d be all for repeating the heavy leafness in the future to make sure I get ginger snap tea.}

ETA: The second steep is mostly ginger and pu-erh which is a little disappointing. I miss my clean, fresh ginger snaps.

I was inspired to drink this today, even though The Amazing Takgoti sent me this sample months ago, because of the little Bon Appetit article about Pu-Erh in the May issue. I spent a very enjoyable SIX HOURS sipping multiple steeps of this tea!!!

When I did the rinse, I said “OH NO!!! This smells TERRIBLE!!! There is no way I am going to be able to drink this!!!!” It didn’t smell like fish tank, fish, or even earth. It smelled like something odd I never smelled before!!!

My first steep had that smell, but lighter. When I went to take my first sip…nothing like the smell!!!! So interesting! The blood orange and ginger made it familiar and delicious, but the pu-erh was earthy and complicated and like nothing I’ve ever had before! It wasn’t even like I was drinking tea!

My additional steeps cycled through a spicy Thai broth, then a mellow broth, and then there were some coffee like elements, and now the flavor is getting fainter and there is just a subtle lingering ginger note.

Is this mellow, calm, pleasant feeling what they call the pu-erh high?!

Despite having my mind completely made up that I was going to hate this and spit it out, I totally enjoyed it! It’s so odd that I couldn’t see myself having it every day, or even every week, but I certainly want to have it again!!

What can I say about this savory little beauty? When I open my sample packet and took a sniff I thought " Oh wow, this smells yummy" as in orange, blood orange yummy it smelled not like an artificially orange flavor but like the real thing just not quite as strong. Then I did the pour water over (Yes I followed the instructions) and then the actual steep and I start to get the dreaded pu erh fishy smell but not as sharp as other fishy smelling pu erh’s I’ve tried. This fishy smell is tolerable it’s actually quite tolerable even. Then I take a sip and the orange pu erh taste fills your mouth and you think NOW this is a good pu erh! I have had other orange pu erh’s so I can safely say this is the best one I have tried. I own another orange peel ginger pu erh that is pretty good and I enjoy it too but the ginger feel in that Pu erh is like going to P.F. Changs and having a meal this pu erh it’s like an appetizer. You know when you order the appetizer and it’s sooo good that you think How can the meal outdo this I wish I would’ve just ordered more of this appetizer! It’s like that it’s the awesome appetizer that is better than the meal! If that makes since?

The color is beautiful it a dark red, orange black color. Back to the taste it also leaves an orange aftertaste and I really appreciate that as most other flavored pu erh’s I have tried just leave me with a pu erh after taste. I like this I may order more very soon!

The tea brews up into a purple black liquor with the by now familiar somewhat pleasant, somewhat strange, wet yak smell of pu-erh. There is a strong overtone of orange and some kind of spice, perhaps a clove or cinnamon. Unlike other orange scented teas, this is not a sweet flowery orange but a strong orange, which I suppose matches the strength of the pu-erh. There is a whisper of ginger, but it is subdued.

Overall a very nice experience. It is a slow sipper for me because of the pu-erh, but I’m enjoying it with my morning rice.

Much thanks to takgoti for the tasting.

One of the first things I did when I last was in San Francisco was make a beeline to Samovar. Their Blood Orange Pu-erh was the first tea that I tried there. I spent a good hour or so at the counter, sipping this tea and losing myself in the surreal debauchery that is Please Kill Me: The Uncensored Oral History of Punk. [GREAT read, by the way.]

When I got back home, I wanted to get a tin of that tea because I had enjoyed it so much, but it wasn’t for sale online. Months later, when it became available, I snatched it up.

It’s always been funny to me, that the sense of smell is more closely tied into memory than anything else because I most often associate music with memories. However, when I smell something that my brain has tethered to a remembrance, it always come back super vividly. For me, the purchase of this tea didn’t just arrive with something fantastic to drink, it arrived with a quick way to transport myself 2500-odd miles to the opposite side of the country. All it takes is a whiff of this to whisk myself back to that counter, book in hand, stress dissipated, in the midst of some pretty perfect weather. [I also spent each and every morning that week on my brother’s deck, reading in a chair, and brewing cup after cup of tea until I felt like getting up and actually doing something. Even I’M jealous, and I’m the one who did that. Man, what I wouldn’t give right now to be past me.]

Needless to say, I pull this one out when the stress levels are reaching critical.

Of course, I couldn’t fully enjoy this tea if I didn’t like how it tastes, but I’m happy to be able to say that this is one of the teas that eased me into pu-erh, and I continue to enjoy it immensely. It’s definitely a pu-erh, meaning that you get the same soil-like scent and taste that comes with the territory [I like it, but it’s not for everyone]. The ginger adds a spiciness and warmth, and the blood orange gives it a slight edge. The overall effect is a little stronger than most teas [you might have been able to guess that due to the flavors involved], but it makes the earthiness of the tea not quite so overwhelming. I’ve brewed this for a few friends who are looking to try a pu-erh out, with good results.

I have a feeling that this is going to be an EXCELLENT winter tea.

Here we are again.. finishing up my round of samples from Samovar. Of all the teas I was most excited to try it was this one, although I did find some new favorites this week as well. Blood Orange Pu-erh.. hmm. What to say.. or rather what not to say.

Opening the package is an experience all in it’s own, as I was smacked with the aroma of oranges instantly. And yes, I did like it. The pu-erh-y smell was masked in the dry leaves but really came out after I rinsed them the first time. I’m honestly not the biggest fan of the smell; too fishy for me. Like.. really. Too. Fishy.

I ended up doing two steeps with about 8oz of water, one for 6 minutes and another at 7. There wasn’t too much of a difference between the two, although there was less pu-erh taste in the 7 minute steep. This tea certainly looks like a pu-erh.. very, very dark and bold looking flavor. Now lets talk about the flavor itself..

This tea is interesting. Pu-erh in my opinion is very interesting in general and something perhaps I need to get used to, or rather we all need to get used to. I will say I enjoyed this a bit more than the Maiden’s Ecstasy and I’ll have to contribute this to the strong blood orange flavor. In describing this tea, I think the best way is to say it’s predominately orange in taste, with ginger that tends to bite your tongue a little, while sitting on a pu-erh base. You can certainly tell that this is a pu-erh tea, although the orange tends to mask that very bold earth flavor you get with plain ol’ pu-erh. However, without the pu-erh, I can’t see how the orange flavor could be as dark as it is. You certainly get a dark citrus taste, as I would assume would happen when adding any kind of flavor to Pu-erh. It seems to darken up everything a bit and give it that earthy quality.

I’m not sure what to think of this tea just yet. I’m questioning my rating as I’m not to sure how accurate I’m really being. It’s really subjective. However, I am glad I tried this tea as I do like spicing up my palette with some new flavors. Right now, this isn’t one I can see myself drinking on a daily basis, or perhaps even one I can see myself craving, but it does have it’s place. And… I’m open to pu-erh now. It’s definitely.. different.

This tea finally arrived the other day, and so I figured I would take some to work and give it a try for the day. The first impression I got when I smelt the leaves was that it was going to be a very unique and interesting citrus oriented tea. That was a pretty accurate first impression.

Honestly, for the first few sips I was wondering if I was going to like it enough to finish the tin I got. Luckily, those thoughts were washed away fairly rapidly once I got more into it. As teaplz perfectly explains, this is much more of a “dark citrus” as opposed to the “sunny Florida orange” citrus. As such, I would be comfortable in saying that this is a good tea for the winter. How appropriate, given that this morning we have a nice and crisp -16 degrees Celsius outside, with a “feels like” factor of -22. Perfect for this tea. ;)

I’ve been drinking this all week—this makes my favorite iced tea ever. I’m not particularly fond of it hot, but when it’s iced—yum!
I usually just add a little liquid stevia to sweeten it up a bit (not enough to be called ‘sweet tea’, but just enough to take the edge off) and it’s fabulous. Yum.
For the record, I made this as sun tea, so I let it steep in the sun for probably five hours or so. Very delicious.

Back to this tasty pu-erh… subtle citrus and total goodness!

A great summer tea, light and citrusy.

This is my favorite all-day tea. Hot in the morning, cold in the afternoon, warm again at night.

LOVE this tea especially the gingery notes. It is a nice compliment to stir-fry and makes an EXCELLENT ICED TEA. I made iced tea from the 5th and 6th infusions, put in glass bottles and went off on a desert hike….very refreshing on a hot day!

I’m excited to report that this was my very first step into the loose leaf tea world. What a great introduction with the Blood Orange Pu-erh from Samovar! A big thanks to Nelson who recommended this tea. I come from the coffee world (I feel like I’ve just sinned), so I have a very rich and flavorful palette and am expecting that from the tea world.

I would definitely recommend this tea to anyone. For those that are fresh of the boat like myself, this tea is definitely a great starting point. To the smell, I was expecting this tea to be quite strong and have an overpowering orange taste. However, it was completely subdued and wasn’t overpowering at all. I had made a couple cups of this Pu-erh at work and had very focused, mental clarity throughout my day. I’m already looking forward to tomorrow!

I’m still unsure how I’m going to adapt to these tea ratings, so please excuse many ratings that may seem a bit projected as I steep my way in.

I bought a small tin of this tea while I was ordering a second Yixing teapot for the office (Samovar has a very nice one btw). It’s light and the blood orange flavor is strong but not overpowering, though it definitely all but masks the taste of the Pu-erh completely. That probably isn’t a bad thing though, because the overall quality of the actual tea leaves looks fairly low, mostly small broken pieces broken and a lot of fine dust. Still, I have a soft spot for orange flavored tea (I religiously drank orange spice as a kid), so I found this tea enjoyable.

I highly recommend this tea. I’m new to pu-erh, but really enjoyed drinking several pots of Blood Orange at Samovar in San Francisco.