Camel's Breath

This is something else that comes from the bulk bin at my local Whole Foods – I guess I am lucky since it seems like other people don’t have these different companies at their local W.F.

I am having a stomach upset so it seems like a good time for shu. I ate something really garlic-y and the tummy is not happy! This is one reason I started drinking shu pu-erh about a year ago. It does seem to help with heartburn & indigestion.

I thought this smelled a bit fishy so I did give it a quick rinse in boiling water and then steeped it for 3 minutes in a tetsubin. I am already feeling too lazy for more gong fu style tea brewings today.

This is very dark and smooth, and yes it does remind me of dirt but it is also very satisfying and relaxing. No camphor here. Lots of earthy flavors, a bit mushroomy. It also is not as gritty as some tuo chas I’ve had. I liked it pretty well, not doing backflips but will probably get some more of these when I run out, they are not that expensive and great for the office too.

EW…backlog from last night.

This smelled alright dry, then I poured water over it and immediately it smelled like I was having dead fish shoved up my nose. I’ve never really noticed “fishy” smells to puerh, soooo I guess I’ve been pretty lucky. Something called Camel’s Breath probably should never be consumed. EVER.

I tasted it, which was a horrible move. It tasted bitter and quite honestly like what I would imagine dead fish and camel dung taste like together.

So threw it out, and went to rinse the infuser. One of my friends was two rooms down from the kitchen and asked why the house suddenly smelled like dead fish.

Please, save yourself and your friends, and never buy something called Camel’s Breath. It’s as horrid as it sounds.

P.S. – my infuser has been washed 4 times and soaked in baking powder/vinegar for a few hours and it still smells like death.

An OK mini tuocha, it can be steeped multiple times and it doesn’t go bitter. You can get better puerh for just a bit more. Compared to the ‘Original’ Camel’s Breath form Phoenix Collection is nothing but the shadow of the original.