My first experience with Pu-er tea. Great flavor, very earthy, and it gets a BUNCH of infusions! My Chinese friend says the taste reminds him of his trip to the Yunan province =) This is supposedly a very healthy tea. It’s supposed to help lower cholesterol levels.
Pu-er Tuo Cha
Native Name: Xiao Tuo Cha
Origin: Yunnan Province, China
Introduction: Made from the large leaf ‘Dayeh’ tea plant varietal, that is better known as Camellia Sinensis ‘Assamica’. The Tuocha refers to a family of bowl shaped teas, commonly available as Green tea Tuocha, Black tea Tuocha and Puer Tuocha.
In making the Puer Tuocha, more mature leaves of the tea plant are selected in summer, sun-dried, steamed, and then shaped into small bowls. The process of shaping of the leaves has changed over the years from ‘old-style’ wooden molds or hand pressing, to more mechanized and automated steps. The leaves are processed with a fair amount of moisture so as to allow a natural fermentation to occur and darken their color. Some tea processors will let the leaves undergo this fermentation for a month to achieve the desired flavor. Individually wrapped with paper, the Tuocha are an ideal size (3 grams) for individual serving.
Flavor Profile: Mini Puer Tuocha has a characteristic full-bodied and earthy flavor. Can endure long steeping times without gaining any astringency and can be re-infused at least three times.
