90

Really good! Received this as a free sample with a recent order in early 2021. The dry leaves separated easily and still had a dark green color. Rinsed 5 sec under hot tap water then 5 sec with boiling water. Used an unglazed Yixing clay teapot dedicated to raw Puer. Brewed up to a deep golden liquor with vanilla notes in the first few steepings, pleasantly brisk, floral, sweet, rich, chewy and complex. Not smokey, absolutely no fishiness or hints of earth or compost. By steep #5 the large leaves had fully expanded to their deep green glory revealing also some large stems. Vanilla aroma in the first steep only, after which the aroma was pretty flat. On steep #6 I’m still enjoying the now slightly floral taste and briskness (astringency) with something else—tobacco?. Supporting the claim of being from wild trees, there is no discernable assamic character. But I’ve noticed a lingering very nice molasses-like flavor on the back of my tongue. Steepings have gradually lengthened, and #7 went on for ~3 min. and was still quite flavorful. I think I may invest in a cake or two of this one!

Preparation
Boiling 0 min, 30 sec 4 g 4 OZ / 120 ML

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Left-coast reared (on Bigelow’s Constant Comment and Twinings’ Earl Grey) and right-coast educated, I’ve used this moniker (and Email) since the glory days of AOL in the 90’s, reflecting two of my lifelong loves—tea and ‘Trek. Now a midwestern science guy (right down to the Hawaiian shirts), I’m finally broadening the scope of my sippage and getting into all sorts of Assamicas, from mainstream Assam CTCs to Taiwan blacks & TRES varietals, to varied Pu’erhs. With some other stuff tossed in for fun. Love reading other folks’ tasting notes (thank you), I’ve lurked here from time to time and am now adding a few notes of my own to better appreciate the experience. You can keep the rooibos LoL!
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Photo with Aromatic Bamboo Species Raw Pu-erh Tea “Xiang Zhu” by Yunnan Sourcing, which is most definitely aromatic!

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Chicagoland-USA

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