This was my first foray into Numi’s Pu-erh and I wasn’t sure what to expect. When I opened my one pound bag (another good deal), I was surprised by the strong spicy aroma that burst forth. Having a mouth full of sweet teeth, I was hoping that the dominant smell would be chocolate. However, so far the chocolate was missing in action. There also were yellowish chunks of…something…mixed in with the muddy brown leaves.
I steeped the leaves for five minutes at 212 degrees. The brewed color was a very dark amber, close to brown. The aroma that wafted from the pot and cup was full of spice, similar to ginger.
At first sip, the flavor seemed almost like I was drinking liquid potpourri. After a few more gulps from my cup, I kinda, sorta, maybe, tasted very faint accents of chocolate. The one thing I am sure that I did not taste was the expected leathery and earthy presence of Pu-erh.
I also thought that the overall flavor could have been bolder. The taste had no astringency while drinking or afterward.
Give this selection a try if you are in the mood for a Pu-erh tea that doesn’t taste like a Pu-erh tea. If you are craving a strong Pu-erh offering that is bursting with chocolate flavor, you might be a bit disappointed.
Flavors: Chocolate, Spices, Tea
This used to be one of my favorite tea bag type teas. It was more of a ‘pu erh lite’ but with a good, long steep it was most satisfying with milk. I just repurchased a box after being out of it for a few years and the ingredients have changed-and (to me) not for the better. Numi has added rooibos and honeybush and the tea base is about as much pu erh as I am a prima ballerina. I gave the latest box to a friend who will drink anything and won’t repurchase.
It’s a shame when companies change a recipe you’re fond of! I’ve had that happen a few times ):
“Puerh lite” sounds up my alley, as “puerh proper” has never been my cup of tea. “Rooibos-posing-as-puerh” sounds much less appealing.
Mastress Alita I am not a fan of pu erh at all. The original version of this tea brewed up with good body and taste. It had no fishiness, swamp or dirt taste. This rooibos crap tastes like liquid cardboard to me. Granted, I detest rooibos and honeybush, so consider that. More than anything, I am vexed with myself for not reading the ingredients before repurchasing. This used to be an old reliable, lazy cuppa, no thought stand by for me for many years.
I don’t think I’ve ever had a puerh that didn’t taste like swamp or dirt, so now I’m really sad I missed out, heh.
Numi used to have a mint basil puerh that I liked a lot. They stopped making it and I have come up with my own mint puerh concoction as a substitute. It’s soothing on the tummy.
Oh, Michelle-yes, I remember that one. Numi had several iterations of pu erh back in the day. I was living in the East Bay of CA then and used to buy them at Berkeley Bowl. Numi started as a small business in Oakland-a brother and sister venture. Later they branched out to a cafe space near the Oakland Embarcadero. I think they had a Cardamom Pu Erh as well as the Mint, the Chocolate, the Emperor’s and at least one other one which escapes me at the moment or else is one that I am just imagining. I do know they also sold pu erh in pressed, break apart rectangles, kind of like chocolate bars. I bought them a few times. They brewed up dark and strong, pleasant to drink but not really pu erh-ish, or any pu erh that I was used to.