Wish I had read SANSNIPPLE’s note before trying this tea. It is indeed a bit unruly with its tackiness and pungency. But I put mine away in the cupboard as well and it did mellow some in the drying.
Brewing was another mess all together. Used my yixing pot, chaulk one up for naivete. Water at 200F and rinsed 5 grams of tea. I was able to get a nice chunk of tea from this small brick so I was not surprised when I rinsed and the color was a nice light brick. Then came the first steep which was as soon as the water filled the pot I poured. Mud, mud, mud. Smelled like mud, looked like mud, tasted like mud. If I only read the review first. But no, I drank the first steep anyway, yuck. Then it dawned on me to check the review, wait for it, ohhhh I should have rinsed it a few times, duh. Did three more rinses and the soup is still a dark brick colour, but no longer tastes of mud, and it does have a faint sweetness added to the traditional pu ehr flavors. I can now discern the flavors of the chrysanthemum versus the tea and I’m feeling a bit better about this unruly brick of pu erh.
Lol!