Hoo boy, this tea was strong! I steeped it over 10 times last night in a gaiwan, it was a great learning experience for me. This was my first shu pu’erh tea, so I was going in a little blind. When I took my first sip my first reaction was SUPER EARTHY. At first, the intensity of the earthy flavor was very overpowering and intense. Don’t get me wrong, it was highly enjoyable, I had simply never experienced this type of tea before. As the steepings moved forward, it mellowed out a bit and some new flavor began to peak out from behind the earthiness. The most evident flavor note to me tasted similar to a REALLY dark chocolate. It was a subtle bitterness similar to dark chocolate, yet the tea remained creamy and tasty. Overall, I truly enjoyed my first shu pu-erh experience, and I can’t wait to break some more of this tea out soon!
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Originally stated that it was a sheng, but I had the terminology mixed up (I’m still a noobie to tea) Sorry folks!
Hi Clint!! Thanks for writing up your experience with the PCII! Just wanted to clarify that this cake is a shu (a.k.a. ripe, black, cooked) pu’er not a sheng.
I’ve been brewing this one up quite a lot lately as the tea has really opened up since being steamed and pressed a year ago. I typically do do 5 second rinses with boiling water. Then my first two steeps of 15 to 20 seconds combine in a sharing pitcher and I enjoy those. The time will depend on what I’m going for as far as strength and how much leaf I have loaded the pot/gaiwan with. Then I just cruise from there, slowly adjusting the steep times upward.
I’m glad you get the chocolate in this one too as I get that, for sure. Also leather makes itself quite known in this one. Did you find that?
Grateful,
Garret
Funny! Our replies happened at the same time!!
Sorry for that mistake Garret! I am still pretty new to tea (compared to most), so I got my terms all mixed up, haha. Anywho, now that you put a description to the flavor, I did taste that. I had a hard time identifying the flavors (a skill I am working on), so I’m glad you pointed that out. I will also try out your steeping method for the next time! My steepings were typically around 30 seconds, but I did forget to rinse it. It was a great learning experience for me though. This was my first time sitting down and doing that many steepings in one sitting, and I truly enjoyed it!
Also, I can’t wait to try out all of the samples that you provided. Especially in my new tea thermos! Wooo!
Thanks you for providing me with many valuable tea experiences, it is truly appreciated!
Originally stated that it was a sheng, but I had the terminology mixed up (I’m still a noobie to tea) Sorry folks!
Hi Clint!! Thanks for writing up your experience with the PCII! Just wanted to clarify that this cake is a shu (a.k.a. ripe, black, cooked) pu’er not a sheng.
I’ve been brewing this one up quite a lot lately as the tea has really opened up since being steamed and pressed a year ago. I typically do do 5 second rinses with boiling water. Then my first two steeps of 15 to 20 seconds combine in a sharing pitcher and I enjoy those. The time will depend on what I’m going for as far as strength and how much leaf I have loaded the pot/gaiwan with. Then I just cruise from there, slowly adjusting the steep times upward.
I’m glad you get the chocolate in this one too as I get that, for sure. Also leather makes itself quite known in this one. Did you find that?
Grateful,
Garret
Funny! Our replies happened at the same time!!
Sorry for that mistake Garret! I am still pretty new to tea (compared to most), so I got my terms all mixed up, haha. Anywho, now that you put a description to the flavor, I did taste that. I had a hard time identifying the flavors (a skill I am working on), so I’m glad you pointed that out. I will also try out your steeping method for the next time! My steepings were typically around 30 seconds, but I did forget to rinse it. It was a great learning experience for me though. This was my first time sitting down and doing that many steepings in one sitting, and I truly enjoyed it!
Also, I can’t wait to try out all of the samples that you provided. Especially in my new tea thermos! Wooo!
Thanks you for providing me with many valuable tea experiences, it is truly appreciated!