I had this Pu-erh yesterday, was about to write a tasting note on it, and got distracted. So, I am enjoying more today. Dry leaf does not have much aroma, but while brewing and the liquor is quite earthy, which kind of scared me. The first sip is earthy… but it quickly subsides and becomes rather sweet and pleasant. After that, the earthiness is right at the start of the sip, but again, it quickly disappears and makes way for a beautiful sweetness. It’s remarkably light for a Pu-erh. It’s a lovely surprise. My first reaction was that I probably wasn’t going to like it because of that strong earthiness right at the start, but, as it turns out, I like it quite a bit.
First 2 infusions (following a quick double rinse): earthy at the start, followed by a lovely sweetness and a light, crisp taste. In my full-length review of this tea (which will publish in the next week or so), I likened it to honey that had been thinned with sparkling white grape juice. It has that crisp, sparkling kind of sensation, and the sweet fruity taste.
The next two infusions were sweeter and there was some earthiness, but, less than the first cup. It is off in the distance, becoming a memory more than a prominent flavor. A spice profile is developing, in the aftertaste especially, I get a sort of tingle on my tongue that reminds me of the sensation of when I’ve just eaten something with fresh peppercorn. It isn’t a spicy or hot sensation, but that tingle is there.
The next two infusions: the earthiness is now gone. Sweet sweet sweet! Rock candy sweet. There is a dry sensation toward the finish… not astringency, but, kind of like the dry sensation of powdered cocoa but without the chocolate… it is more like powdered, mild spice. Intriguing.
This is a great pu-erh – I’d recommend it to those who have tried Pu-erh in the past and thought they didn’t like it. I think that this one would change their mind. It’s really a unique Pu-erh.
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Very good review. I did have my day of pu-erh day before last; I went back to those samplers I received from Jerry Ma and this one was Jing Mai; a very raw pu-erh. I steeped it for five minutes and drinked it most hot and the earthiness is very pungent as the liquid burned my tongue and throat…eventually to settling for those elemental notes (I so like) found in the supplements of zinc or iron.
Steeped longer causes more earthiness and the more infusions brings out the lightness of the pu-erh so one can just enjoy the elements…perhaps peppercorn even and no astringency at all.
These samplers of pu-erh have all been very good. Always I drink them down to the last bit and can even add my green tea bag for final infusion. But don’t tell anyone. Shhhhhhhhhhhh.
I did add this to my wish list as well. Thank you.
Very good review. I did have my day of pu-erh day before last; I went back to those samplers I received from Jerry Ma and this one was Jing Mai; a very raw pu-erh. I steeped it for five minutes and drinked it most hot and the earthiness is very pungent as the liquid burned my tongue and throat…eventually to settling for those elemental notes (I so like) found in the supplements of zinc or iron.
Steeped longer causes more earthiness and the more infusions brings out the lightness of the pu-erh so one can just enjoy the elements…perhaps peppercorn even and no astringency at all.
These samplers of pu-erh have all been very good. Always I drink them down to the last bit and can even add my green tea bag for final infusion. But don’t tell anyone. Shhhhhhhhhhhh.
I did add this to my wish list as well. Thank you.