I’d like to announce I have had two pu’erh tastings back to back. I am not going to say cups because I resteeped last night so it was more than one cup. Are you impressed? You should be. But maybe you’ll say last night’s won’t count because it was a sheng.
This morning I woke up early despite being still on staycation. Partner goes to work so naturally I hear moving about and wake up. Then had to go out to run an errand and now I’m back but sleepy! Didn’t want coffee, didn’t want tea. So I thought since I am not in the mood for anything, I’ll just make pu’erh. That way I’m fine with whatever it tastes like because I have no expectation, no craving.
I did everything “right”. I warmed the gaiwan, I put the leaves in the empty but warm vessel, I let them get all happy for a bit, then I added 200F ish water over them. 15 second rinse, then their actual bath for a minute.
I have to say a much as I don’t like the taste of shou pu’erh all that much, I love their color. The dark-red clay colour does it for me. Took a sip and it’s not “oh wow” I’m in love but still, not at all unpleasant. I thought about mj ‘s note from her first pu’erh experience and tried to do the same: adjust my senses for what my tastebuds are about to experience. Leather? Sure. Leather. I wish I could have one word to describe the way pu’erh tastes. I don’t like barn, dirt and mushroom. Because really, it’s neither. It sometimes it’s metallic, like blood, although it’s not that either.
This is great pu’erh folks. It really is. I am grateful to have tried it. I have enough for a few more cups, gallons of it if I resteep.
ETA: holy shit! Pu’erh gods forgive me! I added sugar and vanilla to this on the resteep.( I resteeped with half the water, for 1 minute.) Holy crap, this is amazing. It’s like a different tea. Can I still say I like pu’erh even though I … Modified it?
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No tea police here! Enjoy it any way you want :)
And I get what you are saying… I liked the puerh I had but not in a YUM way
As a chef, if I make a nice steak for someone and they drown it in BBQ sauce I cringe inside. And if it’s a family member, I get vocal about it. I mean, why did I just bother to give you the good stuff? I am sure people feel that way about some tea. I mean, why bother with expensive stuff if you’re just gonna add shit to it to make it taste cheap?!?
You make an excellent point. It is a crime to adulterate good steak! A1 should be banned (and is foul besides)
I taste it both ways. If a tea tastes better to me with an addition then I will drink it that way. I see it as no different than a little salt or other seasonings thrown into your recipe.
K S, I wholeheartedly agree with this point. I do the same with shou except I drink the first steep as is. Then, any subsequent steeps get fixed up, as a reward for making it through steep one.
Nxtdoor – yes! Me too when necessary, but must try straight first. Oh, and I used to always drink the rinse, so I don’t even bother anymore.
Try some chocolate mint in you shou sometime. Yum!
Oh gosh, yes. I think that would be great. I will :)
I modify and drink it how you prefer it. It is all about your preference. It is your cup so I say drink as you like it. I think I am very proud of you doing puerh 2 days in a row!! Smile Smile :) :)
Oh, mrmopar i was so happy with being able to enjoy this finally. Even before the addition. Thanks for the encouragement :)
:) Hope your weekend is good! Rest and relaxation. We are getting poured on with rain forecast for the next 2 days so I am going to kick back and sip along with you.
No tea police here! Enjoy it any way you want :)
And I get what you are saying… I liked the puerh I had but not in a YUM way
As a chef, if I make a nice steak for someone and they drown it in BBQ sauce I cringe inside. And if it’s a family member, I get vocal about it. I mean, why did I just bother to give you the good stuff? I am sure people feel that way about some tea. I mean, why bother with expensive stuff if you’re just gonna add shit to it to make it taste cheap?!?
You make an excellent point. It is a crime to adulterate good steak! A1 should be banned (and is foul besides)
I taste it both ways. If a tea tastes better to me with an addition then I will drink it that way. I see it as no different than a little salt or other seasonings thrown into your recipe.
K S, I wholeheartedly agree with this point. I do the same with shou except I drink the first steep as is. Then, any subsequent steeps get fixed up, as a reward for making it through steep one.
Nxtdoor – yes! Me too when necessary, but must try straight first. Oh, and I used to always drink the rinse, so I don’t even bother anymore.
Try some chocolate mint in you shou sometime. Yum!
Oh gosh, yes. I think that would be great. I will :)
I modify and drink it how you prefer it. It is all about your preference. It is your cup so I say drink as you like it. I think I am very proud of you doing puerh 2 days in a row!! Smile Smile :) :)
Oh, mrmopar i was so happy with being able to enjoy this finally. Even before the addition. Thanks for the encouragement :)
:) Hope your weekend is good! Rest and relaxation. We are getting poured on with rain forecast for the next 2 days so I am going to kick back and sip along with you.