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Got this one as a sample. It was roasty and smooth, not anything to make it stand out from other Wuyi Oolongs. I bet this would go well with grandpa style brewing. I might stick with big red robe which is usually my Oolong of choice and was in my order from Mandala. This tea was just ok for me. The third steep was a lot less flavorful than the first two.

This was my first order from SF Herb Co. and I was amazed at their low price per pound, and a bit dismayed at the shipping charge. This is not a company to be getting samples from, their minimum sizes are 1/2 pound or a pound. I was looking for some cheap drinkable tea as I have calculated in my head that I drink upwards of 10 pounds of tea a year and would like to lower my overall tea cost but still buy new or favorite types of expensive tea.
This Keemun is just ok. I expect a Keemun to be velvety, chocolate, hopefully with other flavors too, and there are hints of this in the first steep(western brew), but any cocoa taste is long gone by the second steep. I find myself using twice the leaf I normally use, and still I don’t get a lot of flavor in this one, and the second steep is more astringent than any particular flavor.
I am glad I tried this Keemun, I did get a whole pound of it, so I may end up blending with other tea or herbs to make it more palatable.

So I thought I had done a good job of sipping down my teas before I moved to Wyoming, but I found an unopened 100g bag of this today. Like finding an Easter egg! I have never thought I needed a tea inventory spread sheet, but now I’m reconsidering. But maybe that takes the fun out of finding and old/new tea in your cupboard (or bin).
It tastes like velvety cocoa with honey undertones, I think I will like drinking the rest of this tea. There is a bit of a coppery metallic aftertaste, but it’s not unpleasant. It’s certainly smooth enough for keeping for special occasions, and to me seems a cup to savor or try gong fu.
I don’t see it available on the Vahdam web site, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they will never sell it again :)

This is not a subtle or in your face smokiness, but a very balanced in between. This one is a great candidate for grandpa style brewing as I’ve never gotten any bitterness from brewing too long or too strong. I don’t get a whole lot of maltyness, I was surprised it was an Assam. It is a mild, smooth, smoky cup of tea. Maybe even a good introduction tea to those who think all tea is strong and bitter.

This is a good tea to introduce coffee lovers to tea. It has enough caffeine kick for coffee lovers and is smoother than most coffee, I think. I like the hints of vanilla, and coco. I find myself reaching for this tea when I need a jolt in the morning.

Another sample from the Beginners puerh box. The first three steps were lovely, smooth tobacco smoke flavor, no bitterness. If Lapsong is like campfire smoke, this is your grandfathers soothing pipe smoke. Subsequent steeps had too much bitterness that overwhelmed the dwindling smoky taste. I’ve added this to my wish list because I am wondering how it will age in the next 5-10 years.

It’s flooding today in Houston, so I am working from home and brewing up some tea from the Beginner’s Puerh box. This one is creamy with hints of vanilla. Definitely earthy, but that’s what makes it tasty! Not the best ripe I’ve ever had, but certainly one to keep in mind.

This is a very smooth oolong, no bitterness at all. I am guessing that it would still taste good if over steeped, and it’s a good candidate for grampa style brewing. I’m getting malty cinnamon drizzled with honey. This would be a great afternoon treat, or a tea to share with folks who don’t like bitter tea.

The leaves in this tea were huge, it seemed to me, once they opened. I brewed this gong fu the first several steeps (maybe 5, I lost count), and thought there was a bit of an earthy medicinal taste to these steeps. Still rich and smooth, but with an after taste. Then I put the large leaves in my go cup and steeped for 20 minutes on the way to work (removed the leaves when I got there, I’ll see if there is another steep in them yet). Is this a different tea? Now it is mellow with a smoky campfire note at the end. I’ve had this kind of different brew experience with one other puerh when I brewed it grandpa style in a different go cup.

I picked up a bag of this at the Houston Tea Festival last weekend. It reminds me of yellow tea, or maybe nettle leaf with more of a caffeine kick. This light roast is toasty, grassy, and tastes like sweet hay. A bit of a nutty caramel aftertaste at the end too. I think there might be too much caffeine for me, but I might try blending this with nettle, hojicha, or maybe cinnamon.