TeaEarleGreyHot Send Message

I bought these raw puer balls with my last order from BTTC just to try it. And yesterday I tried it. Said to be a 2015, I don’t doubt its youth—now at 9 yrs. Physically, the material consists of whole tips (2 leaves and bud) carefully rolled into a ball slightly smaller than a ping-pong ball, weighing about 9g each. I used a whole ball and steeped sequentially in 8oz boiling alpine spring water for 30 sec after a quick rinse with the same water. The tea rapidly loosened, with free leaves after the 2nd steep. Their color was an olive green with brown streaks, looking very appealing. The aroma was sharp and slightly smoky. The taste, however almost made my mouth pucker! Not sour, but very astringent and bitter. Vegetal, tannic and harsh, and so rough on my throat that I couldn’t speak well after the second cup! As if my vocal chords seized up, like happens after a coughing fit. Third steeping was the same, and was the last I could tolerate. These “dragon balls” won’ be fit to drink for another 20 years at least. And I will have no interest in them by then, so they are up for adoption. My voice gradually recovered overnight. If this type of tea is to your taste, they are still for sale on the BTTC site also.