I am a puerh noob, particularly raw. I think I like it, but it is an interesting flavor. It is a bit sweet but also a bit bitter. There is a quality I was having trouble describing, but seeing the other flavors listed here as including menthol, and it makes perfect sense now. I steeped this four times, then got tired of it and wanted to move on to new things. I think that is my biggest challenge with puerh. I love that it can give and give…but I like too much variety to stick with one thing all day. Perhaps I just need more steepers. Hmm…
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I have the same issue with puer – I want to experience the evolution of all the different steeps, but I probably don’t actually want to drink more than 300ml of any one tea at a time.
Maybe I just need a really tiny gaiwan…
That’s what I did/do. Sometimes I just brew it Western or Western/gongfu hybrid and sometimes (not as often) I sit down with smaller gaiwan and have 5 or 6 steeps. Then I put it aside and come back later. Or not. :)
I need a gaiwan in general. I am just really strapped for cash lately haha.
If you’re adventurous you can macgyver something with materials at home – even a coaster and a cup could work. It’s not so fun though. I bought myself a gaiwan without knowing what it was years ago, and received my second from Teavivre as a surprise in a gift. If/when you order online next you can toss one in the cart if you’ve got the funds. Oh, money! :)
@Leah – if you happen to live anywhere near an Asian grocery (or even better, an Asian mall!) try looking in the tea section (the local Asian mall has a little tea shop in it here) and you may be able to find a gaiwan there that’s reasonably priced. I have found gaiwans for $3 and $4 at the little tea shop in the mall.
Thanks for the lead – I am in a pretty whitewashed area, but next time I come across an Asian grocery I will make a point to stop in and check it out :)
I was shocked at how low the prices were! Especially when I bought my gaiwan for $20 bucks. Then again, my gaiwan is one of those easy gaiwans with the little fingertip handles and easy pour spout (which, if you’re going to use a gaiwan frequently, is the best way to go because the eggshell porcelain that is used to make a gaiwan is so thin and I always end up burning my fingers when I use other gaiwans.) But for a first gaiwan, you can’t really go too wrong with a $4 gaiwan, you know?
I have the same issue with puer – I want to experience the evolution of all the different steeps, but I probably don’t actually want to drink more than 300ml of any one tea at a time.
Maybe I just need a really tiny gaiwan…
That’s what I did/do. Sometimes I just brew it Western or Western/gongfu hybrid and sometimes (not as often) I sit down with smaller gaiwan and have 5 or 6 steeps. Then I put it aside and come back later. Or not. :)
I need a gaiwan in general. I am just really strapped for cash lately haha.
If you’re adventurous you can macgyver something with materials at home – even a coaster and a cup could work. It’s not so fun though. I bought myself a gaiwan without knowing what it was years ago, and received my second from Teavivre as a surprise in a gift. If/when you order online next you can toss one in the cart if you’ve got the funds. Oh, money! :)
@Leah – if you happen to live anywhere near an Asian grocery (or even better, an Asian mall!) try looking in the tea section (the local Asian mall has a little tea shop in it here) and you may be able to find a gaiwan there that’s reasonably priced. I have found gaiwans for $3 and $4 at the little tea shop in the mall.
Thanks for the lead – I am in a pretty whitewashed area, but next time I come across an Asian grocery I will make a point to stop in and check it out :)
I was shocked at how low the prices were! Especially when I bought my gaiwan for $20 bucks. Then again, my gaiwan is one of those easy gaiwans with the little fingertip handles and easy pour spout (which, if you’re going to use a gaiwan frequently, is the best way to go because the eggshell porcelain that is used to make a gaiwan is so thin and I always end up burning my fingers when I use other gaiwans.) But for a first gaiwan, you can’t really go too wrong with a $4 gaiwan, you know?