91

A little over a week ago, I was sitting here at my desk wondering what’s a good break-up puer? A quick search through my cupboard produced this marketing gem. I dedicate this tea to the person whose addiction to alcohol rivals my own addiction to tea. As far as I’m aware, tea is much cheaper, can get me social and buzzed, doesn’t leave me hungover and doesn’t swing me from Dr. Jekyll to Mr. Hyde. Nor does it make me fat, turn my eyes yellow, give me gout in the foot or an irregular heartbeat. I could keep going, oh yes, but I think you get the idea. So yeah, if you’re reading this it’s too late.

The dry leaf pries from the cake without much work using my flathead electronics screwdriver and smells excellent, soft with powdered sugar, fruitiness and young grass. Warmed leaf smells kind of medicinal like cherry, pineapple and mint. The rinsed leaf has notes of apricot, powdered sugar, red cherry, candied apple and citrus fruits. The liquor starts off fragrant with an aroma that reminds me of Christmas candles: cherry, pine and beeswax.

The liquor is nice and thick with tastes of cherry, vegetal, honey, minerals and a non-penetrating alkaline bitterness. The tea remains relatively unchanging, lightening in flavor and texture as steeps progress with metallic, medicinal and tart additions along with some moss. It picks up a little in the last few long steeps with a thick, musty honey showing up. The aftertastes range from cotton candy, red plum and faint flat spearmint to cherry-pineapple, herbs and honey butter, never very strong or long-lasting but nevertheless noticeable. At some point early on, there is a faint cooling sensation in my chest.

Unlike a lot of reviewers, I experience minimal cha qi from this tea, which makes it an excellent, slightly relaxing daily drinker for me. I also don’t experience much in the way of caffeine effects. I’m able to drink it at night and still be passed out a few hours after starting a session which doesn’t last long, maybe 12 steeps.

From what I can tell, the spent material reveals that this is not a blend. It’s getting bronzing but still looks young at the end of 2018. I’d like to put the cake under a little more humidity. As of now it’s stored in a box in the hall closet which is the most insulated area of my home. It also gets the steam from the bathroom but that’s as technical as my pu storage gets at the moment.

I bought this cake blind last year? based on reviews here at Steepster. It turns out the flavor profile is right up my alley and the honey isn’t overwhelming. I don’t experience any astringency and the bitterness stays in check. It’s pretty light in taste but I’m still able to pick out distinct notes. It’s turning out to be a good cake for the price. One that is stable in delivery and that I can count on during this grieving period, lol.

Flavors: Apricot, Bitter, Butter, Candied Apple, Cherry, Citrus Fruits, Cotton Candy, Fruity, Grass, Herbs, Honey, Medicinal, Metallic, Mineral, Musty, Pine, Pineapple, Pleasantly Sour, Plum, Powdered Sugar, Spearmint, Vegetal

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 7 g 3 OZ / 100 ML
Togo

Nice! I need to wait for my sample to acclimatize first, but I am excited to try it out soon.

Kawaii433

I ordered a cake of this based on this wonderful review and Togo’s input too. Can’t wait to get it, it was shipped awhile ago so I should receive it soon.

derk

Eep, that’s some pressure, Kawaii433, but I guess I should expect that on a tea review site. I hope you enjoy it.

Kawaii433

hehe no pressure derk. The only tea that I couldn’t make it through is some Yogi tea haha. I do appreciate your gift/experience and I can always send it over to you if I don’t like it. ^^

Kawaii433

Having said that, I don’t have the gift of being able to figure out what I taste like you and others have… So please take that in consideration when you read my reviews. :D :P

derk

I’m obviously hoping it doesn’t come down to you not liking the tea, but if that’s the case, forward it to somebody else who might be interested as I have plenty. Also, I appreciate all manners and styles of reviews on this site, so no worries. I don’t base the teas I put in my Steepster wishlist based solely on somebody’s ability as a taster but rather as a whole picture and the mood conveyed.

I’m always learning, myself.

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Comments

Togo

Nice! I need to wait for my sample to acclimatize first, but I am excited to try it out soon.

Kawaii433

I ordered a cake of this based on this wonderful review and Togo’s input too. Can’t wait to get it, it was shipped awhile ago so I should receive it soon.

derk

Eep, that’s some pressure, Kawaii433, but I guess I should expect that on a tea review site. I hope you enjoy it.

Kawaii433

hehe no pressure derk. The only tea that I couldn’t make it through is some Yogi tea haha. I do appreciate your gift/experience and I can always send it over to you if I don’t like it. ^^

Kawaii433

Having said that, I don’t have the gift of being able to figure out what I taste like you and others have… So please take that in consideration when you read my reviews. :D :P

derk

I’m obviously hoping it doesn’t come down to you not liking the tea, but if that’s the case, forward it to somebody else who might be interested as I have plenty. Also, I appreciate all manners and styles of reviews on this site, so no worries. I don’t base the teas I put in my Steepster wishlist based solely on somebody’s ability as a taster but rather as a whole picture and the mood conveyed.

I’m always learning, myself.

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Profile

Bio

This place, like the rest of the internet, is dead and overrun with bots. And thus I step away.

Eventual tea farmer. If you are a tea grower, want to grow your own plants or are simply curious, please follow me so we can chat.

I most enjoy loose-leaf, unflavored teas and tisanes. Teabags have their place. Some of my favorite teas have a profound effect on mind and body rather than having a specific flavor profile. Terpene fiend.

Favorite teas generally come from China (all provinces), Taiwan, India (Nilgiri and Manipur). Frequently enjoyed though less sipped are teas from Georgia, Japan, Nepal and Darjeeling. While I’m not actively on the hunt, a goal of mine is to try tea from every country that makes it available to the North American market. This is to gain a vague understanding of how Camellia sinensis performs in different climates. I realize that borders are arbitrary and some countries are huge with many climates and tea-growing regions.

I’m convinced European countries make the best herbal teas.

Personal Rating Scale:

100-90: A tea I can lose myself into. Something about it makes me slow down and appreciate not only the tea but all of life or a moment in time. If it’s a bagged or herbal tea, it’s of standout quality in comparison to similar items.

89-80: Fits my profile well enough to buy again.

79-70: Not a preferred tea. I might buy more or try a different harvest. Would gladly have a cup if offered.

69-60: Not necessarily a bad tea but one that I won’t buy again. Would have a cup if offered.

59-1: Lacking several elements, strangely clunky, possess off flavors/aroma/texture or something about it makes me not want to finish.

Unrated: Haven’t made up my mind or some other reason. If it’s pu’er, I likely think it needs more age.

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Location

California, USA

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