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looseTman drank Puerh Loose Leaf by Zen Tea Life

139 tasting notes

Backlog 3/18/14:
This afternoon, courtesy of Kenneth & Zen Tea Life, I brewed Puerh Loose Leaf Gongfu style: 6 oz. / 1 heaping tsp (3.3g) / 203*F / 50s, 1 & 2 min. without sweeteners, milk, or cream.

Note: This sample is from Zen Tea Life’s previous Puerh Loose Leaf, not their currently available “Puerh Loose Leaf Organic” – http://zentealife.com/tea/type/chai-puerh.html

Leaf: Thick, dark chocolate brown of various lengths up to 2.2 cm
Fragrance: Compost / barn environment
Liquor: Clear rosey copper
Aroma: Peat moss
Flavor:
50 sec.: Clear, clean, pleasant, light to medium-bodied and smooth without any off-putting strong flavors, astringency, or bitterness.

1-min.: Darker rose-tinted copper with the same flavor profile that provided a medium-bodied earthiness.

2-min.: Slightly lighter bodied.

3/25/14: Gongfu style: 6 oz. / 10 g / 203*F / 50s, 1 & 2 min.
Mrmopar suggested I increase the leaf to 10 grams for shou puerh. The increased leaf provided a much fuller-bodied and much more enjoyable aged puerh. However, as a novice puerh tea drinker, it didn’t occur to me at the time to decrease the brewing times accordingly. As a result, this gong fu session was a little too strong.

Impression: An enjoyable, smooth, earthy, aged pu-erh without any astringency, bitterness, or off-putting flavors.

Thanks to Kenneth & Zen Tea Life for this gracious sample.

Method:
RO water re-mineralized with an Aptera filter http://steepster.com/teas/teaware/39532-puregen-aptera-alkamag-water-filter
http://steepster.com/teaware/teavana/39311-perfect-tea-spoon
http://steepster.com/teas/teaware/37731-my-weigh-durascale-d2-660-digital-scale
Brewed gongfu-style
http://steepster.com/teaware/butiki-teas/39240-flower-gaiwan
http://steepster.com/teas/davidstea/36677-thermometer-and-timer
http://thumbs1.ebaystatic.com/d/l225/m/m7U_-XkLDGw6vqi0oOJrD1g.jpg
with http://steepster.com/teas/teaware/29177-finum-brewing-basket placed in the pitcher
http://steepster.com/teas/teaware/39708-teavivre-double-wall-glass-tea-cups

Preparation

6 OZ / 177 ML

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My wife and I enjoy shou that:
- is Full-bodied, thick, rich, creamy smooth
- produces a full-mouth feeling with a long pleasing finish
- w/o obvious acidity, astringency, or bitterness
- Retains this profile & is complex enough to enjoy for multiple steeps

Notes of interest:
- natural rich chocolate (as opposed to too bittersweet cocoa)
- honey, caramel, stone fruits, sweet potato, barley, fresh baked bread

Notes not of interest: Floral, vegetal, woody.

Cost-effective organic teas or teas that meet the EU Food Safety Commission Pesticide Maximum Residue Limit EUROFINS are greatly appreciated. Many people drink tea for the anti-oxidant health benefits. So why would health conscious tea lovers drink tea that contains pesticide residues?

Complete steeping instructions on the bag are greatly appreciated:
tsp. (g) / oz. / temp. / rinse? / min. for both Western & Gongfu brewing.

Our recent orders have been from: Yunnan Sourcing, King Tea Mall, Whispering Pines, & Arbor Teas. Kudos to them as they have all been extremely helpful.

Our cupboard doesn’t include the many greatly appreciated samples generously provided by Steepsters’s favorite tea suppliers and by several very kind Steepster members.

Current Gogng Fu Brewing Method:
20g / 6 oz / 205° / 60s preheat / 60s warm leaves / 5s rinse / 5 min rest / 5s / 5 / 7 / 10 / 15 / 20 / 25 /30 / 45 / 60. Every two steeps combined in a sharing pitcher.

High quality water is essential for excellent tasting tea.
Our 450’ well provides hard water. For details see: http://steepster.com/looseTman/posts/176233#comments.

Solutions:
#1. Rainsoft water softener with
Q2 computerized control valve

#2. Abundant Flow Water
Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water System with an Impact Alkaline re-mineralization filter
Model: Zeta RO: https://www.afwfilters.com/drinking-ro-systems/6-stage-alkaline-zoi-zeta-reverse-osmosis-system-16.html
Includes:
- Dow Filmtec TFC R.O. membrane
- Omnipure Inline Post filter
- Impact Alkaline Filter
All filters made in USA & NSF-Certified.
-———————————
Options:
- Aquatec ERP-500 & ASV 2000
- 3/8" Output
- HM Digital DM-2 TDS meter

My profile picture is a Red-Breasted Nuthatch, a winter visitor to our woodpecker feeder.

Location

Mid-Atlantic, USA

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