I always go for a lucky draw with the pu-ehrs.
This time the winner is… Kuding – raw. Kinda glad cuz raw’s ones are usually more drinkable.
Rinsed it twice and trying a short (25s) steep. Color is dark yellow and smells pu-ehry but way less than ripe ones.
Before trying it first a google lesson on Kuding:
Kuding tea (Chinese: 苦丁茶; pinyin: kǔdīng chá; literally “bitter nail tea”) is a particularly bitter-tasting Chinese tisane which due to their similarities in appearance is derived from several plant species.Two most common plants used to make Ku Ding tea, being the wax tree species Ligustrum robustum and the holly species Ilex kudingcha plant, the former being more commonly grown in Sichuan and Japan while the latter is most commonly grown and used in the rest of China.
So should expect bitter. Let’s see…
Indeed quite bitter pu ehr. I’m kinda starting to like the pu-ehr taste itself more than i did. Don’t think i could drink a lot of it but in small amounts it even suites me right now. I’m pretty sure i’ll find a pu-ehr that i enjoy drinking. Got some coming in from Life In Teacup. Maybe just maybe those will be the ones.
This one might be the best one from these samples so far. Even tho it’s bitter and bitter i generally don’t like. Raw is better than ripe for me – that i’m sure of…
Steeped the 2nd round longer – over a minute – and its even better. Bit darker now. Not so much stronger – more like smoother.
Pics (bit noisy cuz its dark in here):
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l188/malomorgen/Teas/kuding2.jpg
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l188/malomorgen/Teas/kuding1.jpg
