Chocolate Chai Pu Erh

This was handed off to my mom, it didn’t do it for me. I’m not sure what it was but it tasted like burnt chocolate, like when you melt it in the microwave for too long with a hint of spice.

Day 4 of 2022 Advent Calendar. Nothing wrong with it but just not strong enough for me

Turns out I had more to try and make it stronger and I now love this tea and can’t wait to get more

Adventaggedon Day Four – 4/5

This was an alright tea, but obviously not a favourite of mine. I’m kind of getting just a little bit impatient waiting for something to pop up from this advent that’s a bit more overtly festive in nature – but I totally get that this _is_a more wintery profile even if it’s not a Christmas-y one.

The dry leaf smelled so much like cola to me, and that I think tainted a bit of my impression from the get go. Steeped up I thought this was smooth enough with a pleasant body and foundation of gentle earthiness from the pu’erh base. Of the spices, ginger was the most prominent to me but it also still tasted like cola to me and that was just strange. My brother used to mix instant chocolate milk syrup and cola together when we were kids, and I always thought it was pretty gross – but he loved it. I hadn’t thought about that in a very, very long time so (if nothing else) I’m grateful for the hit of nostalgia and this tea returning a fond memory of my brother to me.

It got better as it cooled and more of the chocolate notes started to come through. Not a rich and creamy milk chocolate, but more of a raw cacao/cocoa powder kind of vibe. Sometimes I like chocolate and ginger and sometimes I don’t, but I thought this was a nice balance/ratio. Still, just a hint of cola. Couldn’t get past that.

Today’s Advent Photos: https://www.instagram.com/p/ClwxRN7O-LO/

Song Pairing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=satAqbkC80Y

I drank this with a Pan au Chocolate and it was divine! The Flavors are so well balanced in the mouth, nothing fought for attention or stuck out. So smooth in the mouth and on the nose.

Steep:
212°F
5 min
Metal Strainer

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: cardamom and ginger
Steeped Tea Smell: earthy, peppery
Flavor: cinnamon, pepper, bakey, earthy
Liquor: translucent light brown orange

Post-Steep Additives: added a bit of sugar and milk

Comments: lovey cup of (spiced) chai – a good wake up cup

Resteep:
6-7min
smell: chocolate, earthy
taste: cinnamon, earthy, lighter

won’t handle a 3rd steep

adding a bit of sweetener and milk

Rating: 3/4 leaves

Leaf system:
1=Bleh! not again if it were free
2=Acceptable, if it were free or there were limited other tea options
3=I might purchase this tea from time to time, or select it while out
4=A staple in our cupboard from now on, I will purchase and keep purchasing

YouTube
opening the calendar – https://youtu.be/psbImMXoNwA
first steep – https://youtu.be/BycmwE2uWW4

TikTok
opening the calendar – https://www.tiktok.com/circuitswan/video/7148804222568484138 first steep - https://www.tiktok.com/circuitswan/video/7148807269247962410

Twitter – https://twitter.com/CircuitSwan/status/1575507053405425664

Blog Post – https://amazonv.blogspot.com/2022/09/adagio-teas-loose-leaf-puerh-tea.html

Statement of Sponsorship or Advertisement:
I received this product for free in return for writing a review.

Disclaimer:
All my reviews are as unbiased as possible, whether I buy or receive free product. I accept no other compensation other than free product.

There is a very, very unpleasant smell to both the dry mix and the brewed tea. I won’t sugarcoat it; it stinks like urine. Urine mixed with chai spices, if you can imagine such a thing. This is pretty much the only reason I’m rating it as low as I am.

The taste is actually pretty good if you ignore the horrid smell and don’t oversteep. It’s chocolatey and spicy, smoother than the standard chocolate chai Adagio offers. I find it’s best if you use a teaspoon and a half, and stick to near-boiling water. Three minute steep, since at the recommended five the ginger overpowers everything else.

But that pee smell, ugh. It doesn’t exactly entice me to restock after finishing my sample.