90
drank Naked Pu-erh by Tealux
1040 tasting notes

My first plain (unflavored) pu-erh. Smells ok in the bag, a bit musty, a bit smokey, nothing too offensive. I gave it a quick rinse (sorry couldn’t bring myself to try it), all I smelled was dirty socks and fishy. Ewwwww, at this point I was thinking, people drink this stuff. Let it steep for about a minute – less than what was recommended on the package. As it was steeping, it lost a lot of that “offensive” dirty sock smell.
First sip – initial impression, wow is this weird/strange/unusual. It’s definitely musty, woody, maybe a hit fishy still, but I like it. I am very worried that I am going to need some serious pu-erh lessons (should hide the credit card worried). I’m not going to rate this until I’ve tried the next steep, but I think I am going to be a HUGE Pu-erh fan!!!

Second Steep……Mmmmmm, this is really good. I really don’t know a good pu-erh from an ok one. For a beginner like me this was great, a bit of a rocky start, but I just didn’t know what to expect. The fishy was totally gone on the second steep – maybe I didn’t rinse it enough that I got a little bit in the first steep. I’m rating this really high, it is so unusual, yet so comforting that I am really excited to try it again, and to try other Tealux Pu-erhs that I have samples of.

My Friend Rashad

Try a sheng (raw) puerh from Verdant. What you have there is a shu (ripe) puerh, with shu puerh you run the risk of that fishy compost smell that reminds me of shiritaki noodles. They aren’t all like that but, well, good luck. Buy samples not ounces.

Dexter

I’m just in shock at how fast this went from ewww, as the first rinse water hit the leaves, to wow is this strange, to I think I’m going to like it.
LOL I understand what you are saying, about trying others, I’m really intimated by Pu-erh, seems there are thousands to try. I’m going to be a pu-erh fan, just not sure how much the credit card is going to like the exploration. Agreed, buy small amounts until I learn what I like.

My Friend Rashad

You’ll like most of them. You love tea.

Dexter

I took your advice and I’ve ordered a sheng from Verdant (OK I also ordered a Shu to try one of each from them).

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

People who liked this

Comments

My Friend Rashad

Try a sheng (raw) puerh from Verdant. What you have there is a shu (ripe) puerh, with shu puerh you run the risk of that fishy compost smell that reminds me of shiritaki noodles. They aren’t all like that but, well, good luck. Buy samples not ounces.

Dexter

I’m just in shock at how fast this went from ewww, as the first rinse water hit the leaves, to wow is this strange, to I think I’m going to like it.
LOL I understand what you are saying, about trying others, I’m really intimated by Pu-erh, seems there are thousands to try. I’m going to be a pu-erh fan, just not sure how much the credit card is going to like the exploration. Agreed, buy small amounts until I learn what I like.

My Friend Rashad

You’ll like most of them. You love tea.

Dexter

I took your advice and I’ve ordered a sheng from Verdant (OK I also ordered a Shu to try one of each from them).

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

Profile

Bio

C.S. Lewis – “You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me.”

I needed to update my profile. I joined Steepster 03Mar13. I am just amazed at how much my tastes have changed since then.
When I discovered loose leaf tea about a year and half ago, I didn’t know anything other than my local Davids and Teavana/Teaopia. Stumbling onto Steepster CHANGED EVERYTHING.
Hello, my name is Dex I’m a tea addict.
I’ve been through the “I need to try every single tea out there” phase. I really hope the worst of that has passed. I’ve learned enough to know that I only need to try HALF of all the teas out there. LOL
When I started this journey, I was all about the flavored rooibos and fruity tisanes. Don’t get me wrong there is still room for dessert (chocolate/caramel/nutty) Rooibos teas in my cupboard and I still do enjoy them, BUT I am quickly learning to appreciate the some of the straight teas of the world.
Big bold (but not icky)pu’erh is suddenly my favorite, followed by woody/roasted oolongs. I’m just starting to explore straight black teas, and have found some that I really like.
Generally speaking I’m not into greens at all, only like the occasional green oolong, and white teas are just too mild for my tastes (unless they are fruit flavored). I still enjoy really good fruit tisanes, but am now cold steeping them.
I don’t like floral/herbal blends, and mint anything is not on my preferred list.
I am still exploring new teas, adapting to my changing tastes, understanding more every day how little I really know about tea. Ultimately I would love to find approximately 50 teas that I just “can’t live without” and always have them in my cupboard. That might not be practical, but that what I’m searching for. It’s going to be a fun journey.

All in all, I love this site. I’ve met some wonderful people, and have gotten to try some amazing teas because of them. It really restores your faith in humanity when you get a note saying “oh by the way I sent you some tea”. Wonderful, generous, people here.

Location

Manitoba Canada

Following These People

Moderator Tools

Mark as Spammer