On a challenge from my benefactor, QuiltGuppy, I steeped a cup of this today.
The dry aroma is dusty, like the dirty actors in a Sergio Leone Western. While steeping, visons of gardening danced in my head. Freshly plowed soil with hints of fertilizer mixed in. The first sip was a perfect blend of the dusty odor, heavy earth notes and a touch of peat bogginess. A 1999 vintage, it is not as old as dirt. It does however, taste like it.
Thank you QG, for helping me reach a conclusion today. With so many fine Oolongs, Blacks, and Greens out there, I am giving up on Puerh. If I get the urge for some, I will simply move some furniture, collect a little dust, add a dash from a vaccum cleaner bag, and use a potting soil base. I think I could come pretty close.
No offense to you Puerh lovers, but to reuse an old and tiresome expression, this is not my cup of tea.
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I would like to add, the texture was sans grit. As surprising as that may seem.
:)
I’m so glad I’m not the only one to have this result… as badly as I feel for your taste buds. It did receive some higher ratings, some very high, from other reviewers. I think it’s a situation of to each his own… Love the review, though! :)
I have a strawberry blended puerh (the My Name is Bruce blend) if you want to try it. I don’t think I’ve tried all that many and honestly they are mostly forgettable. I tend to like green tea anyway so something strong like this wouldn’t sit well with me either. Don’t feel bad! ;)
I agree with QG – love the description, especially, “dusty…like the dirty actors in a Sergio Leone western.” :)
I had this experience the first time I tried Pu-erh as well, but now, I have learned that proper brewing is essential with Pu-erh. What were your brewing parameters?
Just off the boil, about 3 minutes. Not much different than some of the higher ratings.
I can’t believe it is even the same tea some have described.
Love the vacuum cleaner dust analogy!
gmathis: thanks!
LiberTEAS: was that too long?
KiTT: Thank you too! I would try a blend, if you can spare some, but I doubt straight Pu-erh’s are going to be in my future.
Generally with this type I use 30 seconds at the most for the first steep. But I also use a lot of leaf, so it might not easily translate into anything useful for you. It is a type that steeps really fast though
I would like to add, the texture was sans grit. As surprising as that may seem.
:)
I’m so glad I’m not the only one to have this result… as badly as I feel for your taste buds. It did receive some higher ratings, some very high, from other reviewers. I think it’s a situation of to each his own… Love the review, though! :)
I have a strawberry blended puerh (the My Name is Bruce blend) if you want to try it. I don’t think I’ve tried all that many and honestly they are mostly forgettable. I tend to like green tea anyway so something strong like this wouldn’t sit well with me either. Don’t feel bad! ;)
I agree with QG – love the description, especially, “dusty…like the dirty actors in a Sergio Leone western.” :)
I had this experience the first time I tried Pu-erh as well, but now, I have learned that proper brewing is essential with Pu-erh. What were your brewing parameters?
Just off the boil, about 3 minutes. Not much different than some of the higher ratings.
I can’t believe it is even the same tea some have described.
Love the vacuum cleaner dust analogy!
gmathis: thanks!
LiberTEAS: was that too long?
KiTT: Thank you too! I would try a blend, if you can spare some, but I doubt straight Pu-erh’s are going to be in my future.
Generally with this type I use 30 seconds at the most for the first steep. But I also use a lot of leaf, so it might not easily translate into anything useful for you. It is a type that steeps really fast though