I’ve been curious about this tea for a while now for a number of reasons. The ratings are so high and I really wondered if it was as good as everyone said. The combination just seemed like it wouldn’t work, and the pearl pieces seemed odd, but sometimes things just all come together and are amazing. This is one of those times.
This is my first Pu-erh and I almost put off trying it because it is a blend and I wanted to taste Pu-erh in its natural state first. I’m glad I didn’t wait, this was really good. In fact, I think that if I had just started out with a plain Pu-erh I wouldn’t have liked it and may even have given up on it. The Strawberry and Mango really add a wonderful flavor to this and help with the wet moss smell. I really don’t like the way this tea smells at all, but after a few cups it’s growing on me. I also find that I enjoy the second steep more than the first because it mellows out a bit. I like that the pearls are for more than just show, they add a subtle sweetness that brings out the fruit flavors.
I don’t think this is a tea I could enjoy drinking every day, I think it will become another fall tea for me like Lapsang Souchong. Something about the smokey, earthy flavor just screams fall to me.
