The Tea Practitioner Advent Calendar 2022 – Day 6
When I first saw the name of today’s tea (it just says “Pasha Mountain – Pu’erh Tea” on the package, I was a bit uneasy about it. I’m not a big fan of shou puerh, I don’t hate it but it’s not my jam. But when I went to add the tea to Steepster I was relieved to find out this is a sheng, which I am much happier to drink.
I went with grandpa style, for no good reason other than it felt right ha ha. It actually seemed to suit this tea quite well. I did run into a little bitterness at one point, but that was only because it steeped for a while without me drinking it while I went to the grocery store.
It reminds me of a cross between a robust Chinese green tea and an aged white tea. Earthy with nice wet wood notes, an aromatic wood like cedar or jatoba. Almost sandalwoody in nature but not quite there. Then there’s sweet but musty hay and wet autumn leaves, and also a really nice apricot fruitiness alongside a light astringency that makes me think of the apricot’s fuzzy skin. Maybe a bit of golden plum as well?
When my cupboard is a bit less overwhelming, I’ll have to make an effort to try some more sheng puerh and expand my horizons a bit. I do enjoy it, it’s just not a category I’ve had much experience with.
Flavors: Apricot, Astringent, Autumn Leaf Pile, Barnyard, Cedar, Dry Leaves, Earthy, Hay, Loam, Musty, Plum, Smooth, Stonefruit, Sweet, Wet wood, Wood
I agree on Cedar and the “sandalwood adjacent” comparison! When I saw this today I thought of you, so I’m glad it was better than expected for you.