I’m learning that with Puerhshop tea, one must take their time in getting the brewing methods right. It took me a bit of time to get it down with this one, but I’ve got it down, now.
Best water temperature is 205F/96C.
Flash steep, flash steep, flash steep!
Now, with that said, I enjoyed that this being dry storage, hasn’t made the tea awfully bitter (actually, it can be bitter, but if you follow the instructions above, you’l survive it). There are few notes of astringency that follows with each sip, but never bitter. I noted a ‘sweet-slightly sour note that remains in the back of the mouth, and a bit of smoke, but not too much smoke.’ It definitely brews up odd, at first, although, after the eighth steep I noted, ‘a sweet apricot finish, with a touch of lightly smoked floral notes.’ Again, a little strange, but never terrible.
I’m trying to get better with nothing stuff, since I’ve been away for two years. :P
Flavors: Apricot, Astringent, Floral, Smoke, Sweet
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I rather like this one and still have an entire cake left. You’re right about the teas from Puerhshop. You do have to play around with them to get the brewing methods right. I use 205 F water for this one and a lot of their sheng cakes and usually do two quick rinses before flash steeping (no more than 4-5 seconds) the first two or three infusions. The tea stays a bit astringent and smoky, but more pleasant fruit and flower notes do come out after that. Honestly, I think Puerhshop gets a bit of a bad rap. It’s a great source for solid budget and no-name teas. I especially like some of their cheap shu.
I completely agree with the bad rap ordeal. I know that they have cheaper, no-brand named teas, but they’re open about it. Unlike some off-market tea vendors, that’d sell you no-brand, claiming otherwise. PuerhShop is honest, affordable, and has good stuff.
As for the tea session, I give it quick rinses until the tea opens up a bit. I typically throw in a chunk when brewing this one in particular…I’ve learned that breaking into a loose matter can result in an astringency/bitterness that doesn’t go away. I like it, though. I try to push my younger sheng puerhs, but this one doesn’t work the same as those.
Yep, agree Puerh shop has some jewels if you dig around.
I rather like this one and still have an entire cake left. You’re right about the teas from Puerhshop. You do have to play around with them to get the brewing methods right. I use 205 F water for this one and a lot of their sheng cakes and usually do two quick rinses before flash steeping (no more than 4-5 seconds) the first two or three infusions. The tea stays a bit astringent and smoky, but more pleasant fruit and flower notes do come out after that. Honestly, I think Puerhshop gets a bit of a bad rap. It’s a great source for solid budget and no-name teas. I especially like some of their cheap shu.
I completely agree with the bad rap ordeal. I know that they have cheaper, no-brand named teas, but they’re open about it. Unlike some off-market tea vendors, that’d sell you no-brand, claiming otherwise. PuerhShop is honest, affordable, and has good stuff.
As for the tea session, I give it quick rinses until the tea opens up a bit. I typically throw in a chunk when brewing this one in particular…I’ve learned that breaking into a loose matter can result in an astringency/bitterness that doesn’t go away. I like it, though. I try to push my younger sheng puerhs, but this one doesn’t work the same as those.
Yep, agree Puerh shop has some jewels if you dig around.