These folks were at the SF International Tea Fair yesterday so I knew I’d have to stop by. I got a very good introduction to their teas including stories and pictures of where my tea came from right now to the actual trees…
They were serving up samples of this shu so I decided to purchase a cake after trying it. ($33). I was told that “third grade” applies to the size of the leaf used and wasn’t meant to imply that this was a third rate tea.
We steeped some of it up this morning. I may have not been generous enough with the leaf. Since there were two of us I decided to steep this in a teapot and forgo my usual gaiwan method. The first steep we did for 60 seconds and the second for 2 minutes.
This yielded a clear, reddish brown brew that is not as dark as some I’ve tried. I am enjoying it. It’s clean with a nice savory/woodsy/mushroom aroma that is very soothing and somewhat mild. The flavor is very earthy with a bit of nutty flavor like butter pecans. It has a clean and sweet aftertaste I am enjoying so much. This is supposed to develop a date flavor as it ages but I don’t know if I will be able to let it age before I end up drinking it… lol
Overall, very good. If you’d like to try a lighter shu without any smoky, fishy or musty aromas I’d give this one a try for sure.
On other notes I’ve discovered I can use a cheese knife to pry apart my bricks and cakes so at least I won’t be needing to purchase a special puerh knife. :)
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But…but…but! The doodads are half the fun! LOL! This sounds delicious. I am going to be drooling over a lot of new companies thanks to your puerh reviews. So lucky you got to go! :)
@ashmanra – lol. I’m kind of glad I did not get a new knife since that means I can spend more on tea. :) I’ve definitely been getting into the puerh thing lately. Once you get into more variety with your tastings it’s surprising how different they can be from each other.
My pu’er pick is basically a flathead screwdriver with a pretty handle. I’ve also used a fork, which works in a pinch. Glad you found something that works! Hope you never get a brick so tightly compressed that you have to used the serrated edge of that blade. Glad you’re getting more into this! It’s an inexhaustible new frontier of flavor- always changing and challenging.
It’s fun getting into it but also kind of expensive. :) I will remember the screwdriver if I’m ever in a pinch!
But…but…but! The doodads are half the fun! LOL! This sounds delicious. I am going to be drooling over a lot of new companies thanks to your puerh reviews. So lucky you got to go! :)
@ashmanra – lol. I’m kind of glad I did not get a new knife since that means I can spend more on tea. :) I’ve definitely been getting into the puerh thing lately. Once you get into more variety with your tastings it’s surprising how different they can be from each other.
My pu’er pick is basically a flathead screwdriver with a pretty handle. I’ve also used a fork, which works in a pinch. Glad you found something that works! Hope you never get a brick so tightly compressed that you have to used the serrated edge of that blade. Glad you’re getting more into this! It’s an inexhaustible new frontier of flavor- always changing and challenging.
It’s fun getting into it but also kind of expensive. :) I will remember the screwdriver if I’m ever in a pinch!