Grabbed a couple of these today when I want to House of Cha in Lawrence.
I had no idea what brand they were so had to google them – found that they were 2003 Red in Red Pu-erh Tuocha but when I typed that into the search here on steepster this brand came up so I guess I am posting this here.
Steeped in my Gaiwan – first time using it. That was easy enough. Boiling – 45 secondish
Smell – oh I totally get where people say there is a “fishy” aroma to this for sure.
Liquor: Crimson Brown.
First sip: Too complex to come up with one word to encompass it on one sip.
So I will use that – COMPLEX.
Slightly Sweet, Creamy – ish, and yes a little fishy – ish.
I really don’t want to say that though because I want to love this.
I don’t hate it – don’t love it either.
Handed it to hubby – I had not said a word about it but he too said “smells fishy” took a drink then said “tastes fishy”. LOL but he took a second drink anyway soooo what’s that tell ya?
Now, for the record I did NOT do a rinse.
I will go do a second brew and see how that goes and come back ….
(walks off over to counter)
WOAH what the ….
okay I MUST be doing something WRONG wrong wrong here …
its comical really.
I steeped the mini toucha a second time and it looks like TAR and I hate to say the C word here but looks like the darkest coffee I have ever seen! (get your mind out of the gutter what did you THINK I was going to say?) anyway … Now instead of a crimson tint it has this deep purple (great band reference) to it. It still has that fishiness – and let me just add regarding that – IF you can get your mind over or around or even under the fact it is a little fishy and allow your senses to be sensible to the earthy nature of this tea its a lot better – but one has to have good mind control, or will power, or imagination. Thing is – maybe I DID do it right – because as scary as it looks, I like it better this steep!
Hummm I don’t know what to think of this experience, except that it HAS been an experience and that is cool. I like experiences! Are you experienced? (great song reference) – if not I would say go for it – nothing to lose really, except maybe a small part of a brain cell because this tea has me sort of feeling funny but in a good way. Wasn’t really expecting that – but hey makes for a fun tasting note, that seems to be going on and on and on … guess Im done for now. I will steep this probably two more times – see what happens and if it changes from what it is now, other than getting weaker of course, and obviously no longer steepable, then I will make new notes.
Yeah – okay – bye.
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I enjoyed reading your review, and it made me laugh!
Wow, you really are trying teas from a number of different tea retailers, aren’t you? Kudos for being so adventurous!
I had literally had pu-erh only once, steeped once (so you already have more experience than I do steeping pu-erhs), and I remember it having a really dark color. Can you tell us how the other steepings went?
LOL thank you! I honestly really did feel a little funny after drinking this tea. I did steep it one more time – it was even DARKER!!! It was intensely dark. It tasted about the same – a little richer but not as much as I had expected considering how dark it became. After that steep I tossed it A) because it was late and I was terribly lazy and B) because the way it had me feeling was a little scary lol. I quit drinking about 4 years ago and with the 70’s behind me lets just say nothing has given me THAT kind of feeling in a very long time. Now I am not saying it was without joy lol but well I was pretty spaced out and seriously who would expect that from tea. So a good meditation tea perhaps. :)
I also had a less fishy pu’erh last night that I reviewed. From Enjoyingtea.com Chinese Restaurant Chrysanthemum Puerh Tea.
Now I’m really curious (especially after recently reading indigobloom’s review of a pu-erh). How exactly did it make you feel? More like an ‘upper’ or a ‘downer’? If you think its good for meditation, I guess like a ‘downer’? Hopefully in a way that both relaxes and raises awareness (like theanine does), rather than the way recreational drugs lowers awareness? I didn’t think pu-erh would have that kind of effect on someone. hmm Pu-erh is sounding more and more interesting …
Exactly – both – very relaxed and laid back but I was cracking really witty jokes left and right with a stupid grin on my face!
It was really nice.
TRY IT lol
I think it raised my awareness though – I mean when I was writing that review – I was SO in the moment. But then when I was done I was chatting with hubby like not a moment went by so in a way spacey but also very able to focus on what I wanted to.
That all sounds pretty good to me: relaxed, having a sense of humor and presence of mind, and feeling a need to engage others. It sounds like a good example of how I understand theanine and caffeine to work together. Tea has a similar effect on me, but maybe not exactly in the way you have described it here. I’m still sticking to my guns regarding waiting to try pu-erh, but you and Indigobloom have definitely increased my own curiosity about it!
Ahh, I loved reading this thread!! and Azzrian, you are so on target with the description of how it made me feel… high, in a way, but also alert and engaged with the world…. and also laid back! with a twist of racing heart syndrome!
SimpliciTea: I am falling in love with Pu’erhs… and I am so curious to see what your (eventual, or not if I have my way haha) review of it will say!!
(and by not, I mean sooner than later! just realized that might read a bit oddly)
Yes I am eager to see other tea logs on this as well. :)
You both are so funny. Sooooo, it’s became a game? To see if you can tempt me, or anyone else ‘out here’, enough through your reviews to really want me to make the effort to buy some of this ‘psychedelic’ pu-erh, drink it up, and see what happens, eh?
Haha indeed and why not we just want to spread the joy around :)
SimpliciTea: life is a game, but I make my own rules :P
and yes!! wanna swap tea by any chance lol
Azzrian: I certainly agree, keep spreadin’!
Indigobloom: I like that: you make your own rules! How true that is.
Swap? Maybe sometime this summer/fall, when I have gone though all of my samples? Maybe?
I enjoyed reading your review, and it made me laugh!
Wow, you really are trying teas from a number of different tea retailers, aren’t you? Kudos for being so adventurous!
I had literally had pu-erh only once, steeped once (so you already have more experience than I do steeping pu-erhs), and I remember it having a really dark color. Can you tell us how the other steepings went?
LOL thank you! I honestly really did feel a little funny after drinking this tea. I did steep it one more time – it was even DARKER!!! It was intensely dark. It tasted about the same – a little richer but not as much as I had expected considering how dark it became. After that steep I tossed it A) because it was late and I was terribly lazy and B) because the way it had me feeling was a little scary lol. I quit drinking about 4 years ago and with the 70’s behind me lets just say nothing has given me THAT kind of feeling in a very long time. Now I am not saying it was without joy lol but well I was pretty spaced out and seriously who would expect that from tea. So a good meditation tea perhaps. :)
I also had a less fishy pu’erh last night that I reviewed. From Enjoyingtea.com Chinese Restaurant Chrysanthemum Puerh Tea.
Now I’m really curious (especially after recently reading indigobloom’s review of a pu-erh). How exactly did it make you feel? More like an ‘upper’ or a ‘downer’? If you think its good for meditation, I guess like a ‘downer’? Hopefully in a way that both relaxes and raises awareness (like theanine does), rather than the way recreational drugs lowers awareness? I didn’t think pu-erh would have that kind of effect on someone. hmm Pu-erh is sounding more and more interesting …
Exactly – both – very relaxed and laid back but I was cracking really witty jokes left and right with a stupid grin on my face!
It was really nice.
TRY IT lol
I think it raised my awareness though – I mean when I was writing that review – I was SO in the moment. But then when I was done I was chatting with hubby like not a moment went by so in a way spacey but also very able to focus on what I wanted to.
That all sounds pretty good to me: relaxed, having a sense of humor and presence of mind, and feeling a need to engage others. It sounds like a good example of how I understand theanine and caffeine to work together. Tea has a similar effect on me, but maybe not exactly in the way you have described it here. I’m still sticking to my guns regarding waiting to try pu-erh, but you and Indigobloom have definitely increased my own curiosity about it!
Ahh, I loved reading this thread!! and Azzrian, you are so on target with the description of how it made me feel… high, in a way, but also alert and engaged with the world…. and also laid back! with a twist of racing heart syndrome!
SimpliciTea: I am falling in love with Pu’erhs… and I am so curious to see what your (eventual, or not if I have my way haha) review of it will say!!
(and by not, I mean sooner than later! just realized that might read a bit oddly)
Yes I am eager to see other tea logs on this as well. :)
You both are so funny. Sooooo, it’s became a game? To see if you can tempt me, or anyone else ‘out here’, enough through your reviews to really want me to make the effort to buy some of this ‘psychedelic’ pu-erh, drink it up, and see what happens, eh?
Haha indeed and why not we just want to spread the joy around :)
SimpliciTea: life is a game, but I make my own rules :P
and yes!! wanna swap tea by any chance lol
Azzrian: I certainly agree, keep spreadin’!
Indigobloom: I like that: you make your own rules! How true that is.
Swap? Maybe sometime this summer/fall, when I have gone though all of my samples? Maybe?