additional notes: I stand by my original note for this one, nine years ago. Though these tuochas are from a different source than my original sample: this time from Meowster. Thanks very much! It’s just not a very good representation of sticky rice and puerh is quite bland. But maybe the “rice scent herb” that they add to the tuochas don’t age as well as puerh is supposed to. However, I was really craving a ripe puerh to go with my cantaloupe this morning. It’s such a great combination. I think of Butiki’s Dark Side of the Melon blend for this inspiration, but that was a black tea and espresso flavoring with melon. I don’t know how there has not been a cantaloupe/ ripe puerh blend yet! Though I think I do remember Roswell mentioning one? If not, maybe I’m remembering Roswell’s awesome fruit/tea pairings. :D
Offtopic about music if you are interested: So I listen to hundreds of albums each year, at least once (on youtube — sorry musicians that aren’t getting my money…), because of my FOMO on any great gem of an album that I might otherwise never find. Then at the end of the year, I make my favorites list of albums, before I read all those end-of-the-year best of lists, which tend to end up being basically the same list over and over. Really, I just read those to make sure I didn’t miss any albums that I might be interested in. 2023 was especially harsh for me, as MOST of my favorite albums never even hit ONE year end list. However, I think at this point, my FOMO has now almost become a FOMO for other people missing some really great albums, just because they aren’t listed on any of these lists. A sadness that these musicians are somehow going unnoticed, underappreciated. So in order for me to feel a little bit better about this, maybe get a few of them out there into the ether, I will occasionally post a favorite song from a 2023 album I really wish had gotten more recognition and attention! But I usually recommend the entire album. I will start with my favorite album of 2023 that actually had me crying a bit when I first heard it, that I might have missed it… and this album was not listed on a single Best Of list for 2023. So now I’m grateful I caught it! Again, the entire album is stellar (and the album cover is perfect to go along with a tea from Meowster!):
Album: Mapache – Swinging Stars
Song: Amazing – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHDEn6lhaac
