First time I try a tea, I always go off the instructions on the front of the package. This has gotten me into trouble (I’m looking directly at you Samovar Royal Garland*) a few times, and this was one of them.
I was making 16 oz of tea, so I added slightly over 2.5 heaping teaspoons per directions (1 heaping tsp per 6 oz water) and brewed for the 5 minutes it noted.
It smelled like a fishtank and the hubband poured his cup down the sink after two sips. In protest. I just didn’t finish mine. I have a bunch of this – it was on sale @ specialteas. So I took it to work and tried it again. This time, not quite 2 for 12 oz of water, and about 3 minutes.
Much more palateable. The orange does add a nice note, and it doesn’t smell like a fishtank anymore. However, this is not my favorite pu-erh, by a long shot.
(*My container of Samovar Royal Garland called for 2-3 tbsp to 6 oz of water. It was not pretty. I haven’t reviewed yet because I haven’t gotten over that, even though I know I need to try it with a much more reasonable parameters.)
Wow, that 2-3 tbsp thing sounds like a misprint!