LWXLJMJZC-2018yr Aged Ripe Puerh Tea Cake - 3.53oz Dark Pu-erh Tea - Shu Puer Tea

El color es claro, el sabor es limpio y refinado. Excelente té, no es barato pero vale su precio!

Excited to try a pu erh from an online purchase for the first time, after about 8 years of enjoying pu erh almost daily, I've now bought 2 of these, with more on the way. Context: In one drinking session, I use an electric tea kettle and bring it to a full boil for each pour, using a traditional "gong fu cha" set up with a clay tea pot or gaiwan and a small pitcher, strainer, etc. (These are notes from my first session). I rinsed the leaves first and let them sit for a couple of minutes to wake them up a bit with the top of the tea pot ventilated, then started the first pour (each pour I let the fully boiled water sit in the pot for about 10 seconds). The first pour reveals this bing's potential and the more floral aspect of it's flavor profile, with a slight note of berries and a chocolatey undertone. The 2nd pour yielded a darker brew with a prominent "berry" finish and a brightness along the edges of the tongue, and I started to feel the "energy" and caffeine provide a nice expansive lift that sharpened the mind. The 3rd steeping was darker and more rich, a bit like a black tea, with a lingering "berry" or even floral finish, and that good calm focus creeping into the mind. The 4th steeping (about 15 seconds) was darker, richer, more bold, and an earthier, balanced cup. From the 5th steeping on, the "berry" flavor receded and the "cakey" or chocolatey undertones took over. I took it through about 10 steepings while it gradually thinned out into a lighter minerality. Each of these smaller "bings" lasts for about two weeks if I'm using it as a daily drinker. Over the past month and a half, I've come to realize the "berry" flavor can also be described as "rose," depending on the day and how my relationship to this pu erh shifts. On the whole, I'm going to keep purchasing it and keep it around, and perhaps keep a bing or two in storage because I'm excited about how this "ripe" shou pu erh will age in the next 3-5 years. This isn't the "earthiest" pu erh that I've had, but very enjoyable, and I wholly recommend this tea for an affordable option for pu erh flavors. So far the quality is consistent with each order. Just a note that these are compact little bings about the size of an average adult male's hand (note: my hands are bigger than most), and it's worth it to have a pu erh knife to carefully get the first pieces off. After that, I was able to break off what I needed. And also: there's also recently a 3-week+ shipping delay, so order in advance!

I'm pretty new to Chinese whole leaf teas, and was pretty excited to try this tea. It's a fairly small tea cake that's about the width of a CD. Pretty easy to pry the dried leaves off with a knife. Here's my brew info: - 212 F water - 6g tea to 4oz water - 10 second wash - 1 minute initial steep, 2-3 minute and 5 minute subsequent steeps Tea color: umber wash, dark brown liquid in first 3 steeps (soy sauce-color), umber weaker steeps Tea scent: woody, fermented funk Full-bodied mouthfeel in initial tea steeps. Flavor: initial steeps: watery top notes, mid-notes of wood, fermented-savory (umami). Smooth sweet finish like vanilla. Later steeps: watery top, woody mid, vanilla end notes. This is a really interesting tea to try out. I've never experienced a savory-fermented flavor to a tea before, and the vanilla-like end notes are very pleasant. I tend to like my teas strong and a bit brighter (Moonlight white tea, golden monkey black tea), and I'm really thrown off by this black tea that doesn't have toasty top notes, which is not at all the fault of the tea or tea makers but rather my expectations and tastes. So I can appreciate the very nice quality and experience of this tea, but this one might not be one I buy again after I finish the cake. I can see this tea being a really interesting introduction to fermented and aged pu'er cakes for folks who want an inexpensive deal on some traditional Chinese tea. Or for people who might get a kick out of a tea that has savory and whiskey-like flavors.

Good everyday drinker not too intense or overpowering. I usually do about 6 steeps the second and third being the most flavorful the remaining steeps produce some lingering lighter flavors but no magic here. Good straightforward everyday ripe puerh tea

I'm not an expert but This tea is excellent and at a great price. I get like 15 pours out of 4 grams...It is mellow earthy and aromatic, that is, if you like pu ers. Will but again