365 Days of Tea - Day 16: Organic Pu'erh Tea.

Highland Organics contacted me, although they only carry one tea; blue berry. Its a local place so I'm excited. I can't wait to try it. Its organic, too which is always a plus. Blue berries! (Also I know I did infusion Friday on a Saturday, but I totally forgot I was suppose to do it on Friday.. it wont happen again. haha)

Looks like a very good Pu'erh tea, nothing impure or strange about it. Notice how it looks like strains instead of pearls or leaves like other teas. The more raw product of Pu'erh is called Mao Cha, which is usually sold as is or pressed into shapes similar to Pu'erh. I've never tired Mao Cha, it seems a bit uncommon. Pu'erh is a ripened, fermented version of Mao Cha and its usually dark, while Mao Cha is usually green.

(I didn't realize this was so blurry, sorry, I'll work on a my photography a bit more)

Its a darker auburn color, like most typical dark or black teas. I kind of wish I had some of the shaped ones blocks of Pu'erh, though I don't think it changes the flavor. The Tea Spot company I got this from, does offer it in bricks as well. They almost look like little herby cookies. That is going on my list of tea I want to try for sure.

Smell - Pu'erh has an interesting smell, Its fermented, and that brings out a very mossy, earthy scent to it. Its almost mushroom-y in a way, but without the dirt. Its smells very fresh, not prefumey or chemical-y in anyway. If the Earth didn't have any people on it, I'd imagine this is what it would smell like.

Taste - It actually carries a very faint saltiness. Maybe something they do in the fermentation process. Its a very deep and complex taste, yet still remains light. I'd like to call it liquid earth, but its without any remnants of dirty or sandy favor. (Probably a good thing) Its not very roasted like English black would be, in fact, other than a similar tea color, they are worlds apart.

Overall - I very much enjoyed this tea. Pu'erh isn't a very commonly found tea where I'm from, and I've never even heard of it till I discovered it online. I've had it a few times, but it was alway mixed with something. This is my first time experiencing it on it's own and it was quite good.

(3 and a half tea leaves out of 5.)

Can be found @

Wilma Approved.

365 Days of Tea - Day 14: Organic Yunnan Pu'erh Tea.

Good Earth Tea and Harney and Sons Fine Teas, both contacted me. Good Earth Tea is all tea bags instead of loose leaf, although normally I don't do a lot with tea bags, they offer some unique favors. Harney and Sons Fine Teas are up there with the high classy expansive teas, which is pretty cool. I'm hoping they are both interested in this project, and I'll update as I find out.

Organic Yunnan Pu'erh Tea.

Nothing too special to note here as far as looks go. I mean, it looks like a regular black tea. Pu'erh is actually a type of fermented black tea from Yunnan, China. Comparatively speaking pu'erh and english black tea and only similar in color, in taste they generally have two completely different panels of favors. (Minus maybe a "roasted" favor) Pu'erh also comes pressed into different shapes, bricks, cakes, and even melon shapes. Probably would try to eat if it was a shape. 

Its an extremely dark auburn color. Which is to be expected from a black style tea, since it usually gives off a much darker, roasted favor then say a green, or white tea. I suspect that it'll offer a deep, rich, and roasted favor. Though, I might also guess this could offer some surprising complexity as well.

Smell - This smells quite different, it took me a while to figure out how to explain it in words. Its extremely light, but with complexity. Its earthy but I don't want to say "dirt" it doesn't smell like dirt at all. It comes off more a rich mushroom with a tingle of moss. It smells like the forest floor, like damp fall leaves, and broken twigs. It might even smell like the rain is coming.

Taste - I want to say mushroomy, but thats a strange way to describe it. Its not quite that, its more like "it came from earth" favor. Like instead of it growing up like a plant, it grew around in the dirt, without collecting any of the dirt favor. It is probably the most earthy tea I've ever had. Its good, although my description might make it seem strange, I'd recommend it.

Overall - I imagine myself enjoying a cup of this while out reading a book under a tree. Its a very different and complex favor, but to me, it brings a whole new world of favor to the table. Its not something I've experienced before and its quite good.

(3 and a half out of 5 tea leaves.)

Can be found @