Tea tasting 5 - "Pu Erh Dante"
Today we tasted a Pu Erh. I liked it, but I don't really have the vocabulary.
The name on this one is a bit odd. Am I supposed to think of the inferno when tasting it?
Pu Erhs are teas that are fermented over time. As such one expects both more complex tastes, and unusual flavors not present in other teas. Like cheese. Or natto.
The leaves smell of fish, are twisty, pale brown, and almost look powdery. Is it going to be a treat or a messy cup? Who knows!
The leaves unfold only partially in a way I've associated with Lapsang Souchong. I wonder what the original variety was that went into the fermentation process. Adagio says it's from Yunnan, so I expect that's the answer.
The liquor is a very deep red / orange depending upon the light. Not quite as black as the Ancient Trees or other Pu Erhs I've had, but robust. The aroma retains the fishy smell but it disappates with time. Somehow I don't find that unpleasant but rather interesting. In the flavor it is more subdued, mixing with notes of earth, and that sort of classic pu erh brisk clean flavor.
Pu Erhs are not my everyday tea, and that combined with the typical price is why I've never bought a full tin or bag, but I do quite enjoy the cup. I'd rate it a 6 overall, or perhaps a 7 when kept to the occasional cup.
The name on this one is a bit odd. Am I supposed to think of the inferno when tasting it?
Pu Erhs are teas that are fermented over time. As such one expects both more complex tastes, and unusual flavors not present in other teas. Like cheese. Or natto.
The leaves smell of fish, are twisty, pale brown, and almost look powdery. Is it going to be a treat or a messy cup? Who knows!
The leaves unfold only partially in a way I've associated with Lapsang Souchong. I wonder what the original variety was that went into the fermentation process. Adagio says it's from Yunnan, so I expect that's the answer.
The liquor is a very deep red / orange depending upon the light. Not quite as black as the Ancient Trees or other Pu Erhs I've had, but robust. The aroma retains the fishy smell but it disappates with time. Somehow I don't find that unpleasant but rather interesting. In the flavor it is more subdued, mixing with notes of earth, and that sort of classic pu erh brisk clean flavor.
Pu Erhs are not my everyday tea, and that combined with the typical price is why I've never bought a full tin or bag, but I do quite enjoy the cup. I'd rate it a 6 overall, or perhaps a 7 when kept to the occasional cup.