Loose Leaf Tea
| sample |
$3 |
 |
| makes 10 cups |
| 4oz |
$10 |
 |
| 20¢ per cup |
| 16oz |
$29 |
 |
| 15¢ per cup |
Teabags
| teabags |
$8 |
 |
| 15 teabags |
Description
Black tea from the Yunnan region of China. Pu Erh tea, perhaps the most esoteric of Chinese varieties, has a pronounced earthy aroma and taste. It is very popular in China due to its notoriety as a slimming diet tea. Recent studies seem to support this claim, but attribute this property to all teas. We suggest trying a sample before committing to larger quantities. The earthy taste is not subtle. Chances are, you'll either love it or hate it.
Story
Pu Erh tea gets its name from a small town located in southern Yunnan. Tea had been cultivated in this part of China for about four thousand years. Its popularity owes much to the many trade routes that flowed through this region. With popularity came royal inquiry. And so, Pu Erh teas have been offered in tribute to many a generation of Chinese emperors. It is among the few teas that improves with age. Similar to wine, one may find very expensive Pu Erhs that are decades old. "Slimming" is one of the properties the locals attribute to it. Recent studies seem to show there is some validity to this reputation. This tea's unique fermentation process imparts it with some cholesterol-fighting powers.
"Forms an extremely dark, almost opaque liquor, brown with a tinge of red. The smell is, as expected, dominated by the distinctive character of dirt or mud, along with a faint but clear rotting-fish note. The flavor is salty-sweet with the same notes of dirt and fish, which linger without much astringency.
I know that all sounds terrible, but really, this isn't bad; the complex array of flavors blends intriguingly, and the mouthfeel is creamy -- indeed, succulent -- forming a cup that's hearty and satisfying, if a bit odd."
"I really did not like this tea much, and I like earthy teas. Tko me, it tasted a bit too much like dirt. The flavor was simply flat and dull without much nuance to it. I finished my sample pack to give it a chance, but this is not my...um...cup of tea. "
"This has an odd "fishy" flavor. Although I can see it appealing to certain tastes, it probably is not going to universily liked."
"Unless a tea was absolutely undrinkably bad, I wouldn't rate it as bad, but this tea is not for me. A pronounced prebrewing scent of dirt and a brewed flavor that reminds me of a forest floor. Its interesting, its been a conversation piece and I have a cup now and then for the experience, but neither an everyday tea nor a favorite."
"Pu erh is not for everybody. Think of it as the Guiness of teas. An aquired taste, it can be a rich and wonderful treat at the end of a long day. If you want to develop a taste for this very bold tea, try mixing it first with another black, or even a cream/vanilla variety. "
"This tea is very interesting. I tried the pu erh poe first, and if that one made me think of horses, the pu erh dante makes me think of a campfire. That horse/earthiness is still there, but the dante has a brighter, smokier flavor to it. It is very good, but I think I actually prefer the poe. "
Recommendations
Tea Recipes (containing Pu Erh Dante tea)
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