A rare aged, fermented tea from Yunnan, China, pu'erh stands apart with its uncommonly soft earthy flavor and woodsy tones. Clean, damp forest aroma, dried mushrooms, leather, and earth. A slight sweetness of figs or dates yields a mellow, grounding cup.
Customers use these reviews to describe their experience with Pu-Erh Dante, including flavor, aroma, preparation preferences, strength, and how the tea fits into daily routines. Browse the full review history page by page to compare tasting notes, steeping tips, and favorite ways to enjoy this tea.
I did not like this one. I think I am not a very big fan of pu erhs. This smelled a lot like dirt in the bag. When brewed it smelled like fish. This made me afraid to even try it.I took a sip anyways, and it tastes very very minerally.. Not my cup of tea I guess
Rich and earthy. Reminds me of a forest or a garden
This is only good with honey. alone I hated it. I generally like stronger and darker coffee, tea, and beer, so I thought this was going to be perfect for me. Straight up it had a dirty/muddy flavor. I thought it was a bad brew and tried a second time with the same result. I was worried this would be a waste for me, however, I made a third brew with a lot of honey and it was really, really good. The muddy aftertaste was replaced with the sweetness of the honey and a smokier taste came out.
As others have said, the loamy, hay-like smell reminded me very strongly of horses, and it tastes like dirt and damp vegetation. But it's not bitter or at all unpleasant, strangely. The rest of my sample will be disappearing very quickly.
I didn't think I'd like this tea as much as I did, but it's actually super yummy! It's very earthy, but not in an unpleasant way like you'd maybe expect.
This is the first Pu-erh tea I've tried on its own. It intimidated me. I stared at my mug of tea for like half an hour before I even sipped it. I have an aversion to smokey flavors, and I was really concerned this would not suit me. The tea brews to a lovely (but intimidating) dark dark amber color. It's almost entirely opaque, and if it did not have the reddish tint to it, it would look like black coffee. It tastes much lighter than I expected, especially given the color. All the acidic taste I associate with overly strongly brewed teas was gone, and instead it was earthy and mild. It tasted like the smell of rain falling on upturned soil. It was a comforting taste, and one that I found very appealing. I don't think I would drink it every day, but I cannot wait to drink this on an unpleasant cold or wet day. I'm excited by this tea. I will be purchasing it again.
EDIT: I bought 3 ounces of this tea when it got in stock. I'm thrilled with it still, and the color of the brewed tea is a beautiful red-brown amber color but dark. I'm fond of this tea a great deal.
Ugh I love pu erh tea and this is one of my favourites. It's so strong and bold it's like going out into an old forest, reaching under the first few floor layers and then drinking the awesome way it smells when you pull the earth up. Also a hint of smokiness, maybe someone had a campfire there at one time. lol
I tried the pu erh poe from Adagio a while back, and was horrified by its fishy nastiness, so I was hesitant to try this one (the many reviews mentioning a mushroom taste didn't help either, as I can't stand mushrooms). In the spirit of giving things a fair shake, however, I got a sampler of the dante. I am pleasantly surprised by how tasty this tea is! It has salvaged my opinion of pu erh with its dark, earthy, and deciduous flavor. I'm glad I gave this one a try, because it is very good!
earthy and sea like flavors. i like weird things.. there for i like this tea.
I almost feel bad for rating this so low, because I knew going into it that Pu'erh teas are a very acquired taste. Clearly, I have not acquired this taste! I only got one sip down before pouring out the brew. But alas, that is what ordering samples is for, and I'm glad Adagio gives us the opportunity to do so.
This is not a tea for everybody -- it has a leathery, earthy taste that is not particularly subtle (some compare it to a 'dirt taste'). However, if you like those descriptors, then it's really tasty -- simultaneously a nice cup of tea and a pleasant memory trip to the horse barns of my childhood. Recommend a sample!
I'm not a huge fan of this tea on its own but when mixed with the Carmel rooibus it is amazing, by far my favorite cup of tea and the only tea my boyfriend really likes. It is so dark and smooth when brewed and it never bitters which is amazing.
This was my first taste of a pu erh tea. I didn't like it very much, but I understand that it's an acquired taste and will go on to try other varieties of pu erh. The leather taste is very strong, the smell is woodsy and deep.
Enjoy this tea blended with one of my own blends ' non-optional social convention '. Gave it a depth.
An excellent tea that smells reminiscent of the woods. It has a really strong taste that I almost can't describe, though I definitely don't get any fishy tastes or smells from it like others.
Smells a lot like gunpowder when you first open it. Then, when you brew it, it smells like fish. If you can avoid smelling it when you drink, it's not bad. But otherwise, stay away.
Dark chocolately liquor. Slightly smokey, dusty flavor. Pleasant and soothing. 2 thumbs up!
Pu Erh might not be my 'poison,' so to speak, though I imagine it could still turn out to be an acquired taste. To me, the most exciting thing about this tea was precisely that I *could* smell and faintly taste fish - sardines to be exact! - in the brewed tea leaves and in the tea itself. I don't know as I go looking for tea that reminds me of fish, but it's certainly interesting and doesn't offend my sensibilities, either. I just wish that this tea had generated more excitement, somehow, beyond the fish notes. I wanted it to be something *more* than it was.
Tastes very much of leather and... raw potato. Very much an acquired taste. This one's a lot like lapsang for me--an interesting flavor, but ultimately not something I could drink by itself.
Pu erh isn't for everyone. My husband hates it, but it's the main component of one of my favorite blends. It's strong, rich, and delicious! :D
Smells like Southern-style sweet tea in the pouch, but smells and tastes really grassy when brewed. Not a bad taste, really.
I really wish I could rate this tea as good or great, but sadly I cannot. The aroma is one of earthiness and woodiness, it reminded me of an old wood trunk or even a humidor. The taste was not overwhelming, but it did taste very strongly of earthiness and leather, much as the description says, but after the drinking it a few different times I developed a wicked headache. I have never had this problem with Pu erhs before so I hope it is just bad luck, but alas I cannot enjoy a tea that causes such pain.
Apparently, the correct way to brew pu erh dante is to pour boiling water over the leaves, sit for 30 seconds, drain, and then brew (brew time varying according to taste). I bought this tea because it's in one of my favorite blends, and I have to say, by itself it's... interesting? Not a fan, but I still love it in a chocolatey, chai blend.
Dark, earthy, distinct. I'm not sure how else to describe it, but this tea is definitely in a class of its own.
Good, but I prefer Pu-Erh Poe. This is good for mixing, but a little bland on it's own.
Definitely has that earthy smokiness common to pu erh teas. Very dark and fragrant. Not necessarily a tea for everybody but definitely a good pu erh if you like that kind of tea.
A lot of people are smelling fish in this tea... I smell earth in the bag, and a pleasant, campfire smoke-y scent after it's brewed. I was, admittedly, not too keen on it at first. I thought it was a bit strong for me, but I'm now on my second cup and can appreciate the the soft mouthfeel and non-acidic after taste. It leaves a bit of a tingle on the tongue which I personally find delightful.
Just as it is described - earthy. Now is that a good flavor? Not really in our opinion. It is almost savory.
I wasn't particularly impressed with this tea. A bit too earthy and fermented tasting. I even tried blending it with other things and I just couldn't get into this one at all.
This does smell exactly like putting your nose right up against a horse's neck, a combination of hay and animal muskiness. The earthy, mushroomy notes are more pronounced when brewed (dry, it smells more like seaweed), and a hint of smoke once it's had a long time to steep. I was amazed that a second steeping had so much flavour. I didn't add anything to it, but honey would probably be amazing. I guess I should add the usual disclaimer that it's not for everyone, but keep an open mind.
Much more subdued than the pu erh poe. All of the same flavors are there--the wood and damp mushrooms. However, the strong fish-like notes are absent.
Exquisite. Makes a bolder cup of tea than pu erh poe. Very smooth, earthy, great wet leather, mossy taste.
Lovely foresty, earthy taste. I like it much more than the Pu Erh Poe and don't mind using the leaves for more than one cup.
I ordered this tea because I cannot afford to always be buying the Masters ollection Yunnan Pu Erh Gold, but I was sad to discover that while this tea does have full body and nutty taste, it does not have the quirkiness and zing of the Masters tea.
I was very interested in tasting this magnolia bud tea but it does not smell or taste like magnolias. It tastes very green, like spinach water, which is not bad if that's what you want and very strong! But, I don't think I will get it agin for myself. I did try both Pu erh teas and find the Gold version a bit tastier.
Good entry too puerh in this product line. With puerh, quality is IMPORT NT, so I tend to use this selction as my low grade puerh, and use the (Gold Yunnan) when I want puerh to experience. This tea is fairly decent however, and what intially has fiery mushroom treelike mud aromas in the dry, evolves to a crisp [something I feel the (Puerh Poe) selection lacks] cup with soothing black tannin and gentle mouthfeel.
I had not tried a PuErh until now. It was a very nice, smooth cup of tea. The flavor was not too bold or weak - If all Pu Erh's tastes like this one, they may be my new favorite.
This tea has been a favorite of mine in adding some earthy, malty body to the blends I make, without any overpowering wet hay or horsey flavors that can sometimes happen in this family of teas.
definitely a very earthy sort of tea, but i like it. it's good in its own way.
I love the slightly smoky flavor of this tea. It becomes very dark and it still tastes good after steeping it several times
I was too disgusted by this tea to finish a single cup. The aroma is pungently fishy and salty like an old can of sardines, with a hint of soil. The flavor is the same with a thicker note of dry dirt, only slightly mushroomy if at all.
This is a very interesting tea. The aroma in the bag isn't very unusual, but the aroma in the cup is. It's definitely earthy, with something that reminds me of hay and farms(but reminded my 8-yr old of shrimp). The taste is very smooth, not at all bitter. It has an earthy/woodsy feel to it, and I did catch a bit of the mushroom flavor, too. It's almost like sipping a rich broth. Very nice on a cold afternoon.
I definitely have always liked Pu Erh with honey and I found this had a very lovely combination with it. Drinking the tea naked proved to be a little to musky for my palette.
This is the richest, blackest tea I have ever seen. It looks like coffee in the cup, and has a very rich hay flavor. It both smells and tastes like a stable, but not in a bad way. Very unique, so if you like something different, give it a try! Also works well to add earthy notes to a blend. Take note that this tea is VERY strong, so while you can steep it for up to 5 minutes, it may have all the flavor you want at 3.
Smells and tates kind of fishy. I wont be buying it again
It's earthy and smooth. It's this gorgeous burgundy colour when brewed, and unlike a lot of other teas, the scent of the leaves just gets stronger when you brew it. Honestly, it smells just like a farm. Tastes like a farm, too, like earth and hay. Add sugar and milk, and it tastes like a sweet, creamy farm. This doesn't sound like something I should find as delicious as I do. How is this so delicious? We just don't know, but it truly is very good.
This was my first taste of a pu erh tea, tried mostly because of all the unusual reviews, but it won't be my last! The drink brewed up dark- as in 'you can't see the bottom of the cup through the liquid' dark- with a definite red tinge. The scent wafting out of the cup was strong, rich and complicated. It reminded me of the scent that envelops you when you enter a well-kept working horse barn: there's a heavy overtone of dry, slightly sweet hay but also definite hints of leather and wood and a pervasive horsey muskiness. The flavor was strong, but smooth without the astringency or aftertaste I was expecting, and so unusual that I wound up adding sweetener and a touch of cream to my cup to move it a touch closer to my comfort zone. All of this sounds awful but, in fact, this tea is a very pleasant experience! This is not a tea that sits quietly in the background of your mind as you drink it
My uncle said this tasted like hay, but I love it. It's really nice blended with chais.
Strong Earthy flavor on the first brewing, I like to cut it with just a tiny bit of clove. very strong tea, I find this will last easily through three or four steepings when brewed english-style.
The color is very dark brown, I steeped it for 5 minutes. It has a smell somewhere in between hay bales and a fish smell. It actually kind of reminds me of the smell inside a pet store. I got it because I was intrigued by all the reviews here. Didn't add anything to it--it's definitely not what I'm used to drinking. You'd think with the way I described the smell that no one would actually be interested in trying it, but it's not bad. Not something I'll be drinking very often, perfectly content with the sample. Perhaps my taste buds aren't evolved enough yet, but I can't taste any creaminess or fig/dates like the description says.