★★★★★
I think this is my new favorite. Such a wonderful flavor!
Generously sized for teapot brewing, this extra-large pearl gives the term tea ball new meaning.
Customers use these reviews to describe their experience with Pu-Erh Pearls, 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 think this is my new favorite. Such a wonderful flavor!
I loved the taste of these pearls. The only bad thing I would say is I didn't use a good tumbler or steeper. The tea ball separates easily, so in a regular tumbler you will have lots of leaves in your mouth.
These awesome nuggets are easy to brew and satisfy that craving for something bold, deep and smooth. No tannic bite. Lovely after dinner if coffee is calling. Thanks again Adagio for another favorite straight tea!!
I really wanted to love this tea, but I only just like it. It isn't as malty and strong flavored as some other pu erh teas I've tried.
I actually enjoy the taste of the tea. I just do not enjoy the smell.
Very interesting tea. I steep one pearl at 195 degrees F for two minutes per glass, and reuse the same pearl for at least five more steeps. The flavor holds up well over many steepings. The smell is very earthy and taste is very umami/savory. In fact, it greatly reminds me of Japanese dashi broth, and drinking a cup of the tea warms you like a cup of soup.
A nice pu erh, beautiful presentation, we recently took some as a gift for a hostess. They were well-received.
Very strong, and not my personal preference. It wasn't the worst, but not the best either.
this is my favorite of the pu erh choices on adagio's website. I love the earthy, 'barnyard' flavor! great dark, rich tea
This is a great choice when you feel like something with strong full-body flavor (without the sharp/bitter taste that sometimes comes from adding more or steeping longer your tea). One ball is enough for a small pot and can be reused a second time for a lower-caffeine but still flavorful cup.
I was very surprised with tea, the first time having tried a pu erh. My default has been black tea but for the foreseeable future this will be the new standard.
It has heavier feel to it and a more complex taste. Would definitely recommend at least giving this a sample.
Nice strong flavor that stood up to multiple steeps.
This is a nice pu erh, not anything exciting but a good and wonderful example of this type of tea. It is kind of fun to watch the little ball unfurl in the teapot. It holds up well to a long steep and I like mine with a bit of cream.
This tea has a very interesting and complex taste. it's very earthy and warm. Easy to prepare. I just drop one pearl into my infuser and enjoy at my leisure.
Nice coffee substitute. Eye opening first thing in the morning tea for me.
Have a very odd flavor when warm but as an iced tea it isn't bad.
I'm still exploring this tea. My fiance brought a large circular block of this type of tea back from China on his last business trip. I tried it but thought it was quite bad. The only words that repeatedly came to mind were 'swamp water'. It smells off to me..a weird, water logged-piece-of-wood type smell that's kind of hard to describe. Marshy..kind of mildewy-smelling? I believe this is due to the aging/fermenting process. Still, I thought I'd try Adagios version. Still the same odor though not nearly as strong as the stuff I have directly from China. It's a strange taste, but not terrible. I am trying to give my buds some time to adjust to this new flavor. Also agree w/ previous reviewer about vague steeping instructions. I don't make 'teapots' of tea. I made a cup for myself. I used one ball in approx. 8-9 oz of water, but when I saw how much was unfurling..I pulled some out. I think 1/2 of 1 ball is good for one 8 oz cup, for 4 minutes. I think it's worth a try if you're seeking a new tea flavor.. but Adagio should clarify instructions on packet for single service use.
good taste and flavor...
Absolutely great. It was better than I was expecting. I used two pearls per teapot (it's 22oz), and it came out a perfect strength. I had it at a lower temperature though, because It's how my boiler is set.
I have become a huge fan or Pu Erh tea and the Pearls are no exception. I find I can get 2-3 steepings. Although I prefer the Poe and Dante the best, it's always such a treat to watch the pearls unfurl and get a blast of rich scent and a nice rich cup of tea. A very unique tea!
Love this tea. Easily replaces a cup of coffee on the weekend. And you can't over steep it.
Very, very earthy tea. High heat really unlocks the flavor. Has a wonderful fermented taste to it, reminds me a little bit of wine.
Awesome Pu-erh. If you are new to this type of tea, this is a great start with a lot of lingering sweetness.
Wonderfully large pearls. I use one per cup of water. The tea itself appears darker than a typical black tea but the taste is milder. Less bitter and crisp, earthy notes give way to a bit of smoke. A wonderful afternoon tea that takes a second steep quite well.
I am what you consider an amateur tea drinker, so I may not be qualified to assess this tea, but the product taste very earthy.
Has quite a earthy taste to it and one can bury themselves in how great this tea is!
Great for multiple infusions. Use for pu-erh dalian teapots.
This is very interesting. I use one pearl per two cups water. It brews so dark I thought it looked like coffee and was worried. But it's actually rather mild. It goes well with a little sweetener or without. The earthy qualities are a lot less in this than with other pu erhs. Very surprising.
This tea was very nice in aroma but not great on flavor
Great flavor. This is the only tea that makes rotting fish and mud taste really good.
I love the taste of pu erh, and I'm a big fan of these perfectly sized tea balls. On my way out in the morning, I just drop one in my tea canister and I'm good to keep refilling and drinking for the rest of the morning!
The tea smells a bit like leather, but it has a warm and earthy flavor and a lighter bright aftertaste.
These pu erh pearls are the best pu erh I have tried so far. The pearls are convenient, being about two cups worth of tea to a pearl. When properly steeped the tea pours out with an unusual peach colored tint, but darkens to pitch black as the cup fills. The taste is very earthy, and pleasant. The tea is good for multiple infusions, though I would suggest increasing the steeping time by a few minutes for each successive steeping. Don't worry, it won't get bitter.
Excellent, with robust aroma. I have brewed same leaves five times. Buy quantities...
Tasted like Suede leather. Not my cup of tea, but my cat went wild for the smell.
I'm frustrated with the instructions for this relatively high-priced tea. I really want to enjoy it as intended. The tea is formed into a large ball (just as described) but there are only generic instructions for steeping '1 tsp per cup ...'. How the heck am I supposed to measure this. I bought this because I thought the balls of tea would be fun to brew in a teapot (which is also mentioned). But there is no other information about what size teapot to use or other measurements related to using these balls. Disappointing that I apparently have to just wing it and experiment, and waste money on trying to come up with something that works for this tea. So far, I am not impressed with how it is brewing, but maybe with some better information from Adagio, customers like me could enjoy this better. At this point, I would not want to risk re-ordering this again. Sorry.
Real Puerh comes in a brick and involves some special preparation. These pearls make it easy, but I don't think they are the best quality pu tea you can get. Good enough for daily use though, and very savory. Hold up well through multiple steepings. In fact, I recommend that to truly explore this amazing tea.
This is exactly what I was looking for... an easy, tasty, intro to pu'erh! While it is obvious there are more complex things out there, I feel that this was a great start and something I'd return to anyhow.
Nice pearls fit in my tea ball and good full earthy flavor and aroma.
Lovely gentle flavors. It needs nothing added in my opinion. Just steep for a few minutes.
A simple flavor that never gets old or too strong. It's also not typo weak for those who enjoy strong teas.
This is my first experience with pu erh tea and based of the previous reviews I had a decent idea of what to expect.
My first steep, 2 cups for 5 min @ 212, yielded a dark brew with a sharp fish smell (no fish flavor...just smell). The flavor was definitely woodsy with a slight bitterness. I didn't wash or rinse the pearl first as a previous reviewer mentioned. It was good but strong. Oddly enjoyable...very hard to describe.
While tasting my first steep, I poured another 2 cups of 212 water into the open and lively pu erh leaves for another 5 minute steep. This cup smelled more inviting and earthy. The taste was much smoother and gratifying. A lighter color tea was produced and the woodsy flavor was still noticeable but diminished from the first cup.
Intriguing tea for sure. I'm not hooked but I'm looking forward to trying more steeps and different steep times. I can see this not being for everyone but its definitely worth a try.
An earthy tea with a clean flavor. It was totally lovely :)
I love the earthy taste and the fact that there is no bite no matter how strong it is brewed. One pearl handles multiple infusions. I like to put one in my travel mug in the morning and keep adding more water during the day.
This tea is very earthy, smooth, and bold. It's wonderful as a breakfast tea. Highly caffeinated, which will wake you up and give you energy, but its taste allows you to still enjoy it peacefully and calmly as you try and start your day.
If you like a more burnt or aged taste these are perfect for you. I've been drinking many teas but this one stands out with a very weird smell and great taste.
This might be my new favorite. Very satisfying, smooth, pleasantly strong, and earthy. A great coffee substitute, with lovely depth of flavor. I've seen the smell described in several different ways, here-- I'm not sure how to describe it myself, but it's very pleasant! The pearls are very large and I've been able to re-brew three times with one of them-- well worth it. This is definitely a tea to try if you are looking for something stronger-tasting without an acidic or acrid bite. Tl.dr: This tea tastes like quality, if quality were a flavor.
I've been doing just one big pearl in my 40oz teapot and it's working perfectly. The tea itself is dark and smooth.
In one word, this tea is Funky. But I mean that in the best way possible!
We are huge fans of pu-erh, and have tried many of the varieties that adagio offers. This one is our favorite. It has excellent flavor and rebrews very well. While it is still not quite a traditional brick, it is a good for buying in bulk. This tea seems to be very popular, and we had to wait several months to re-order. We are very much looking forward to getting our shipment!