Toucha Pu-erh

I do like this tea it’s all that they say it is and this is only day 2

At USD$27⁶², this is not the cheapest Pu Erh; all the more so, when you consider that 100g is less than a quarter of a pound (see photo). But I keep looking for that powerful Pu Erh aroma, ever since I moved to the US, from Chile, last year. This is still not it. Many tea commentators deride those of us who seek that redolence of garden compost, but that, to me, is the thrill of a “good” Pu Erh. I bought this, prompted by a reviewer who warned us of the “fishy smell and bitterness of a bad pu'er.” That is certainly not what I found. Not bad tea, but mild. Several reviewers complain that the cake is too hard to break up. It is harder than most, agreed, but that has such a simple solution: leave the “nest” overnight in a large cup, with a tiny amount of water! [After that, of course, you have three or four days to consume it before it molds (moulds), unless you dry it again: sunlight, microwave, whatever.]

I have been drinking this tea every week since purchase. I have brewed it in a portable gong-fu filter/decanter at work discarding the first cup as per tradition. 1. The tea was as pictured if not a little darker 2. I use a good amount per brew session (> 3g) 3. The water I used was Kentwood water using 3 parts hot and 1 part cold to normalize the temperature The first several brews are quite flavorful and actually a little overpowering, prompting me to under-steep the first 3 or so. I find the flavor is best when the color of the liquor is only lightly honey (or for those technically inclined, about #efe7a8) for these first brews. Afterwards the flavor drops steeply, prompting a normal-to-over-steep where the color is a deep honey, of course this is all purely subjective. If I had to sum up the tasting notes in a single sentence, I would describe it as a seaside, earthy blend width a semi-dry finish. That kind of belies the almost fishy aftertaste that comes with some raw pu-erh that I've been warned is a sign of poor quality. However, as I'm not yet expert in the field of tea, it does not bother me especially as the caffeine or tea-high from this brew is substantial. The effects from drinking 4 cups of gong-fu brewed tea is delightful. A fun sort of airy feel with a cerebral effect and a calm clarity. Any more than this has given me an off-balance feeling leading into a headache if I push it. I hope this helps others to identify whether they would like this or not, although this is purely subjective, I tried to present as much as possible objectively.

Good tea but not worth the cost. Will not be buying it again.