Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Tea review: Puerh

Pu-erh style tea is a post-fermented tea, kind of like a black tea but not really. It can be aged for several years and is often found as the tea that does the rounds in Yum Cha restaurants and dumpling houses. I purchased this particular tea from T2.

What the box says

"This tea is highly prized in China as a digestive aid and health 'tonic'. Low in tannins with an earthy flavour."

I agree, it is an enjoyable postprandial tea, more for its refreshing and cleansing nature then as any noticeable aid to digestion. There is not much danger from getting too tanniny either, its hard to stuff up the brew and is probably why it is often used as a compliment to yum cha or dumpling dining.

Brewing process

I let the boiling water cool for about 20 - 30 seconds in the jug (water temp about 90 degrees Celsius) before pouring directly onto the leaves. I use 2 teaspoons of tea for a three cup pot. I prefer the taste after about 2 minutes brewing, but if left longer it will not ruin the tea, the smokiness will just increase.

Finally, I let the tea cool until quaffable as it is a good tea with which to swallow a large mouthful and roll it around the mouth.

Appearance and Smell

Brewed as above and in a glass teacup, the tea appears a dark burnt orange brown colour. It can be very dark, almost black in the teapot.

The leaves smell like the New Zealand bush, a kind of pleasant decomposing wood matter smell (it sounds horrible, but is actually quite nice). It also has quite a noticeable smell once brewed, a light charcoal aroma.

Taste and Mouthfeel

Again it is a light smoky flavour that dominates, with a subtle woody taste. It is a very light, pleasant and refreshing taste overall. There is a subtle sweetness that appears if you roll it around in your mouth.

Feels very cleansing in the mouth but leaves a pleasant gritty feel. It is a very refreshing, very cleansing.

Overall

I love this tea. It is a versatile tea that I can drink first thing in the morning to wash away the night, in the afternoon to pick me up, or early evening after dinner. It is refreshing with a subtle woody smokey flavour that I have not tasted in any other type of tea. It is unique and delicious. 8.5/10

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