Pu-erh tea

[flatbutt]

Anyone here into this fermented tea? Any tips or recos?

[TimT]

I like it

I was married to a Chinese woman for many years...and was exposed to this tea years ago

It can be really spendy.... Its usually impressively packed..

The tea I pictured was about $75... its about the size of a flat baseball...






You just break off a little piece and steep it in not quite boiling water..

[flatbutt]

TT do you have a preferred supplier?

[LWJ]

Funny. I did a tasting once. Thought it tasted like dirt.

Of course I like Dragonwell Green- which can be like car pee so what do I know.

[flatbutt]

Originally Posted by LWJ

Funny. I did a tasting once. Thought it tasted like dirt.

Of course I like Dragonwell Green- which can be like car pee so what do I know.

Some reviewers say it can taste musty if not treated properly.

[mjohnson]

While not a pu erh tea lover, I have bought some on a whim from Upton Tea Imports. What I got seemed fine per descriptions that I read there and elsewhere online. I have little to compare it to though.

I'm more of a black and green tea guy and besides Tetley bags for the office or for the travel-snack-bag I stick with loose leaf. They seem pretty solid on that front, as well they have many loose tisanes. I see no reason to go elsewhere.

Coffee was jacking with my stomach so other than the occasional espresso I've shifted to tea. 9yo daughter even likes it, though it is constant comment - as if she's channeling her long dead great grandparents. Boy does that aroma trigger memories...

[masraum]

I love Asian styles of tea. I used to drink only Japanese style teas. I branched out to oolong, darjeeling and pu-erh. Darjeeling was good. Oolong is a favorite, but the pu-erh was really good. THe place that I got it last time doesn't seem to have any right now which is unfortunate. If you find a good supply, post it here.

What I've found is important is that teas are brewed correctly. That means that the water temp is right and the amount of time is also correct. Doing it wrong can result in nasty tea (usually it becomes bitter).

I think pu erh has a somewhat unusual process. I think you run hot water over the tea, dump it and then steep it after the first rinse or something like that.

It seems like every time I find a place that's got tea that I like, they either stop selling that tea or go out of business.

I suspect I could get some good Chinese tea in Houston if I went to the Asian part of town, but I'd have no idea what was good.

[vash]

Originally Posted by flatbutt

Anyone here into this fermented tea? Any tips or recos?

FB I have some. believe it or not, my grandma gave it to my mom and she gave it to me. it is FRIGGEN old. it took several years to mow thru one disc. it's good. unique. has an earthiness, kinda like a dried mushroom.

I have one disc remaining that I kinda forgot about. my mom said it was expensive and damn near gasp when I broke a chunk off like chewing tobacco and toss it into hot water. I believe there is a process, and some fancy fork to break off sections with style. I dont have the tools or the style.

I'd be happy to snap off a section, jar it up like contraband and mail you some. I'm sure the drug dogs could use the testing.

let me know. disclaimer. my mom had it stored in layers of plastic and stuff. I put it into a ziplock and into an airtight plastic bin. I dont claim to have properly stored it according to any Chinese lore. it is dry. it could taste like a wet dog foot at this point. dunno. maybe I'll make some before I send you a hunk.

[vash]

Here it is. I dont haunt the forums like I used to..but I'll keep an eye out on this one.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by vash

FB I have some. believe it or not, my grandma gave it to my mom and she gave it to me. it is FRIGGEN old. it took several years to mow thru one disc. it's good. unique. has an earthiness, kinda like a dried mushroom.

I have one disc remaining that I kinda forgot about. my mom said it was expensive and damn near gasp when I broke a chunk off like chewing tobacco and toss it into hot water. I believe there is a process, and some fancy fork to break off sections with style. I dont have the tools or the style.

I'd be happy to snap off a section, jar it up like contraband and mail you some. I'm sure the drug dogs could use the testing.

let me know. disclaimer. my mom had it stored in layers of plastic and stuff. I put it into a ziplock and into an airtight plastic bin. I dont claim to have properly stored it according to any Chinese lore. it is dry. it could taste like a wet dog foot at this point. dunno. maybe I'll make some before I send you a hunk.

Originally Posted by vash

Here it is. I dont haunt the forums like I used to..but I'll keep an eye out on this one.

Always welcome/love your posts, Cliff!

Very cool!

And don't sell yourself short, you've got tons of style!

[911 Rod]

Originally Posted by TimT

Monkey brain?

[craigster59]

I've started to drink more tea lately. I used to be a Celestial Seasonings guy with Morning Thunder, Sleepytime and Tension Tamer as my go to teas.

I went to a Hot Tuna concert a few years back and they were selling Jorma and Jack's favorite teas at the "Merch Table". Excellent teas made by this company. Highly recommended, quality ingredients.

https://www.herbalsage.com/

My Niece and Nephew were somewhere in Asia where they drank a tea or coffee brewed from beans eaten and pooped out by some type of feral cats. No thanks.

Looks like it's "Civet Coffee"...

https://sipcoffeehouse.com/cat-poop-coffee/

[tabs]

Originally Posted by vash

FB I have some. believe it or not, my grandma gave it to my mom and she gave it to me. it is FRIGGEN old. it took several years to mow thru one disc. it's good. unique. has an earthiness, kinda like a dried mushroom.

I have one disc remaining that I kinda forgot about. my mom said it was expensive and damn near gasp when I broke a chunk off like chewing tobacco and toss it into hot water. I believe there is a process, and some fancy fork to break off sections with style. I dont have the tools or the style.

I'd be happy to snap off a section, jar it up like contraband and mail you some. I'm sure the drug dogs could use the testing.

let me know. disclaimer. my mom had it stored in layers of plastic and stuff. I put it into a ziplock and into an airtight plastic bin. I dont claim to have properly stored it according to any Chinese lore. it is dry. it could taste like a wet dog foot at this point. dunno. maybe I'll make some before I send you a hunk.

Like wine Puerh tea tastes better as it ages and a result INCREASES in price..

Style maybe? But gray matter no..

[tabs]

More than 10 years ago I posted about various types of Chinese teas...one of the Board members was gracious enough to buy a fair amount of Puerh tea in Singapore and send it to me...I made a donation to his favorite charity. I am grateful for his gesture.

[tabs]

Originally Posted by flatbutt

Anyone here into this fermented tea? Any tips or recos?

You mean mulched...

[flatbutt]

Originally Posted by vash

Here it is. I dont haunt the forums like I used to..but I'll keep an eye out on this one.

Thank you Vash that is very generous. Just enough for a taste test would be great!

PM on the way

[flatbutt]

Thanks Vash! It is dee-licious. And pairs nicely with dark chocolate truffles. Who knew?

[vash]

Originally Posted by flatbutt

Thanks Vash! It is dee-licious. And pairs nicely with dark chocolate truffles. Who knew?

glad you enjoyed it.! it changes up a bit if you cook it longer.