Witch’s Broom Raw Puerh Tea (2001) from New Mexico Tea Co.

witchesbroom

Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  Pu-erh

Where to Buy:  New Mexico Tea Co.

Tea Description:

A bizarre and wonderful tea. This aged green puerh tea is made up of extraordinarily large tea leaves that have been gathered into small bundles (hence the name). It has a marvelous flavor and delivers a lighter, sweet taste with a lingering aftertaste of dark peaches or plums. We recommend six to eight leaves per cup with multiple steepings.

Learn more about this tea here.

Taster’s Review:

I ordered this 2001 Witch’s Broom Raw Puerh Tea with my last order from New Mexico Tea Company, mostly because I found the tea’s appearance to be so intriguing!  It really does look like the bristles of a witch’s broom!

With the leaves on the darker side, I was surprised at the color of the liquid produced when I brewed the leaves.  And, I’m used to Pu-erh teas producing a rather dark liquor, but, this is quite pale.  But … the flavor is LOVELY!

I decided to take this tea through its paces and go for at least six infusions.  However, because of the size of the leaves, I couldn’t fit them in my gaiwan without breaking them … and I just couldn’t bring myself to doing that!  So, I brewed them in a larger vessel (my Smart Tea Maker did the job very nicely).

The first infusion (following a quick 15 second rinse) delivered just what I was promised with the above description from New Mexico Tea Company … a sweet, light taste with notes of fruit.  I don’t know that I taste peaches or plums just yet, but, there is definite sweet fruit notes here.  There are notes of earth, but I’m pleased to report that the earthy tones are subdued and off in the background.

With each subsequent infusion, this tea became sweeter and sweeter.  By the third infusion, I began to pick up on more of the fruity notes that were promised in the description … I can definitely taste stone fruit … a sweet plum and hints of peach.  Amazing!

By the time I reached my fourth infusion, I was really delighted with how sweet this tea had become.  It’s so sweet and mellow and the fruity notes evoke thoughts of a thinned fruit nectar.  Very nice, indeed.

I stopped at six infusions … not because the tea was ready to quit on me, but because it was time to go to bed!  This is truly an amazing Pu-erh.  I highly recommend it to those looking for a unique Pu-erh that is less earthy and more sweet and fruit-like!

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