Tea Type: Pu-erh
Where To Buy: The Tao of Tea
Product Description:
Mini Puer Tuocha has a characteristic full-bodied and earthy flavor. Can endure long steeping times without gaining any astringency and can be re-infused at least three times.
Tasters Review:
I’m continuing to tinker and try messing around with Pu-erh’s. This one – Puer Tuocha (Xiao Tuo Cha) from The Tao of Tea – is so involved and so complex that the only way I can describe it is to break it down by infusions. Each infusion had a mind of it’s own. This aspect alone intrigued me! So without further a due here are my findings…
For the 1st infusion I went 2 minutes and found that the post infusion liquid color was a Lighter Brown. The aroma isn’t as wormy/fishy as most pu-erhs and I was very happy about that! The taste was VERY velvety and smooth and lighter tasting with slightly earthy yet honey and cocoa type flavors mixed in.
My 2nd infusion I went with 3 minutes and thought it was much darker in color. It had a bit more earthy/wormy scent to it and the taste was a hint sweeter. It was still quite velvety and smooth.
At this point I KNEW this little guy was the “Little Tuocha That Could” and I was eager to taste the differences from one infusion to another!
As for my 3rd infusion I decided to go with 4 minutes. It was even darker than the first two color-wise! This specific infusion did smell earthy but not wormy at all. It was a bit sweeter than the 2nd infusion but there is a ricey-type taste hiding underneath this time. It’s interesting…the aftertaste is a little nutty but malty and more like a bold black tea.
I moved on to a 4th infusion and stuck with the 4 minutes. I found it to be jJust as dark as the 3rd infusion. It smelled like black tea with a hay-like aroma as well. It was more woodsy-tasting and more malty and less sweet but still velvety.
This is a Very Sturdy Tuocha! And darn tasty, too! If you are into playing around with Pu-erh’s – I would suggest you spend some time with this one!
