Teavana Pu with Tinny Taste

[khsheehan]

I just purchased 1/4 pound of tea from Teavana on my first visit there. I had been drinking tea from many locations for a long time, but I had never been to Teavana. The store looked nice but the salesman was a little pushy. He actually refused to sell me 1/8 pound of an Oolong that was $25.00 (I had 40 bucks so I couldn't afford any more). He told me that I wouldn't get a feel for whether or not I liked it even thought I just wanted to try it out. Whatever. So anyway I brought this cheaper Pu-erh home and noticed it had a very iron/tin taste to it. I have had multiple cups of it and the same taste is present every time. Is it possible that there is something wrong with the tea or even the container it's in? I wasn't sure if tea could get "corked" in a way that wine can. Thanks in advance.

[Proinsias]

My guess would be closer to crap tea than corked tea.

If you want to delve into the world of pu-erh a specialist vendor in that tea is the best place to start methinks. There is an awful lot of rather nasty loose leaf cooked pu-erh lurking in the tins of non-specialist vendors.

Pu-erh Shop or Hou de Asian Artmight be worth a look for decent pu-erh and for a more general selection of decent tea our hosts Adagio or Teaspring are great.

I'd advocate a load of samples, maybe an ounce or so each, over a few big bags of tea. I think all those listed above tend to sell tea in fairly small amounts or in sample packs and the online stores are unlikely to pressure you into buying loads of something you might not like.

[betta]

My guess would be closer to crap tea than corked tea.

Maybe it's too late, but at least this article gives a better picture of why the clerk refused to sell you some oolong.

[Drax]

I wonder where Teavana gets their pu'erh?

I've had some sheng ('raw,' or non-cooked pu'erh) that can taste metallic, or sort of a sharp astringency. Those aren't really the same thing, but sort of off in that direction of flavor. After now having tried a large variety of pu'erh, I can say that it's pretty rare. Is it on purpose? Hmmmmm, dunno.

I don't believe I've ever had a shu/shou (cooked pu'erh) with this quality. If the stuff you have is cooked and it tastes metallic, then I would say something is definitely wrong.

[TomVerlain]

Hmmm, it might not be a "metalic" taste, but rather a strawberry cream taste - easy to mix those two up.

Strawberry Slender Pu-Erh® Tea
A delicious duet of strawberry-cream and the subtle earthiness if Pu-Erh. A treat for any berry lover who likes the smoothness of a Pu-Erh.

[tony shlongini]

I just purchased 1/4 pound of tea from Teavana on my first visit there. I had been drinking tea from many locations for a long time, but I had never been to Teavana. The store looked nice but the salesman was a little pushy. He actually refused to sell me 1/8 pound of an Oolong that was $25.00 (I had 40 bucks so I couldn't afford any more). He told me that I wouldn't get a feel for whether or not I liked it even thought I just wanted to try it out. Whatever. So anyway I brought this cheaper Pu-erh home and noticed it had a very iron/tin taste to it. I have had multiple cups of it and the same taste is present every time. Is it possible that there is something wrong with the tea or even the container it's in? I wasn't sure if tea could get "corked" in a way that wine can. Thanks in advance.

When i find myself in similar situations, I usually tell the clerk the following-
"If I wanted a load of crap, I'd squeeze your head."

An eigth of a pound is over fifty grams, far more than enough to determine whether or not you enjoy the tea. If the clerk continues to suggest that it still wouldn't be enough to reveal the subtlety and nuance of the blend, you should remember that he was probably selling slacks in Macy's a week ago. He's there for one purpose only- to push their most profitable products. At the risk over oversimplification, I think you were just sold some poor tea.

If you want to enjoy pu'er, stick with sellers who specialize in it.

[shogun89]

+1 to Tony!!!!

[aKnightWhoSaysNi]

Hmmm, it might not be a "metalic" taste, but rather a strawberry cream taste - easy to mix those two up.

Strawberry Slender Pu-Erh® Tea
A delicious duet of strawberry-cream and the subtle earthiness if Pu-Erh. A treat for any berry lover who likes the smoothness of a Pu-Erh.

They have registered the use of Pu-Erh? Does Puerh city know about this?

[edkrueger]

I think its "Strawberry Slender Pu-Erh" that is registered. However, "Slender Strawberry Pu-Erh" should be fine.