Taste of pu erh

[thanks]

Even the greatest tea will taste awful if you brew it a certain way. Exactly how are you brewing your teas?

[spittingoutteeth]

Keep in mind that you're drinking tea that is deliberately aged and stored. If you're expecting it to taste like a green tea, it's just not going to. While I would recommend trying some good puerh samples before giving up completely, it's also possible that you just don't like the taste of puerh. Puerh is supposed to be earthy and subtle, and if these are not flavors that you appreciate, it may just not be the tea for you.

[Ritva]

If there is mildew smell you need to air the tea. Pu erh needs to breathe. If it's kept in a foil bag or other air-tight container it can get mildew smell. It's better to keep pu erh in a paper bag or cardboard box. If you let the tea sit in a paper bag for a couple of weeks the mildew smell can disappear. It's always a got idea to let newly acquired pu erh to rest and acclimatize for a couple of weeks, especially if it comes from a climate that is very different from yours.

[wng]

Even the greatest tea will taste awful if you brew it a certain way. Exactly how are you brewing your teas?

I am going to get a gaiwan and try to brew it correctly, however, I don't think the musty mildew and fish smell and tastes came from brewing, those things are in that tea, the 2 I liked didn't seem to have any of those problems, but I am looking into the brewing to see if it helps anyway. thanks

[wng]

Keep in mind that you're drinking tea that is deliberately aged and stored. If you're expecting it to taste like a green tea, it's just not going to. While I would recommend trying some good puerh samples before giving up completely, it's also possible that you just don't like the taste of puerh. Puerh is supposed to be earthy and subtle, and if these are not flavors that you appreciate, it may just not be the tea for you.

Some seem to be age differently than others, I liked 2, so how ever those were aged was good, they didn't taste as musty, less of a basement smell and no fish, they were closer to some keemuns I have tried but different, more complex. I would like to figure out how to avoid the musty fishy ones and try more like the ones I liked

thanks

[wng]

If there is mildew smell you need to air the tea. Pu erh needs to breathe. If it's kept in a foil bag or other air-tight container it can get mildew smell. It's better to keep pu erh in a paper bag or cardboard box. If you let the tea sit in a paper bag for a couple of weeks the mildew smell can disappear. It's always a got idea to let newly acquired pu erh to rest and acclimatize for a couple of weeks, especially if it comes from a climate that is very different from yours.

I will take some out and let it breathe for a while ad see if it helps. its realy dry here right now so I don't know if it will help. maybe when it gets warmer it will help more.
thank you

[entropyembrace]

I think the easiest way to avoid puerh that has off tastes to it is to buy a vendor that doesn´t stock them...I buy most of my puerh from Jing Tea Shop because their tastes match mine pretty well...

The other thing you can do is buy from a vendor with detailed descriptions that you trust so you have a pretty good idea what you´re buying ahead of time...Yunnan Sourcing is really good that way, he´ll warn you about any off tastes from fermentation.

Also it would be worth sticking to the major brand names from reputable vendors...there´s lots of information on the main productions brands like from Xiaguan and Menghai Dayi so you´ll have a pretty good idea what you´re getting ahead of time.

Tuochas can be fine btw...I had one from Xiaguan and another from Feng Qing that were both delicious...leaves were low grade but still very drinkable and enjoyable tea.

[tony shlongini]

unfortnately, I have to say that what you are sampling is for the lack of a better word is essentially crap. Need to have someone with a bit of knowledge pick some better teas for you.

+1

There is a reason that there are so many posts about pu'er. When you finally taste a representative example, you'll see why.

[Skippyandjif]

I probably did it completely wrong, but when I first tried pu-erh, I got some looseleaf because I had read somewhere that it had the least strong taste. I have been working my way up to bricks, etc. (budget permitting) ever since, and haven't experienced any problems. Admittedly, pu-erh may just be something that some people love and others don't...

I do agree with the people who are stressing brewing/steeping techniques. Those can make or break any kind of tea.

If you live near a Chinatown of any sort, maybe you could try looking into some tea shops there? I've had really good luck with some places in NYC.

[hop_goblin]

I probably did it completely wrong, but when I first tried pu-erh, I got some looseleaf because I had read somewhere that it had the least strong taste. I have been working my way up to bricks, etc. (budget permitting) ever since, and haven't experienced any problems. Admittedly, pu-erh may just be something that some people love and others don't...

I do agree with the people who are stressing brewing/steeping techniques. Those can make or break any kind of tea.

If you live near a Chinatown of any sort, maybe you could try looking into some tea shops there? I've had really good luck with some places in NYC.

Indeed, puerh creates a dicotomy of people, "like it or or not". Frankly, I was in love with the stuff the first sip. People can learn to appreciate it but will will never enjoy it like some. I think it's usless to learn "how to appreciate" the flavors since there are so many other teas out there to drink than wasting time "learning" how to "like" a particular one because of hype.

[entropyembrace]

The first puerh I tried was disgusting...it tasted like dust and dirt with an undertone of mould and it smelled like manure...
I don´t think it matters how you brew horrible tea like that it will still taste bad...and I´m afraid that´s the kind of introduction a lot of people who hate puerh get.

Took me a long time after that experience to work up the courage to order a Xiaguan tuocha from Jing Tea Shop...that experience was MUCH better...it tasted like dried fruits and dark chocolate Mmmmmmmm delicious

[debunix]

I think it's usless to learn "how to appreciate" the flavors since there are so many other teas out there to drink than wasting time "learning" how to "like" a particular one because of hype.

I think there's an important issue that is relevant to a lot of the people posting and learning from this forum, who do not have easy access to high quality teas brewed by experts, and who are trying to expand their tea horizons: was the experience unpleasant because of poor quality teas, less than ideal brewing technique, or because this is a class of tea that just doesn't agree with him?

I could have been quite happy just drinking my Ti Kuan Yin and Jasmine forever, but am really glad I bought that first puerh and tried it. I was lucky to get one I liked at first sip. And I'm also glad I kept working with green teas until I found ways to brew them enjoyably. It has not been a matter of retraining my palate, but of learning skills to brew the teas that, per my reading in books and online, seemed like they should fit my palate.

I have, however, given up on teas from C. sinensis v assamica, until someone can brew me a cup that I like, and give me new hope to go forward.

[wng]

I do agree with the people who are stressing brewing/steeping techniques. Those can make or break any kind of tea.

If you live near a Chinatown of any sort, maybe you could try looking into some tea shops there? I've had really good luck with some places in NYC.

I am going try proper brewing techniques, hopefully the Chinese grocery close to me has a gaiwan and I can give it a shot this weekend.
The last time I was in NYC Chinatown (about 10 years ago) I barely saw any tea at all. Maybe I just missed it?

[wng]

Indeed, puerh creates a dicotomy of people, "like it or or not". Frankly, I was in love with the stuff the first sip. People can learn to appreciate it but will will never enjoy it like some. I think it's usless to learn "how to appreciate" the flavors since there are so many other teas out there to drink than wasting time "learning" how to "like" a particular one because of hype.

If I don't like something right away I still keep trying, there are a lot of things I hated at first but love now like lapsang souchong or natto. I definitely think Ill try some better pu before giving up on it.

[wng]

Also it would be worth sticking to the major brand names from reputable vendors...there´s lots of information on the main productions brands like from Xiaguan and Menghai Dayi so you´ll have a pretty good idea what you´re getting ahead of time.

I am going to try some Menghai Dayi next so hopefully it will go better.

thanks