2008 Raw Puerh Mini Cakes

As someone who has only rediscovered leaf teas in the last month or so, I had only tried Puerh once before, having heard of its reputation as a healthy drink but not knowing anything more about it. I now know it was a loose leaf "cooked" Puerh, but I seem to be one of those who finds the strong aroma of cooked Puerh a bit too dominant for my taste, so I was cautious but curious as I unwrapped my first tuo. Following JING's helpful instructions printed on the pack, I used my small glass gongfu pot, discarding the first brief infusion. The first proper infusion, about a minute, yielded a golden brew with a surprisingly smoky flavour with fruity apricot tones. A picnic in a shady forest with distant wood fire. The second infusion was initially less fruity and more grassy/mineral, but the apricot came through again as it cooled with a lingering aftertaste. For subsequent infusions I shorted the steeping time as advised on the pack. The flavour mellowed with the two notes of smoke and fruity sweetness becoming less distinct. The lingering aroma of incense in the dim light of a cathedral. The tea stood up well into the fifth infusion, and probably a sixth too, but by then I had to abandon my tea station and go run some errands. All in all an intriguingly complex tea that I would definitely drink again.