This is a Spring 2025 raw puer from Farmerleaf.
Brewing setup: 7g in a gaiwan brewed at 95C
Dry leaf aroma: super fragrant the moment it’s unwrapped. Strong dried apricot aroma.
Wet leaf aroma: dried apricots, jasmine flowers, grass clippings, some earthiness
Tasting notes: intense jasmine florals, dried apricot sweetness that lingers in your throat, some grassiness on later steeps. Very little bitterness or astringency, though there is some drying mouthfeel when pushed.
Overall, this tea is very tasty and elegant, but still easy to drink on a daily basis. I got the full cake on a whim without trying a sample just based on the reviews of the tea and the relative affordability ($45 for a 357g cake), and I’m happy I went for it. I’ve had it for a couple of weeks now and it’s great both grandpa style and in the gaiwan. This is the first raw puer that my partner has really enjoyed due to the low bitterness and astringency. She said that before I told her it was a puer, she would’ve guessed it was an oolong based on how floral and sweet it was.
Yeah it’s quite tasty and I recommend it. I’m even tempted to go for their Gulan cake after I get through this one, which is supposed to be the fancier version of this cake. At $150 for the 357g cake though, I’ll need to do a little more convincing myself to pull the trigger, but I bet it’ll be worth it based on how good this one is.