It’s been a few years since I’ve had one of these mini tuocha that Kawaii433 sent in a swap (I hope all is well out there, miss!). I received a few of these as a freebie in my most recent order with Mandala and brewed one gongfu tonight so I figured I’d give another review.
This is the mellowest, most potentially inoffensive shou I’ve ever tasted. Dark in color but not in taste. Earthy but never overbearing; hay, leather, still getting a touch of autumn leaf. Light sweetness and bitterness. Stable, simple and pleasant through every steep, of which I got a good amount. Very low caffeine. I don’t think I’d go out of my way to purchase these, but it’s a nice break from some of the strong shou that I gravitate toward.
[Initial rating 74]
Flavors: Autumn Leaf Pile, Earth, Hay, Honeysuckle, Leather, Smooth
I’ve never managed to figure out pu’erh, but this sounds like it might be a good place to start!
It’s definitely worth a try :) Mandala has good, clean ripes with a range from simple to complex.