As I cannot drink alcohol on this diet I plan on having a Pu Erh tea night, tasting some samples I received from a tea seller in Yunnan, China.
This one was chosen at random from my box of over 50 flavours. Honeysuckle smells sweet and floral so I imagine the taste will be similar which I must admit sounds a delightful combination. Pu erh’s earthy lightness with a sweet floralness, the idea has left me grinning. (See who needs a glass of wine when you can have this?).
Colour is your standard ripe Pu Erh. See through browny red (almost like treacle or golden syrup).
Smell wise you note the strong Pu Erh smell that is earthy and almost medicinal. I cannot detect anything else purely by smell.
Yum, Yum, Yum! As imagined this is earthy but with sweetness and still very light. The floralness actually reminds me of Darjeeling (fresh, floral, light) but a darker version which is where the Pu Erh kicks in. Sometimes ripe Pu Erh can be a little tangy or bitter but the honeysuckle takes it away and levels the tea out nicely. There we go a few sips in and I feel that Pu Erh buzz that I always get.
This tea suits my Friday night on the sofa and it comforts my crappy day at work :)