Korean Pu-erh

Gongfu!

Finally getting around to trying this unique pu’erh that I grabbed with my Black Friday order. The dry leaf aroma is definitely intriguing; very dark and savory smelling but also rich and earthy. Steeped up, there’s an immediately brothy umami note that peaks my interest, and it’s met with such a thick and creamy liquor and taste. The first thing that came to milk was oat milk, but then also some kind of cream based stew. There’s of coarse earthiness, but it’s a bit more mellow than I expected and it almost feels relegated to be more of a grounding undertone anchoring the session but not defining it. The seamless merger of saline broth and dense cream find some sweetness in a molasses-like heavy brown note that emerges after a few infusions. Like many of the teas I’ve tried from Jeju Island, this is a very interesting tea and I feel like there’s just a special kind of richness to it that’s hard to put into words.

Honestly, it’s been several years since I last placed a Harney order and this last one was mostly driven by an interest in their new Disney teas. I was surprised to see they would be carrying something more “experimental” like this. Two very different sides to the same coin that is Harney! And, ultimately, I ended up getting the pu’erh, some of the Disney teas, and some fun stuff somewhere in the middle. I love a tea company that can kind of do it all!

Tea Photos: https://www.instagram.com/p/CoSQci_u4il/

Song Pairing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBVNhWnNa1A