When I noticed Caramel Pu-erh offered as a sample, I jumped at the opportunity to try it. I love the earthy quality of pu-erh and I tried to imagine that rich earthy flavor mixing with the sweetness of caramel. In my mind, it sounded amazing. The tea is presented in loose-leaf form in small, broken leaf fragments. The color is very pretty, a nice mixture of browns and tans. The smell, as I had imagined, was earthy and sweet. The earthiness was rather mild compared to other pu-erhs though and had a subdued quality about it.
I was unable to find brewing recommendations on the website, so I went with one heaping teaspoon of leaf in water brought to a boil and allowed to cool, with a five-minute steep. The cup was a deep and rich brown, reminiscent of brewed coffee.
The flavor was close to what I had imagined. The pu-erh made a wonderful base and contributed a gentle, soil-like earthiness. The caramel was a little light in the overall flavor profile, but it quietly made its presence known. Overall, the two blended wonderfully and made for a very tasty cup. I wouldn’t classify this as a dessert tea however, so if you were looking for a rich and creamy treat, you would likely be disappointed. Rather, this tea would be great for those interested in pu-erh with a little twist.
