Notting Hall Pu-erh Jasmine

Description (from nottinghall.com): Not really green tea and not really black tea, but a very dark, semi-oxidized tea, this Pu-erh is combined with Pouchong, another semi-oxidized tea and jasmine petals to create a mysterious, full-bodied, but very fragrant blend. This is a complex brew, earthy, full-bodied, but very mellow and smooth. Pu-erh has long been valued for its medicinal benefits; especially enjoyed after an evening meal.

Review: I'm not going to lie. Pu-erh kind of scares me. Good pu-erh smells classic, and is the smoothest tasting tea of all time. Bad pu-erh smells like one of those geriatric rubber-soled shoes that old people wear. I am not a fan of jasmine, either, because it dominates all other flavors it's mixed with. A small jasmine leaf makes the entire cup of tea taste flowery, and that annoys me. Jasmine is not my friend.

I do love pouchong, though, and I am quick to give points for creativity in an endless world of generic "peach oolong" and "mango black tea." Come oooonnn! This one has been sitting on my counter for awhile. I was saving it for a day when I felt understimulated, intellectually challenged. Those are good days for pu-erh.

This is an incredibly interesting blend. Pu-erh, jasmine, and pouchong. It is one of the most complex teas I've ever tasted, and it is an awesome, awesome end product. If I liked jasmine more, I'd buy it again. It'd be a favorite. It has the aged, pu-erh taste, but is so smooth and relatively light compared to a great deal of other pu-erh, it has the flowery jasmine taste, and small fringes of lighter tea in it. It's so well-balanced and delicious. It has a ton of depth, and only takes small samples of each flavor it combines, which I love. It's fairly well balanced, but you mostly taste jasmine and pu-erh, with lighter tea undertones.

I definitely suggest this to anyone who enjoys jasmine or pu-erh, but also to someone who wants a tea that's super smooth and very complex. It's an awesome choice for people looking for something new and unique.

The Good: smooth, complex flavor, nice balance of three very different teas
The Bad: I generally dislike jasmine...and yet, still enjoy this tea (so not such a bad thing!)
More Information/Buy: Notting Hall Pu-erh Jasmine