2007 Mengku Palace Ripened Golden Buds Loose Pu'er

Third in my giant sample pack from Teavivre is a loose-leaf ripe pu'er from 2007. This tea comes from large-leaf plants in Lincang prefecture in Yunnan, right smack against the Burmese border, one of the strongest pu'er producing regions in the province.

The leaves are thin and well-formed, with rich shades of brown and some lighter, orange tips blended in. There's an aroma of dusty leather in the bag.

The first steeping is as dark as coffee with an aroma of earthy hay and tobacco. The first sip is surprisingly sweet and lacking in a lot of the musty flavour that tends to come with a ripe pu'er. There's almost an edge of mint in the aftertaste.

Second steeping carries on the dark coffee tone with a certain amount of sweetness creeping into the aroma. Floral notes start to emerge here, with flavours of orchids and burnished leather arising. There's an almost chocolate aftertaste, but again with the bright mint note.

The third steeping has lightened in colour to reddish brown, with a more musty, traditional pu'er aroma. The flavour has become really light, just sweetness and mild earthy notes with a hint of licorice at the end. It sort of peters out a bit by the third steeping, but it's still a pretty nice, honest pu'er.

2007 Mengku Palace Ripened Golden Buds Loose Pu'er at Teavivre