Today I am reviewing Gu Hua sheng puer tea from Verdant Tea, sourced from the Zhenyuan Dongsa Farmers Cooperative.
Table of Contents
Tea Specifications
Brand: Verdant Tea / Dongsa Cooperative
Tea: Gu Hua Sheng
Harvest: August, 2020
Location: Qianjiazhai, Mt. Ailao, Yunnan, China
Elevation: 2,140 Meters
Tea Varietal: Qianjiazhai Assamica
Review
I decided to brew this tea in a small Yixing purple clay teapot which is dedicated to puer tea.
Spring water was used.
First Steep
Steeped for 20 seconds.
This is a young puer tea, and well, it also tastes like one.
Flavor is both brash and mild, with a bit of a tingling sensation, but less bitterness then I expected.
Notes of root vegetable, hay, marigold, moss, and browned toast.
I have actually tried this tea once before, and it tastes a little different this time.
Second Steep
Steeped for 30 seconds.
Much more bitter now, but not necessarily as bitter as it could be for a puer.
Notes of forest herbs have developed and it is perhaps a bit more floral as well.
In my opinion, it’s an enjoyable drink, but it’s definitely not a top-grade puer.
Mild mouth-feel, thin texture, and the flavors aren’t very complex, but it’s not an expensive puer either.
Third Steep
Steeped for 40 seconds.
A bit of an apricot jam note has developed.
Not really as astringent as you would expect from the third steep of a young puer.
Mouth-feel is still light.
The leaves look very green in the teapot.
Fourth Steep
Steeped for 50 seconds.
The flavors seem to come together more in the fourth steep.
This is probably the most balanced-tasting and enjoyable steep so far.
Conclusion
I would say it is worth the price, because it is relatively cheap for a puer tea, but there are definitely much better puer teas out there.
