Once again I've been exploring the offerings of a lovely tea shop that opened up fairly recently in Helsinki. Expect a deluge of TTNs
Putharyhora FFFTGFOP1 Dooars 3,90€/40 grams
A lovely black tea. It is somewhere between lightness and fragrance of Darjeeling and the power of Assam and has a hauntingly beautiful scent: floral, verging on honeyed yet with all the savouriness of black tea. Thought I brewed it very strong (at just under boiling point for 5 mins with lots of leaves - I love strong, tannic tea) it never became harsh. It is like a fine youngish Bordeaux: lots of finesse, lots of tannins but they are soft, and a fine body savoury and fruity at the same time. A lovely tea. And aromatic enough that all HC fans of green tea would surely enjoy it also!
Emperor Pu Erh Vintage 2000 4€/25 grams
Pu Erh is an oddity in that, like some wines, it imroves with age. This six year old was lovely stuff: an intensely vegetal scent of damp earth - all lovers of funky wines must try out Pu Erh! The palate is full bodied like a Viognier with little obvious structure but is cohesive and balanced and the lovely earthiness is again in full stride! I love this stuff, but I don't think Pu Erh will ever be a popular tea - it is just a bit too perverse I guess, just like Musar
-O-