According to Chicago Tea Garden this tea is scented with rose petals. The dry cake smelled just as you would suspect of a rose tea but it was a bit earthy as well. It reminded me of the way soil smells right after a rain shower. I made this tea in a porcelain gaiwan using 212 degree water and 30 second steepings. The liquor was surprisingly light and clear for a pu-erh. In comparison, many of the pu-erh teas that I have tried had an almost opaque appearance.
Floral teas can be tricky. I find that they tend to be either under or over done most of the time. The pu-erh was definitely the dominating flavor here. It was smooth and somewhat sweet but also slightly astringent. The rose just barely peeks through at the end of each sip. It added a subtle sweetness that compliments the base tea well. I think they’ve managed to find a nice balance with this selection. I would definitely recommend this tea.
I know what you mean that floral teas can be tricky and are often either too subtle or too intense. I love it when the aromas blend such that you can't tell where the floral scent ends and the tea begins.
But it sounds like this is a different kind of tea, where the floral aspect is very subtle. Occasionally I find those that I really enjoy too.
This combination is just too intriguing…I'm going to have to try it at some point!