Country of Origin: China
Leaf Appearance: small and dark, slightly curled
Water Temperature: 212 degrees
Steep Time: 30 seconds
Preparation Method: porcelain gaiwan
Liquor: gold
Gourdsmasher from Crimson Lotus Tea is a sheng, or raw puerh. There isn’t a lot of info given on it, but the one I had was from 2021. This company’s offerings are usually custom pressings, so that doesn’t concern me too much. I trust Glen and Lamu’s taste! Puerh is one of the few teas that can age well over time, so it may have settled down a bit since it was first made. My husband quite enjoyed the wrapper featuring a pixelly axe-wielding Viking. Each ball contains 5g of leaf, making them a perfect single-serving option. I love dragon balls because they’re also super portable.
Leaf
The leaves of Gourdsmasher were loosely compressed into a small ball shape with plenty of visible buds even before brewing. They unfurled very quickly after a quick rinse. It’s always fun seeing what they look like once they open up. I couldn’t resist taking a picture in the sunlight to really show them off. I prepared this tea gongfu style using a porcelain gaiwan. My water was fully boiling (212℉) with a steep time of 30 seconds. That was gradually increased across multiple infusions.
Liquor
Gourdsmasher brewed up a pretty gold colored liquor. The taste started surprisingly sweet with a viscous mouthfeel. The second infusion reminded me of opening a fresh bag of orchard hay. It had good energy, and I found myself in need of a snack pretty quickly. Crimson Lotus Tea called this tea a potent cha qi powerhouse. That might lead you to think the taste is strong, but it’s more of a feeling. The third infusion was fruitier with notes of anise. It was slightly more astringent but still quite pleasant. Overall, the taste was balanced and not very bitter. It kept its body across many gongfu infusions.
This tea would make for a great introduction if you’re just starting with sheng puerh, both because of the moderate flavor profile and low barrier to entry format. It’s also a great option to keep around for when you’re traveling. I think it would do well if brewed grandpa style.
Have you ever tried Gourdsmasher? Let me know your thoughts on it in the comments below!
Gourdsmasher Sheng sample provided for review by Crimson Lotus Tea.
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