Wild Tea Qi Taoist Tea Crystal

Country of Origin: China
Leaf Appearance: like hardened lava
Ingredients: puerh tea
Steep time: 30 seconds
Water Temperature: 212 degrees
Preparation Method: porcelain gaiwan
Liquor: deep brown, cloudy

My curiosity got the better of me when I saw this puerh listed on Wild Tea Qi’s site. I had never seen anything quite like it. The product description reads:

There is a special method for processing the Puer so that it is in a concentrated crystal like rock form. It has a number of health benefits that have been shown in studies to help stabilize blood sugar levels, as well as with diabetes. It has also been shown to be a great weight loss drink. It is very convenient as you simply place a small piece into water and mix until it is dissolved.

I wasn’t sure exactly how to prepare it so I used my trusty gaiwan. The water almost immediately became a deep muddy brown. I think that I used too much crystal because tasted exactly how it looked. It was thick, muddy and astringent. The second time around I used less crystal and it was a vast improvement but still not exactly my cup of tea. I still found it very bitter although it was much more puerh-y than muddy on the second try. It’s probably not something I would buy again but it was certainly an experience. That being said, if you are someone who loves very strong puerh you might enjoy this a lot more than I did.

You can find out more about this tea here.