This is the same tea that can be purchased in large boxes in some Asian markets. It is not the same as the loose-leaf teas sold in Ten-Ren's stores. After being impressed with Ten Ren's 3rd grade pouchong, this one, which is about the same price, was sorely disappointing.

Dry leaf, which is mostly larger pieces of broken leaf, has little aroma. Brewing, this tea is bland, and the aroma is mostly a sort of stale, woody aroma that I normally only encounter in mid-oxidation Chinese oolongs of low quality. Flavor is smooth and pleasant, but there are none of the floral or vegetal tones that make pouchong tea enjoyable to me.

I would not recommend buying this one. It's perfectly drinkable, but in my opinion, a waste of money, especially when you can buy (in the store, or online) Ten Ren's 3rd grade pouchong tea for about the same price. I find it irritating that they even sell this, in the same price range, when it's really not anywhere near as good -- carrying an inferior product alongside a superior one is totally unnecessary, and tarnishes their brand's image.

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