Wow. Exceptional, unique. The dry leaf of this smells completely unlike any other tea I've tried...and so does the cup when brewed. The leaf smells like honey and flowers, but with a smoky quality. Definitely the smoothest raw Pu-erh I've ever had that was effectively un-aged (being less than a year old when I tried it).

Upon brewing, 3 minutes as recommended but with less leaf, produces a cup with an intense and unique herbaceous character. Some rather edgy smells, almost skunky and tobacco like, or suggestive of the hops in beer. There's also a strong fruitiness, suggestive of grape, and not muscat grape like Darjeelings, but more like concord grape. I love it!

Very enjoyable to drink when hot. Has a pleasant, cooling effect, much like a green tea with a little more depth. When the cup cools, I don't like the flavor as much. The mouthfeel is very smooth so it tastes a little thin when cold, but still enjoyable.

Easily brews three cups from the same set of leaves. Second and third cup are smoother and somewhat oolong-like, reminiscent of some of the traditional green oolongs. I find the third cup brings out some floral tones, almost more orchid-like. Really delightful. With skill you can brew 4 or more cups, with long (Western-style) steepings.

I found I liked using a teaspoon of leaf and a 3 minute first steeping, then gently lengthening them. This tea infuses more slowly than most of the other Pu-erh samples form TeaVivre, probably owing to the large leaf size.

This cake is very expensive. 357 grams for $62. It definitely is something exceptional, and I understand wild-harvest teas can be very pricey. Would I pay this price for it? Probably not. This is the sort of thing that I wish could be sold in smaller quantities...it's such a singular tea, unique, and not the sort of thing I would want or need to drink every day. Perhaps it would be a good cake to split with your friends. The leaf being larger, it would probably be easier to separate.

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