Double Power Tiger
August 4, 2026
Main flavor notes: cocoa nibs, coffee, semi-sweet
I tried ordering pu-erh cakes online from China for the first time rather than going to a tea shop, and along with a couple samples I got this mini cake to try. This has very quickly become a go-to tea choice for me, and I've been drinking it regularly since I got it. Double Power Tiger is a semi-aged ripe from 2015, and I was very pleased to find that it is an incredibly smooth and easy to drink tea - none of the astringency you sometimes get with ripe teas. The first five or so steeps produce an incredibly velvety dark liquor before beginning to lighten up (only slightly), and the cocoa flavor remains consistent. I wouldn't say this is an incredibly complex flavored tea, but it's plain delicious and I enjoy having a dark tea to sip on which isn't too bitter. The tea's "energy" is very bright, and as I was drinking it I could feel warmth rise to my cheeks. Probably the best way to describe the effect is "heady". I've enjoyed this tea enough that I've shared it with my friends as well, and it received praise even from inexperienced drinkers. This is a great introductory Shou and I look forward to trying many more.
Black Dragon Pearl
October 1, 2025
Main flavor notes: dark chocolate, slight sweetness, earthy
I picked this tea up fairly recently from the local teahouse on discount and I'm very happy that I did so. This is a full bodied black tea that retains its strength without any astringency or bitterness, even if oversteeped (which I found out the hard way), making it a good companion for working or studying. I was also pretty impressed by how many steeps I got out of each batch without losing too much of that interesting cocoa flavor - this seems to be in a pleasant sweet spot where the tea retains its robustness without falling into extremes if carelessly handled. I do wonder if this is related to the unfurling of those tightly packed leaves over time. It's pretty likely that this would be a good tea for cold brew, but I will have to try on a warmer day to confirm this. All in all a definite repeat pick, and a great way to christen my website.