Newest side effects of puer

Nice observation. I have felt a head-swimming like effect from some cooked puerh before but not all produce it and it has never happened from uncooked for me. Unfortunately I have just shelved puerh for the time being and I'll probably revisit it at times but I have just come to terms with the fact that I'd rather drink something else. As for the positive outlook on (serious) male tea drinking, I have found it to be not the case for most people. Luckily I'm married and my wife has come a long way to now really enjoying a number of quality teas, but at most it has generated a bit of curiosity in the female realm. Mostly it is misunderstood or just thought of on the same level as their favorite Tazo from Starbucks. Actual conversation (paraphrased): "Ooh you like tea?" "Yeah, I'm pretty heavily into Chinese and Japanese teas." "Have you tried the China green tips Tazo!!?" "I've had it, but I tend to prefer fresher whole leaf green tea if you like the Tazo tea you should try some the flavor is totally different and amazing." Now from here it has gone a few ways:

Common Response #1: "I don't know it's really yummy, I like it with their steamed milk and lots of sugar" CR #2: "That seems like too much work" CR #3: "Are those snakes?" (yes, actual question posed to me)

Now, I do have to admit this is at my current job at a private university which caters to big money more than big intelligence. I'm more often just seen as poor because I don't get Starbucks every day, eat at non-chain restaurants that tend to be ethnically diverse, and drive a Scion xA. Happily my time here is almost over and a new adventure awaits!

My mother taught me to pluck honeysuckle and suck on the sweet ends when I was little and we would collect a bunch and make tea at times too. You brought back some really cool memories for me in your PS. I still pluck them when I'm out and about.

- Dominic

I bought a big bag of dried honeysuckles at an Asian market, thinking I would get a brew with the same sweet flavor I remember from my childhood. The reality was a more resinous, non-sweet flavor, more like the flavor from the green parts of the flower itself. Are there any naturally flavored tisanes out there with a flavor closer to the flavor of the fresh blossoms?

Alan

I actually never had even thought to look to buy honeysuckle before this thread. I'd imagine anything beyond fresh is going to exhibit the qualities you mention from your experience. I'd think the only way to get the proper flavor would be some sort of liquid form from fresh honeysuckle. I'd imagine it would be a very thin liquid similar to agave nectar but even thinner. I'll look into it, but I'd guess fresh is about it or else some sort of essential oil/extract for just the flavor in some other medium. If yourself or anyone finds anything please post it back here, it would be interesting.

- Dominic

Update:

Wow, there is a ton out there... it's almost overwhelming. I never knew. It seems to be sold in conjunction with the beauty industry as well as herbal/medicinal... I can attest that in all my years it hasn't helped me cosmetically for sure :) I found a bunch of neat stuff:

Teaspring sells honeysuckle:

I also found freezedried honeysuckle which I hadn't thought of as an option. There is a Republic of Tea Honeysuckle White Tea. There is even a white peach honeysuckle Torani Italian flavoring syrup. I haven't dug up any sources for a pure honeysuckle syrup yet, but there are recipes which basically consist of just boiling down a bunch of honeysuckle with water and sugar.

I also learned something new, the Chinese name: Jin Yin Hua.

- Dominic

I hope one of these pans out for you. I suspect that the Teaspring honeysuckle will taste like the one I tried ("medicinal"). Please let us know if you find anything that even remotely tastes like fresh honeysuckle.

Alan