OK, all this talk about Pu-erh got me interested in a new taste sensation. I also happen to like dirt/mushroom-type tastes, like raw sulfur polypores and wood ears. Fast foray into Boston's Chinatown on a seven-degree windy day only revealed two grocery stores with any at all, and nothing fancy.
Most expensive I could find was a double-sealed tin (I thought this stuff needed air?) of "Tin Find Brand - Nor Sun China compressed tea" for $2.95/150g. Whole leaf and plenty o'twigs, nothing compressed about it. First attempt was loose in a mug, three infusions of water well below the boil, about 2 minutes each. Red-brown, dirty, fungal taste, not very appealing. Loads of caffeine/theophylline, though - major jitters in a few minutes. The smell was much more interesting than the taste. I came back in a few hours later having made a pot of barley in my rice-cooker, and the combined aroma was heavenly. Maybe I'll try cooking them together?
Next time I tried steeping the leaves in cold water for a few hours. That rinse tasted dirty and not much else, was discarded. Taste of several hot infusions about as before.
Third try: 20-second rinse in boiling water, then three regular brews. Possibly a little smoother.
So far, nothing very exciting. Much like a cheapish oolong with a shiitake tossed in. I also found one tuocha from "China national native produce & animal by-products import & export corporation, Yunnan tea branch." $1.39 for a bird's-nest about 2" in diameter, even twiggier than the canned product. Haven't tried it yet. Hope it doesn't contain civet-cat innards.
I have a feeling that higher grades might be tastier. I may be in NYC next month. May not have time to get to IPOT across the bridge in Brooklyn, but will probably be in Chinatown anyway looking for an inexpensive Yi-xing pot big enough to serve six. Any recommendations on tea suppliers there? How much need one spend for a brick of aged or just higher-quality Pu-erh to notice the difference?
Thanks-
DM