A blissful PuErh with caramel and fruits in abundance plus a unique, 'snow' minerality and a rich body sensation. A crazy yet quaffable PuErh for your collection.
Mang Fei is in the North West of the main PuErh-producing region, close to the Myanmar border. It produces teas with a wild and jungle quality in taste and effects. Our only previous PuErh from this area was the fabulous Dram Alchemist.
This Mang Fei comes from lower-elevation ancient tea trees (estimated at 200 years old) and it has a very different taste brimming with fruits, candy and spices.
The aroma hits the nose with a spectacular fug of fruity and syrupy intensity. Cooked apples, poached pears and wild strawberries dance on a base of butterscotch and warm milk with a bright hit of saffron and lilies.
In the mouth, Candy Ice Cruncher is oily and thick, abundant in warm, sweet, candied fruits like toffee apples, caramelised pineapple and banana skin.
But when all of the sweet and rich flavour subsides the mouth is left with this uniquely fresh and cooling, snowy, sensation - like spooning a milky bingsoo (powdered ice). Ionised and refreshing with a Yuzu sweet juiciness.
The body sensation of the Candy Ice Cruncher is winning too. It has a warm and comforting quality but leaves you bright, invigorated and active.
This is a perfect PuErh experience - complex in taste, texture and effects. Immensely drinkable yet totally unique - the mark of a great tea.
Candy Ice Cruncher is one of Celine's favourite teas of the year:
