Nice post, very true.

A friend gave me a sample of 6 Famous Tree Mountain "1000 year old"
pu'er, which I brewed according to my usual parameters (in the absence
of any experience with it so far). It was SO bitter, it was
reminiscent of that scene at the end of "Raiders of the Lost Ark", when
the Nazis open the Ark and their faces melt. It was the Tea of the
Covenant.

Months later, and I'm feeling brave, so I get out a second quantity of
this most hideous leaf. I brewed it in the manner that you so
eloquently describe, and it actually turned out to be really very nice.
No bitterness, no face-melting, no firework display in the background
while the German army trembles in fear. Just a smooth, rather nutty
brew.

Good stuff. I've been drinking the rest voluntarily ever since.


*Tip of the battered brown hat*