KHS Organic Pu Erh Tea Cake

This is actually quite forgiving for beginners. The smooth, non-bitter taste means you won't end up with an undrinkable cup if your timing isn't perfect. It comes with clear instructions, and reviewers who didn't enjoy black or green tea found this approachable. That said, if you're willing to try gong fu brewing (multiple short steeps), you'll unlock deeper flavors—so it grows with you as you learn.

You can easily get 4+ cups from a single serving, with some reviewers reporting even more. The compressed cake format allows for multiple steepings, and the flavor actually evolves as you go—the first steep after washing tastes different from the third or fourth. This makes it economical and lets you explore the tea's changing character throughout a session.

Some reviewers did notice a fish food smell and taste, especially in the early steeps. The good news is that a proper rinse helps, though you might need more than the standard 2-minute wash to fully open up the leaves. Once you get past those initial steeps, most people describe smooth, earthy flavors with notes of dried apricot and honey. If you're sensitive to that earthy, fermented character of pu-erh, this might not be your cup of tea.

Reviewers found it surprisingly easy to break into cubes or portions without much struggle. The pressed cake isn't so tightly compressed that you need special tools—just use your hands or a butter knife. This makes it convenient for daily use while still being compact enough for easy storage.

The dominant flavor profile is earthy and rich with a weighty mouthfeel that feels substantial in your mouth. You'll pick up notes of dried apricot and honey with a slight fragrant quality. What people really love is how smooth it is—no bitterness even if you steep it a bit longer than intended. The liquor comes out slightly murky (normal for pu-erh), and the flavor has that deep, aged characteristic that pu-erh enthusiasts look for.

This cake has significantly less dust and sediment compared to loose-leaf or bagged pu-erh. Reviewers specifically appreciated the carefully picked leaves that open up beautifully during steeping. The packaging also helps—it comes in a sealed ziplock and is well-protected, so you're not dealing with a mess of broken leaves and dust when you open it.