Nelson's Tea Dark Chocolate Cherry

Quite a few reviewers use it exactly that way. The dark chocolate and cherry flavors are bold enough that it genuinely scratches a dessert itch, and since no sweetener is needed, you're getting that satisfaction with essentially zero calories. It's particularly popular as an afternoon treat or after-dinner indulgence. Just don't expect it to taste like a literal slice of chocolate cake — it's tea, not a milkshake — but for what it is, reviewers say it hits that sweet spot surprisingly well.

The blend combines pu-erh black tea as its base with chocolate chips, wild cherry bark, and dried cherries. It's described as a herbal loose leaf blend, meaning the non-tea ingredients (cherry bark, dried fruit, chocolate) play a significant role in the flavor. The pu-erh provides the body and earthy backbone, the chocolate chips melt into the brew for richness, the dried cherries add natural fruit sweetness, and the wild cherry bark rounds out the cherry flavor with a slightly woody, authentic note.

This tea hits the sweet spot for a few groups: dessert tea lovers who want an evening treat without the calories, people curious about pu-erh who want a friendly entry point, and anyone trying to satisfy chocolate or sweet cravings without added sugar. It's also great for tea enthusiasts who appreciate complex, layered flavors — the pu-erh earthiness, dark chocolate richness, and cherry cordial notes create something genuinely unique. It's not ideal for budget-conscious buyers (the sample price is steep) or anyone who needs large quantities.

Reviewers consistently describe it as bold. This isn't a subtle, delicate tea — the dark chocolate and cherry flavors are upfront and recognizable. The pu-erh base adds depth and earthiness that gives it real body. If you like your tea strong and flavorful, you'll appreciate this. If you prefer light, floral teas, the intensity might be a lot. The creamy, full-bodied character means it holds up well even without milk, though you could add a splash of cream to lean even further into the dessert direction.

Nelson's Tea is a small batch, quality-focused company — not a mass-market brand you'll find in every grocery store. Reviewers consistently highlight their good customer service and mention that free samples are sometimes included with orders, which is a nice touch. The quality of the tea itself gets strong marks: people describe the flavors as authentic and distinctive rather than artificial. The main criticism isn't about quality but about pricing — some feel you're paying a premium for the small-batch approach.

For a flavored pu-erh blend like Nelson's Dark Chocolate Cherry, use water just off the boil — around 200-212°F. Since this is a loose leaf tea, use about 1-2 teaspoons per cup and steep for 3-5 minutes. Start with 3 minutes and go longer if you want a bolder, more chocolatey flavor. Pu-erh is forgiving and doesn't go bitter as easily as green tea, so you have some wiggle room. Some pu-erh drinkers do a quick 5-second rinse first (pour hot water, immediately discard), which can open up the leaves and enhance the flavor.

For loose leaf pu-erh like Nelson's Dark Chocolate Cherry, use about 1-2 teaspoons per 8 oz cup. Since this is a sample size (0.5 oz), that means you're looking at roughly 1-2 cups from the entire package. If you're brewing Western-style in a mug, 1.5 teaspoons is a good starting point. You can adjust up if you want a bolder chocolate flavor or down if you prefer something lighter.

Traditional unflavored pu-erh can often handle 5-8 steepings, which is one of the great things about the tea type. With a flavored blend like Nelson's Dark Chocolate Cherry, expect fewer good steepings — probably 2-3 — because the chocolate and cherry flavors will fade faster than the pu-erh base. Your first steep will have the most vibrant chocolate cherry flavor, the second will lean more into the earthy pu-erh character, and by the third you're mostly getting a mild pu-erh. Each re-steep, add about 30 seconds to the brew time.

Good pu-erh comes down to quality sourcing and what flavor profile you're after. Traditional pu-erh has deep, earthy, sometimes mushroomy notes — it's an acquired taste. If you're new to pu-erh, a flavored blend like Nelson's Dark Chocolate Cherry is a smart starting point because the chocolate and cherry notes make that earthy base much more approachable. Look for small-batch producers who focus on quality ingredients. Nelson's Tea fits that bill — they're a small batch, quality-focused company, and reviewers confirm the flavors taste authentic rather than artificial.

Pu-erh is traditionally valued for digestive support — the fermentation process creates probiotics and compounds that may aid gut health. It's also associated with cholesterol management and metabolic support in traditional Chinese medicine, though Western research is still catching up. For Nelson's Dark Chocolate Cherry specifically, reviewers highlight an unexpected benefit: it's a great introduction to pu-erh for people who've never tried it. The chocolate and cherry flavors soften pu-erh's sometimes challenging earthy character, making it approachable while still delivering the pu-erh base and its potential health properties.

Pu-erh typically has moderate caffeine — roughly 30-70mg per cup, which puts it in a similar range to black tea and below coffee. With Nelson's Dark Chocolate Cherry, the chocolate chips add a small amount of additional caffeine (from the cacao), but it's minimal. It's enough to give you a gentle afternoon lift without the jittery feeling you might get from coffee. Not ideal as a bedtime tea, but perfectly fine for morning or afternoon drinking.

Many people do drink pu-erh daily and enjoy it as part of their routine. Pu-erh is traditionally consumed after meals in China and is known for its smooth, low-acidity profile that's gentle on the stomach. Nelson's Dark Chocolate Cherry version makes a particularly nice daily afternoon treat — reviewers use it as a dessert tea or sweet craving alternative. Just keep in mind pu-erh does contain caffeine (roughly comparable to black tea), so you'll want to factor that into your daily intake, especially later in the day.

Not particularly — pu-erh contains caffeine, and this blend also has chocolate chips which add a small amount more. It's not a stimulant powerhouse like coffee, but drinking it close to bedtime could keep lighter sleepers awake. Nelson's Dark Chocolate Cherry is better suited as an afternoon dessert tea or after-dinner treat (with dinner being early enough to metabolize the caffeine before bed). If you're looking for a bedtime tea, you'd want a caffeine-free herbal like chamomile or rooibos instead.

Pu-erh tea contains caffeine, so people who are highly caffeine-sensitive, pregnant, or nursing should consult their doctor first. Those on blood-thinning medications should also check with a healthcare provider, as pu-erh can interact with certain medications. For this specific blend, note that it contains chocolate chips, so anyone avoiding caffeine should be doubly cautious since both the pu-erh and chocolate contribute caffeine. If you have allergies, check the full ingredient list — this blend includes wild cherry bark and dried cherries alongside the tea leaves.

The most common side effects of pu-erh come from its caffeine content — potential jitteriness, sleep disruption, or increased heart rate if you're sensitive or drink too much. On an empty stomach, pu-erh can occasionally cause nausea. The fermentation process in pu-erh also means it can interact with certain medications, particularly blood thinners and some blood pressure drugs. For Nelson's blend specifically, the chocolate adds a small amount of extra caffeine, and if you have sensitivities to any of the ingredients (wild cherry bark, dried cherries), that's worth noting. As with any tea, moderation is sensible.

They each have their advantages. Pu-erh offers less caffeine per cup (roughly half of coffee), contains L-theanine which promotes calm focus rather than coffee's sometimes jittery energy, and has unique probiotics from its fermentation process that may support digestive health. Coffee has more extensive research backing its antioxidant benefits. If you're trying to reduce coffee intake without going caffeine-free, a rich, bold blend like Nelson's Dark Chocolate Cherry can scratch that 'I need a warm, satisfying drink' itch — especially since reviewers say it satisfies cravings without added sugar.

Regular pu-erh drinkers often report improved digestion, steady energy without coffee crashes, and a general sense of well-being. The fermented nature of pu-erh means you're getting natural probiotics with each cup. That said, daily drinking means daily caffeine — usually 30-70mg per cup — so factor that into your overall intake. With a flavored blend like Nelson's Dark Chocolate Cherry, you're also getting it as a daily dessert replacement, which is how some reviewers use it: a sweet craving alternative that satisfies without added sugar.

Start with 3-4 minutes for a balanced cup where you'll get both the chocolate cherry sweetness and the pu-erh earthiness. If you want to lean more into the bold, dessert-like character, push it to 5 minutes. Pu-erh is one of the more forgiving tea types — it won't turn harsh and bitter the way green tea does if you over-steep slightly. The chocolate chips and dried cherries need a little time to release their flavor into the water, so don't rush it.