Zero Calorie, No-Bake, Sugar & Gluten Free Cake For Puer Tea Drinkers

[@aubreyravenl]

tea is gluten free? huh? never knew. also its plant-based.

[@BitterleafTeas]

This is true! 😂

[@ChristopherRoberts]

I imagine the smell out of that steamer is pretty nice and probably perfumes the room. Is that true? I've always been curious about the effect of all the steps of pressing on maocha. I was able to taste some Jingmai shengtai as maocha before it was pressed, then again after pressing. Its definitely the same tea, same aroma profile, but with the ratios of fragrances changing slightly. I've always wondered if the steaming acts as another "cooking" and further contributes to developing the green-ness out of the maocha (or maybe it just evaporates some of the aroma, which is certainly going to happen to some degree, and that accounts for the change?). I'm curious if, in your experience, there are noticeable changes; and if so, how would you describe the effect of the pressing process on the tea's aroma (and flavor) profile. Big questions! but the video is too intriguing!

[@BitterleafTeas]

The smell is really the best part. Same goes for visiting tea farmers or factories - the smell of freshly processed sheng is pretty unique and not something you experience anywhere else. Always one of our favourite parts of heading to the tea mountains. Pressing definitely has an effect on the tea though. Once pressed it's never going to be exactly the same as the maocha, even after it's rested sufficiently. Right after pressing the fragrance is usually flattened. That's the scariest time, because before even selling one cake, the character of the tea is so muted. Not every tea is affected the same - I've had some that are great, even right after pressing, but most require some time. Some more than others. This is all temporary though. Everything bounces back, and in the long ages better in cake form, IMO. I'll have a look around and see if we have any maocha leftover from this year I can send over, you know, "for science" ;)

[@ChristopherRoberts]

@@BitterleafTeas Awesome!! Thanks for the great and detailed response. I can imagine the anxiety of anticipating the "bouncing back" of the aroma! And thank you, I'd be thrilled to do a science experiment!