Metal tea - Craft Tea’s darkest offering

When I think of heavy metal I picture darkness, which is why I thought pu’erh (nicknamed “dark tea”) would make an excellent choice for a base. I first tried pu’erh, aged fermented tea, after buying a mysterious (to me) container in China. I didn’t really know what it was, so I brewed it like I would any other tea and had an intense reaction after taking a sip. It was STRONG and tasted like a tree! Within seconds of brewing it was already darker than any tea I’d had before. I had initial doubts as to who would choose to do this to their taste buds, but by the end of the cup I was feeling really good. I got used to the flavor really quickly, and if I’m ever seeking a caffeinated kick that revitalizes me, I reach for pu’erh.

To compliment the earthy soil-like flavor of pu’erh I paired it with pau d’arco and nettle, which rounds out the surprisingly light body of the Satemwa dark tea with bark and vegetal flavors. The dark infusion and powerful force that results makes this a great coffee alternative as long as you’re okay with earthniess. If so, a major benefit of pu’erh is how many times you can re-infuse it, possibly making it the most economical tea at Craft Tea. Make it in a small glass infuser to get the best bang for your buck!

I love the artwork by Raymond Rivera-Bovo. Ray dabbles in punk and metal imagery and did a terrific job creating this scene of devils and goons headbanging at a metal show. Check out his Instagram as he is constantly cranking out sick art!