Bitter sweet! Lao Man Er is well known to have abutter taste, this particular 800 years old tree is a bit tricky to brew. Use small amount about 2 grams mug style in a large vessel, the result is not bitter at all, instead it taste sweet, intense wild Puerh energy!
Gongfu style brewing emphasizes the bitterness more than mug style, however Hui Gan is fast and mass, turning into a strong sweet fresh herb after taste.
In Chinese medicine theory, bitter is a taste associate with the fire element which is also the element of summer season, making it the perfect choice for summer tea, drinking it hot can cool your body off.
Recommended water for all teas: very good quality filtered water, ie reverse osmosis filtered water. Spring water suppresses the fragrance quite a bit. Tap water is prohibited!