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LiberTEAS

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Stone-Pressed 2004 Yiwu Wild Arbor Sheng from Verdant Tea

LiberTEAS drank Stone-Pressed 2004 Yiwu Wild Arbor Sheng by Verdant Tea

This is lovely. One of my favorite Pu-erh teas thus far, maybe THE favorite. It doesn’t taste like what I’ve come to recognize as Pu-erh, in fact, if someone had simply placed a cup before me, I don’t know that I’d immediately identify it as a Pu-erh. This is very nice, indeed.

The aroma is amazing. Normally, I brace myself for a strong earthy aroma, but, with this pu-erh, only hints of earthiness are there. Mere hints. In the dry leaf, I noticed a hint of mushroom more than the strong, musky, earthy (dirt) smell that I have come to identify as Pu-erh. That mild earthiness translates to the taste as well, with mere hints of an earthy taste. This is extraordinarily enjoyable. I taste hints of fruit in this cup – something I have never really associated with a Pu-erh before. A solid flavor of wood comes through, as well as beautiful spice notes that are lightly peppery. Not spicy or peppery in a “hot” kind of way, but more of a mild pepper note that never quite develops fully, but continues to develop as I sip… still never quite reaching PEPPER exactly, but only subtle-y nudging at it.

Wonderful Pu-erh. I’m currently on my fourth infusion. I find that the more you steep this one, the more complex it becomes. I would recommend this to any tea enthusiast, even those who have found Pu-erh not to their liking in the past. This one will change your mind!

2011-10-12 19:52:14 -0400

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Nathaniel Gruber 2011-10-12 23:45:55 -0400

Well Said! Hints of mushroom are a definite characteristic of this one. I think it’s incredible what trying some of the best Pu’er in the world will do to change our perceptions of something we thought we had a good handle on. This one certainly does that for me, probably only topped by the Artisan Revival Brick offered by Verdant Tea as well.

Knowing David personally has helped me grasp just how lucky we are to be able to partake in the teas he has brought over. We get to reap the benefits of a man that has spent countless hours talking and sharing life with some folks who have spent their lives dedicated to tradition and honor in tea and Chinese culture. This Yiwu brick is just one example of how beautiful and world changing a cup of tea can be, when it simply goes beyond words and description.

That being said, I really like your description of this one and am overjoyed to hear of our common love for this tea. Be blessed :)

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I am obsessed with tea!

I am a co-founder of the SororiTEA Sisters:
http://sororiteasisters.com

I also review teas for the Tea Review Blog:
http://www.teareviewblog.com

In addition to my passion for tea, I am also a mixed media/altered arts artist. You can see some of my art here: http://eccentricpastiche.blogspot.com

I am also a self-proclaimed foodie. I review local restaurants and the food I buy online here: http://hungryinportland.wordpress.com

My favorite teas are Yellow Teas with most Oolong teas at a close second. As far as “flavored” teas go, I love Earl Grey, Chocolate and Jasmine teas.

I also am intrigued by flavored teas with an unusual or unique flavor combination.

I don’t do a whole lot of swaps anymore, however, I do occasionally sell sampler boxes here: http://liberteas.teatra.de/ I don’t always have sampler boxes available as it depends upon how much time I have as well as packaging supplies. I usually post at least one or two sampler boxes per month, though, so if you’re interested, keep an eye out or PM me and I’ll let you know when I have some posted.

Most of the teas that I record in my notes here are going to have a fairly high rating from me. This is not because I am not discerning, but because I do not usually waste my time on drinking tea I do not care for, nor will I waste my time on writing about it.