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Grand Shou Pu-erh 1997 from Red Blossom Tea Company
100

OMG. Wow. This is one of those teas that open everything up. The dry leaf had that ancient aroma that is absolutely mindbending. My first thoughts after a quick steep were that I am going to be in for more than a treat. Very true. The aroma that hit me at first seemed to be of anise if it were locked away for 15 years. This is true of the flavor too. It is giving me those awesome tea chills. It is so full of ancient flavor yet it is very clean and inspiring. Teas like this really open your mind, body and soul. Everything seems more intense. Music, I am listening to The Chieftains " The Bells of Dublin ", an album I have heard a hundred times before and all of a sudden I am hearing it as if it was the first time. Teas like this will take you on a journey. An escape from the humdrum. To another time and another place….

People who liked this

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Comments

Nathaniel Gruber
Nathaniel Gruber 2011-12-19 21:32:13 -0500

Lovely tea :)

Charles Thomas Draper
Charles Thomas Draper 2011-12-19 22:13:19 -0500

Still not on the level with ’98 Xingyang

Geoffrey
Geoffrey 2011-12-19 23:21:44 -0500

There’s something extraordinary going on at Xingyang workshop… like fairies and elves live there. I’m sure of it! Imagine the tour… “Here’s a room we use for extended leaf drying, and around back we have the unicorn stables.”

Charles Thomas Draper
Charles Thomas Draper 2011-12-20 01:06:05 -0500

@ Geoffrey, That got me laughing. I hate to say you may be right….

Amy oh
Amy oh 2011-12-20 01:18:04 -0500

Did you perhaps confuse this with the sheng ? I don’t remember this smelling like anise.

Charles Thomas Draper
Charles Thomas Draper 2011-12-20 02:01:48 -0500

No. I got this sweet anise that was locked up for 15 years that took on the flavors of the dark cellar that it was kept in. It was, to me, a sweet old aroma that I just could’nt seem to place other than a licorice-anise. Next time it will probably taste like something different altogether.

Amy oh
Amy oh 2011-12-20 10:51:09 -0500

Interesting!

Charles Thomas Draper
Charles Thomas Draper 2011-12-20 11:14:08 -0500

PS, I opened up the Sheng just to smell it after my comment last night and I smelled the plums but no licorice. I may brew this today.

Nathaniel Gruber
Nathaniel Gruber 2011-12-20 14:19:10 -0500

Yeah, fascinating stuff. I love all of the old pu’ers from Red Blossom. I will agree with Charles in saying that it doesn’t quite live up to the ‘98 Xingyang from Verdant. But Red Blossoms’ do have that “ancient” quality to them which make them so appealing to me. These posts are making me want to make an order to them sometime very soon… :)

P.S. have you guys seen Red Blossoms new website? I like it a lot! Definitely a step up from their old one.

Amy oh
Amy oh 2011-12-20 15:51:47 -0500

I liked this better than the xingyang from Verdant but they are very different.

Charles Thomas Draper
Charles Thomas Draper 2011-12-20 17:47:11 -0500

Very different. Taste and the buzz.

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Bio

I am an avid surfer, gardener, golfer and freespirit. I have been a tea drinker forever. Tea has provided me with contentment. I love White, Oolong, Green, Black and Pu’er. I do not care for flavored tea and nor will I comment on it.

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Margate, New Jersey, USA

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http://facebook.com./charles....

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