pu-erh of the day. Sheng or Shou
Drank the 2008 Bulang Imperial Grade from Crimson Lotus today. So nice! Perfect way to start the day. Time to start this research paper. I should probably drink some more tea..
which online shop would you suggest for pu’er and oolong tea? I have seen many posts about Yunnan Sourcing, but I never heard of it when I was in China. Is it a reliable source?
Hi Nicole C, yes, Yunnan Sourcing is a very reliable tea source. It has good prices, excellent service in my opinion, a wide selection of teas and accessories, and has two websites, one in China and one in the US (http://yunnansourcing.com and http://www.yunnansourcing.us/store/) (there are more teas listed on the China site). I would not hesitate to order from them (and they sell samples). I’m not sure where you are now located, but one of the two sites should be able to reach you.
I will second either Yunnan site without reservation. Shipping can be a bit slow from China though. if you shop Ebay, Berylleb King Tea is a good one as well as Royal TeaBay.
I think Yunnan Sourcing is strictly export, that could explain why you never heard of them in China. They are very good. Also, it is run by an American living in China, named Scott. Because he is American, there is never a language issue with them. With some Chinese sites language can be an issue.
Dragon Tea House is also excellent for Puerh Tea and Oolong. They have a variety of good puerhs and oolongs in several quality levels. If you buy the cheapest oolong from them you get cheap oolong, but if you buy the more expensive it is good. Buy on their www.dragonteahouse.biz site though. When you register you get %10 off everything.
Drank 2013 Wild Purple Dehong brick from YS after storing it up in a jar. I really like this leaf processed as a black tea, which I bought on the U.S. site. This brick has a similar flavor but more of a drain cleaner, paid for it today with cold feet. Still, I love this tea and expect it will outlive me. It is the floral flavor I like, but the black tea version is probably better for me. To balance out my cold feet I brewed up the white tuo ripe from white2tea, which has aired out well and lost most of the dirty odor and is now really clean and clear. Warmed my feet right up!
Having Yunnan Sourcing’s 2014 Ai Lao Mountain Wild Arbor Sheng.
Breaking this one out after teaching the "Chairman " to fetch a bit. Now if I can just get her to bring it all the way back.
Kind of like my progression a bit at a time.
I did this a few nights ago but I am starting new tonight. I got 10 grams out and put in the Yixing. I gave a very quick rinse and allowed it to set a while. I did a very quick steep with about 10 oz. of hot water. Very nice aroma and a pretty clear yellow brew. It give a very quick hit of slight bitter that goes away quickly. The sweet , vegetal and floral brew quickly pushes it out.
This carries a sweetness that would think you had put a touch of sugar in it. It gives a nice buzz and tingle about halfway through the cup. It has a little punch and a bit of the bitter pops back in or a second or two.
Nice and warming with a bit of “Liveliness” to it.
Flavors: Bitter, Sweet, Vegetal
This evening I’ve been drinking 2000 CNNP Lincang Ripe Cake Puerh by 雲南 (purchased from Yunnan Sourcing)
This is a comforting & mildly sweet brew, perfect for a cool & dreary Fall day. For me, it brings to mind roasted winter squash, chestnuts, pepitas, persimmon, & whole grain bread crust. Add a soothing vanilla smoothness & a little camphor, & I think I’m in love.
Spent a loooong day setting up for a booth at a Christmas show in Seattle. Relaxing this evening with some decade old humid stored Changtai sheng puerh. So smooth and relaxing. The next three days I’ll be making tea for the masses non stop! Stop by the convention center if you’re in Seattle. We’re in booth #132.
i had that the other day! bottom of the sample bag, so not good really (bitter crushed leaves) but the first couple flash steeps were super aromatic and fruity.
Thanks Yang-chu. If your friends are into puerh, and they in Seattle send them our way! :-)
Apt: Was that the Yuan Nian Shu? I was drinking that puerhs twin the “Ji Nian/Memorial” tuo.
It’s at the Washington State Convention Center downtown. It’s a really cool show. Lots of cool shops with fun gifts for sale.
Drinking the 2006 Chunhai Gold Award ripe tea from Puershop. I really love this tea. Quite smooth and dark, very tasty, safe to drink, and under $20. It’s a wonderful bargain.
I went with the 1997 7582 from my white2tea monthly order this morning. Ahhhhh-MAZEing!!! I did the whole 10g in a 150ml gaiwan. Overkill on the leaf, but I really wanted to experience the strength of this tea rather than go with two 5g sessions. Dark brew that shows it has aged well, looks like a lighter fermented shou. Complex taste and powerful qi, I can’t even identify the flavors in this tea right now the qi is so strong. Suffice it to say this tea is EXCELLENT and I’m on cloud 9 right now. This one session was worth the entire price of the monthly order. I’m impressed!
I tried this today as well. Very enjoyable, and easily the oldest Sheng I’ve ever tasted. It was a bit mushroomy, which I assume is a characteristic of humid storage? Is that right? But it was very interesting, dark like a shu, but much more complex. Kind of tobacco like, I think that’s a flavor people often cite. Thick. No fruit or greenish flavors at all. I found the Cha qi was relaxing and almost put me to sleep. Would love to hear how others are finding this tea tastes.
Today I enjoyed a 2006 Changtai I picked up at Cha Wang Shop – 2006 Changtai Long Ma Rui Ming “Dragon & Horse” Raw. This one is just what I (and many others) hunt for these days – decent quality leaf; a bit of age; a fair price; an enjoyable flavor profile – and it does not disappoint. Moderately compressed cake and easy to pick apart. The dry leaves appear fragmented, but decent, and full of dark brown colors. There are plenty of tips to be seen with a nice blend of large and small leaves. The aroma is really rather good – a bit sweet and leatherlike. The soup is definitely orange and is thick in texture. The flavor is up-front and quick in its presentation with plenty of honey sweetness. The wet leaves are chopped up quite a bit (characteristic of the 2005-06 Changtais I’ve tried) containing all grades with plenty of stalks – they cannot be called pretty leaves. I really enjoyed this tea – it is thick, sweet, and satisfying with a hint of true character. This cake currently sells for a reasonable $44 at Cha Wang Shop.
Having a Menghai 2008 "Elephant"shou.
I brought this one out as the Chairman has been sleeping tonight.
I got out a big chunk, about 15 grams or so as I plan to brew this heavy and for a few days.
I gave a 10 second wash and then a 5 second one and let it set a good hour.
This one has the dark chocolate notes as well as some light fruity notes. Some bitterness but it is a bit early for that to fully come out if that happens.
This one coats the mouth well. The back of the tongue gives a bit of drying a little salty light taste note.
Overall nice not too complex but good with the tastes that come through.
Flavors: Dark Bittersweet, Dark Chocolate, Fruity, Salt
Forgot , Yixing teapot for preparation.
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