pu-erh of the day. Sheng or Shou

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Sammerz314 said

Drinking a 2013 Spring LME from the Tea Urchin. Not a bad tea. Has anyone tried the 2014 LME from the Tea Urchin? Has anyone sampled any of their new 2014 teas?

JC said

I haven’t tried any of the 2014… but it is due to the pricing. I went with a full 2013 Bulang Beauty Bing at $79 to see it go up another $10 in less than a month and the 2014 version being $99. I can buy a Gushu with age for a bit more. I know that buying Maocha and Raw material is more expensive now, but to me the pricing went insane.

I might indulge in some samples at some point, but it would be if I feel like I have the extra money (which I don’t :( )

Sammerz314 said

I agree. I think their teas are pretty good but not the quality the price suggests. How is the Bulang Beauty?

JC said

Honestly, the tea is good! It is a good balance and it is pleasant, it does have some minor younger notes but it is quite drinkable as is. I just hurt to see the price lol. I feel like I’ve found very similar ones for about 50-60 price range which doesn’t sound like much, but I add to that the fact that they have 5+ years of age and you can feel the pain a bit more. I feel like by the time it gets to 5+ years it will be over a $130-140. Pretty wrapper though.

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Javan said

Ah the dangers of this thread… I just received a Yunnan Sourcing 2013 Wu Liang Ye Sheng (purple cake) you all recommended on this thread, along with the 2012 autumn Yiwu purple sheng cake which I have been enjoying the past month. Notes will follow.

JC said

Too many good descriptions, so little money. LOL Feel your pain.

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Cwyn said

Attended a tea tasting earlier tonight with White2Tea and Twodog, hosted by Macha Tea Lounge in Madison, WI. We tasted White2Tea’s 2007 Repave, 1990s Hong Kong storage Raw, and the 2014 Manzhuan. I’ve tasted the latter two previously, and have already ordered the Manzhuan. The Repave was quite decent, but naturally the Manzhuan is so excellent I like it better, and I’ve reviewed that already. TwoDog didn’t have any White Whale with him, or I would have bought some.

I have a photo of TwoDog’s tea table following the tasting, with a view of one of TwoDog’s eight legs. He didn’t want a photo of him online because he feels he is big, bad and ugly and must keep up his image. I mentioned the biscuits and flour for mrmopar, and so the whole company got to hear the story of how mrmopar started sending flour to TwoDog.

http://tinyurl.com/p8zpb5m

I did not know that TwoDog hails from my own state of Wisconsin. His talk about puerh in general was thus sprinkled with metaphors taken from the nature of the northwoods here, which was incredibly meaningful for me personally. I’ve not had the chance to really discuss tea with other people from my own state before, aside from family and friends. We also discussed Wisconsin tea storage which was very helpful for me. We got more than a few hints of TwoDog’s upcoming plans for White2tea, but those are his to share.

Took home a sample of Macha Tea Lounge’s house puerh brick which I broke open when I got home. Because after a tea tasting, I haven’t had enough tea yet!! It’s an autumn 2012 Yiwu, just the ticket for travel lag after the 75 mile drive home. Nice apricot flavors, not too heavy on the caffeine. Gonna see if I can order a brick to be mailed.

Norfür said

… judging from the amount of used leaves on the tray, using less than a teaspoon per pot/gaiwan/thing to steep in, is way below the recommended amount, huh?

I guess it comes from my family being naturally stingy. We paid 27 dollars for a cake, plus 12 for international shipping, so I’m pretty sure we’re going to make that cake last a really, REALLY long time.

mrmopar said

I am hoping everyone got a laugh from this. He is a fan of the “Gravy Biscuit” so I thought you guy could get a laugh from this! Wish I could have attended sounds very nice.

Roughage said

This sounds brilliant and the pile of leaf on the tray just makes me well jealous! :)

Sammerz314 said

Wish I could have attended. The pile of used leaves has prompted me to prep my morning steep! LOL

TwoDog2 said

Wisconsin Pride! Thank you to Cwyn and everyone else who attended, especially Macha teahouse in madison for hosting the event! (You can follow them @MachaTeahouse) I had a blast

apt said

ahem luckyyyy

Cwyn said

Yep and I just got the last brick of Macha’s house Yiwu raw.

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Roughage said

I’m finishing off the sample pack of the 2005 Six Famous Tea Mountain Meng Song today. Very nice.

Yang-chu said

I’m looking at getting something from them, just haven’t pulled the trigger.

Roughage said

I keep filling up my basket on the YS site and then wondering if selling a kidney is a viable option to pay for it! ;) I would like to put in an order soon but it is so hard to slim the order down to something I can realistically afford.

Cwyn said

Ask about the kidney because I am pretty sure I gave Scott my right arm.

JC said

LOL! I have lost several body parts to tea. Well worth it if you really want them though, specially if you think they might be gone by the time you save money.

Roughage said

:D Yes, we might as well trade away some of those body parts as long as we can still drink tea. :)

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Does anyone here have any experience with this cake?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2006yr-Yunnan-Bulang-Mountain-Material-Puer-Tea-Raw-Sheng-357g-cake-/231072447968?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item35ccfdbde0

If so, let me know how it went. I just purchased it and wanting to get an idea of what it’s going to be like

JC said

I haven’t ordered from them, but I did a quick browse and I saw that they ship from Hong Kong so unless they have a controlled climate warehouse you’ll get wetter stored tea. Also, I saw some early 2000s and 1990 CNNP cakes under $30 and a 1998 ‘7542’ for $52, which is impossible.

Cwyn said

I think Bulang mao cha can be really bitter so you want some age on it which this one has. The seller is from Hong Kong, dunno if it has wet storage but it couldn’t hurt this cake if you like wet stored puerh. For the price not much risk to it!

is dry stored better than wet stored? don’t have any experience with puerh cakes.

JC said

Yeah, just to be clear I didn’t say don’t buy lol. Just wanted to point those out in case you wanted to buy aged tea from them. As Cwyn mentioned Bulang can pack a punch so aged tea is a better bet if you are new to Puerh. Scott from Yunnan sourcing has some Bulang offerings and White2Tea also had several Bulang offerings if you looking forward to try younger versions. Cheers!

JC said

Is a matter of what you prefer. Honestly, try wet and dry stored and decide yourself. Often, people avoid wetter stored because it can offer ‘off’ tastes if not done properly. However, the drier the storage the longer it takes for harsher notes to mellow down, so sample around.

Ok, thanks for the input. Seems like nobody has tried this particular cake. I was really looking forward to somebody telling me what is was like because I’m not going to be able to try it myself. This is going to be a gift for someone out of state. So I’m SOL in regards to being able to try it and I didn’t really want to buy to because I already have too much tea and one cake for me from misty peak teas.

Cwyn said

Ooh. Misty Peak, now that will be a great treat! Sounds like you have your tea priorities in order.

mrmopar said

I agree samples are good till you find your “niche”. I will be interested to see how the recipient of this likes this one.

I’ll come back and let everyone know what he thought of it. It probably won’t be for a couple months but hopefully I can remember to come back and update. It’s coming from Hong kong plus it’ll take me a while to get it to them so a couple months sounds about right.

Cwyn said

I will be interested to hear if it is the wet storage and how he liked it.

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Cwyn said

Bippity boppity bump puerh postings with a session of 2013 Bada Shan Wild Tree sheng from Camellia Sinensis. Finally tasted camphor but absolutely nothing else. Need some tea now ;)

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Roughage said

Thar she blows! Aharr, me hearties, today I laid into the White Whale that Paul of White2tea sent me. I fear the whale has harpooned me and now I be mixing up me sailing books. Should it be Treasure Whale or White Whale Island? Perhaps it’s just the tea drunk talking. This tea is powerful with strong wood and camphor notes, an element of smoke and pine resin, and a chilli bite in the aftertaste then a fine cooling on the tongue. I’m enjoying this tea a lot.

Cwyn said

Oy wanted the White Whale meself but the lad had none of it on his person the other day. Glad you are fine n drunk on the stuff!

Roughage said

Yup, it’s a fair good cup o’ grog and ’tis still going strong even now.

mrmopar said

Aharr, I will pirate the last of theses and sell them off slowly to the highest bidder harr harr….

JC said

I bought two of the mini bricks, they are very much worth it! Now to figure out were I’ll store them LOL.

mrmopar said

I say Oak island! In a secret location with a cave or pumidor..ARRRRGH or under a large cask of grog to keep us out of them for a while.

Cwyn said

Not so fast, secured 3 for me own stash hidden in the local swamps. Didn’t realize these babies are only $15 a pop. Better run, gents!

mrmopar said

ARRR You scally wag…. I do have one and I guess all this talk is going to make me pull it out and try it. Although I would have liked to have seen his face when you asked about the flour. I am a practical joker at heart :)

Cwyn said

Okay, he seemed to take a little aback because the start of the night was incredibly formal 10 people around a table in politically correct, obedient Madison Wisconsin fashion. Then here comes this rural old woman to the tea house talking about biscuits and gravy. He felt obliged to explain the story to the assembled company, no doubt to assuage the notion that Mrs. Alzheimer’s is not as dotty as she sounds, and to acknowledge that I was indeed in the right place and hadn’t missed the truck stop exit.

mrmopar said

;0 :) !! Wish i could have been there. He posts about biscuits and gravy a lot so I thought to introduce him to Virginia’s finest flours from my hometown. I think he is a really nice person from our interactions. One day I hope to share a pot of tea with him.

Yang-chu said

Most amusing, lads and lasses.

Cwyn said

I claim no responsibility for the above as I was tea drunk at the time.

Roughage said

That’s right. Blame it on the tea, Cwyn! :)

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Rich select said

2013 Chawangpu Gao Shan Liu Shui by Chawangshop
Got a sample of this with my recent Chawangshop order, based on a positive review from the Half Dipper. It is indeed a power pu, nice and thick, some real bitterness at certain points in the brews, and good flavor, though not outstanding. It gives and gives. I liked it, though not enough to order a cake. I’d recommend giving it a whirl if you order from them.

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JC said

2011 Dashu Bulang from White2Tea. This is a young and harsh Puerh, but I mean it in a good way. I feel like even though it is in the harsher side of Puerh it is enjoyable, specially for Islay Whiskey/Smokey taste hunters. It does have some root plant/medicinal notes that can be off putting for some people, still a nice drink for the occasional crave of smoke taste.

Sammerz314 said

You really like your Bulangs, eh? LOL

JC said

LOL,I do. But well, this could be anything really, with all that smoke :P

Yang-chu said

Sounds nice.

Roughage said

That sounds really good. I love a peaty, smoky whisky, so a tea that does the same for me would be great.

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Yang-chu said

I’m having a Jing-mai 2009 from Mountain Top Tea Company. The leaves are gorgeous, the package outstanding, med compression… nice. The thing is that it just doesn’t have much of a huigan nor does it have the fragrant, floral, fruitiness that I was hoping. It’s got some excess astringency, imho. It’s ok but I was expecting much more. The Jing-mai from Ya Pu Ancient Tea Company that I acquired in China is simply outstanding and all the others have fallen short. But I continue my pursuit. If the stars align, I’m off to Yunnan again in Nov… c’mon stars.

Cwyn said

Can’t find any info on this, is it raw or ripe?

mrmopar said

Yeah we need the link for this company!

Yang-chu said

It’s all in Chinese. It’s raw. I’d like to be corrected but I don’t see much reason for buying shu Jingmai, though there are a couple that have piqued my interest. Hit me up if you want samples. I have another 2008 from a more obscure tea company which after only a couple months really shaped up nicely. It’s so strange how these puppies change over time.
I have a really hard time finding the Ya-pu Jingmai on this side of the pond (ahem). The seller said, “buy a tong.” I can send you some of this too. It is simply one of the best teas I’ve ever had. After about the 3rd or 4th steeping the huigan is just unbelievable. You have to just have a cup or two, then wait for about 10 min. Move on to three, do the same. You’ll notice the taste just keeps building in your mouth. It’s priced along the lines of Tea Urchin’s stuff online. I thought it was steep in Kunming! My wife insisted that we purchase it, thankfully.
Listen to your wife!

Cwyn said

Well better hang on to it all then, sounds like a one of a kind cake!

Yang-chu said

It’s would be a true pleasure to stoke my fellow Steepsters with some of this. Just hit me up or come with me to China on my next visit. In such case, I’ll only vouch for the batik and you make your own calls about the tea. ;-)

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