pu-erh of the day. Sheng or Shou

I received a bag of these mini tuos with my recent order. I was not expecting much. I was quite surprised. I found this to be a very tasty tea, high quality. The liquor was amber colored and tasted very smooth, as one might expect from Langhe. I saw a bunch of little white things in there – flower petals perhaps? Any ideas anyone? The tea is not supposed to be adulterated, I wonder if this is naturally occurring. Anyway, very good flavor and great to have them for traveling! And quite cheap. Good stuff.

Mystery loose shou from white2tea, sample from JC. Well aired, gives a dark brown chocolatety looking cup. Smooth with no funk. Hard to know what this is, but it might be the same as the Random Steepings note that curlygc just wrote up. I am still steeping this out on day two and have enough for another session. Thanks, JC! :P

I’m drinking the sultry minx that is Little Yellow Mark… and watching the cake count like a hawk. I really wish I could afford a tong of this… its just perfect.

2013 Xi Zi Hao Chawang. Not quite as Qi heavy as normal but still an amazing session. Little more floral than last time as well. The durability never ceases to amaze me, 15 or so brew in and steep times are still under 30 seconds producing sweet thick tea. I imagine that it will go past 20 maybe even 25 before it tires out

Morning sheng is 2005 Changtai Yun Pu Zhi Dian (Top of the Clouds) from Crimson Lotus. Lots of stonefruit, a little smoke and little bit of tobacco with the mustiness expected from the humid storage. Nicely mellow body feels.

https://instagram.com/p/725oW9Qxzh/?taken-by=atasteofmzpriss

Today I drank the 2011 Ru Yu (as jade) Small Ripe Cake from Chawangshop. This tea was an incredible value. While there was a lot a fermentation flavor to this tea it was good. It was bitter in the early steeps which developed into sweetness over the eight steeps I gave the tea. This 100g cake is sold for only $4.50. While it doesn’t qualify as the very best of puerh it was damn good for the price. I really enjoyed this tea. It was among the darkest teas I have drank. I think it would have gone fifteen steeps but that is only a guess. For the price this tea was incredible.

Presently enjoying some 2011 Autumn Naka Bamboo raw from JK Teashop in my new porcelain gaiwan, also from JK Teashop. Interesting stuff.

Some short notes on some Chawangshop teas I’ve drank this week. First was a 2006 Jin hao feng huan ripe tuo. It was really good, well integrated smoke and nicely flavored. I think this is now out of stock, though they have a later vintage. Then I tried the 2012 Autumn Naka Bamboo raw. Not very good. No Naka effects either. Then today I am drinking the 2010 Menghai Large Leaves Ripe. A large leaf Bulang ripe for….$8! I had to see what it was like. I have to say, not bad! It really is large leaf material. Medium ferment, somewhat bitter and acidic, but also pretty tasty. Lots of caffeine. A good daily drinker for the budget minded. Chawangshop has some over the top bargains, even with the over the top shipping cost. You just have to plan well! I think my last order cost $40 to ship, though it was a large order.

Consoling myself with some 2013 First Spring Jingmai from Wymm Tea because this happened:

https://instagram.com/p/77voR-wxz3/

This sheng is luscious and lovely. Rich mouthfeel and sumptuous fruit. Really expensive and really good.

@Yang-chu – Steepster won’t let me send you a message…