pu-erh of the day. Sheng or Shou

I’ve spent the afternoon enjoying the 2005 Zhuiyuantang Manzhuan Zaochun by Xiangming Longxing Tea Co. I was able to pick it up from White 2 Tea 2-3 years ago for less than $75. Acted on a tip from Hobbes and purchased without trying a sample (not an uncommon practice for me on puer with solid recommendations from experienced drinkers back then when tea was a bit cheaper). I am very happy that I took a chance on this sheng for it has matured nicely in my humidity monitored tea cabinet for over two year now. Early spring big-leaf material, clear and bright orange tea soup, honey-like scent, nice mouth activity — definitely a smooth and easy drinker.

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Drinking the 2015 Haiwan Da Man Lu this morning from Berylleb King Tea. This was an excellent and somewhat expensive raw tea. Not really too expensive but also not cheap. This is a nice tea with some bitterness at the start. There was also a sweet taste at the start. There was also a barely perceptible sour note to the first couple of infusions. The bitterness did not last and the sweet note developed into something quite nice, even apricots or stonefruits in nature. There was also a mild astringency to this tea that persisted in it but not enough to bother me. Overall this was a very good tea from Berylleb King Tea. A note, it is in the catalog as 2015 Haiwan Da Man Lu but on the Berylleb site as 2015 Haiwan Da Man Lv.

After that raw I went on to a ripe from the Puerh Tea TTB, the 2004 Denong Red Label Ripe from Bana Tea Company. This was an excellent ripe. There was not too much fermentation flavor but there was some. It was neither fishy or unpleasant though. There was little bitterness. There was a nice sweet note to this tea, even dates note I think. This was really good tea. I find myself wondering if it is still in stock and how much it costs.

2012 Yunnan Sourcing Impression. From a sample generously included with first ever YS order back in the day. I think it is at a slightly awkward age, but remains good material and promises to become more interesting – though likely not in the ten grams in a bag format I’m rocking it.

2016 Year of the Monkey AnNing HaiWan LaoTongZhi raw pu’er. Smooth, medium to high density, beautiful lemon yellow colour but it has a lightish smoky after taste.

Beginning a session with Puerhshop’s ‘1998’ 7542, made infamous by Hster. Will post undoubtedly less illuminating notes than those who come before me when I have formed my opinion.

This morning I have gone back to one of my favourites 2015 raw pu’er teas: 2015 Chawangshop He Kai.

Puerh Tea TTB. Bada 2013 by Puerh.sk this morning. I couldn’t sleep so I made some early tea. This is pretty nice. Little bitterness and a nice sweet note that you might call apricots. Very good stuff.

Finished off cold shou, the boiled leaves from 2004 Jin Hao Feng Huang. Didn’t change profile much from hot to cold which is not usually the case with puerh. Very clean tea, glad for the sample.

2015 Menghai Dayi Lenged of the Flying Tigers ripe from Berylleb King Tea. This is a very nice ripe. A fair amount of fermentation flavor but not unpleasant or fishy. Little to no bitterness. A sweet note from the start. This was good stuff.