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Courtesy of a very kind Steepster friend, my wife & I were able to experience this 8-yr old shou.

Fragrance – nothing obvious
Color – Chocolate brown few gold tips on the surface.
Rinsed leaf aroma – pleasing, sweet, moderately-strong, barnyard smell
Brewed aroma – mild typical pu-erh aroma
Liqueur – Dark brown

Taste – Thin, flat, homogenous, woodie, w/o bitterness, fishiness or funk. However, there was noticeable astringency that gradually increased with each serving. There was also a woodie aftertaste that persisted long after this gongfu session. Even though we had toast with our tea, we both had stomach upset after drinking 6oz each of this shou.

Flavor profile – Woodie

Impression – Not our cup of tea. Perhaps the 10-sec rinse suggested in mrmopar’s review may have helped. Unfortunately, I didn’t read it until after this session as I didn’t want it to potentially color my observations.

12.6g / 6 oz / 205° / 60s preheat / 60s warm leaves / 5s rinse / 20 min rest / 5s / 5 / 5 / 5 / stopped session due to stomach upset.

Courtesy of a very kind Steepster friend, my wife & I were able to experience this 5-yr old shou.

Fragrance – faint cocoa
Color – Chocolate brown with some gold tips throughout.
Rinsed leaf aroma – rich leaf compost
Brewed aroma – mild typical pu-erh aroma
Liqueur – Amber brown

Taste – Full-bodied, round, rich, & creamy smooth w/o bitterness, astringency, acidity, fishiness or funk.

Flavor profile – This shou brought to mind the flavor of an exceptional, freshly-baked, wholesome, multigrain-bread.

Impression – Of the few Haiwan shou I’ve tasted to date, this is clearly my favorite. Ufortunately, this ebay supplier now wants $85/cake. Too bad – at this price I’ll pass.

14.5g / 6 oz / 205° / 60s preheat / 60s warm leaves / 5s rinse / 20 min rest / 5s / 5 / 5 / 5 / 15 / 30 / 60 /120

Hello Everyone!

It’s been quite a while since since I’ve written a review. However, my wife & I have been enjoying shou puerh every morning since being introduced to it here on Steepster. Yes, we’ve come over to the Dark side! :-)

Courtesy of a very kind Steepster friend, I brewed this Haiwan shou Gongfu style: 15g / 6 oz. / 205° / 5-sec rinse / 20-min rest / 5, 5, 10, 10, 15, 30, 60, 120-sec for a total of 8 6-oz. infusions. Every two steeps combined in a sharing pitcher.

I understand that this shou is known by at least three different names: Supreme, Ultimate, and also perhaps Peerless.

Aroma: Faint cocoa or chocolate

This ripe pu-erh is dark yet light-bodied, velvety smooth, and somewhat rich w/o any astringency or bitterness. There were no off-putting flavors or aromas of any kind. However, there was a slight woody flavor at the end of the sip. I didn’t notice any cha qi. Additional infusions had the same “delicate” (my wife’s accurate & concise dsecription) flavor profile using longer brewing times.

Impression: I agree with mrmopar that this shou is better as an afternoon tea, as it’s not as robust and invigorating as is typically enjoyed with breakfast: https://steepster.com/mrmopar/posts/184618
tperez wrote an incisive review of the 2010 version: https://steepster.com/tperez/posts/337954#comments

Gong-Fu Brewing Method:
Please see my profile.

Today, courtesy of a very kind Steepster friend, I brewed this highly-recommended Menghai shou Gongfu style: 10g / 3 oz. / 205 / 5-sec rinse / 20-min rest / four identical steeps combined into a tea mug / 5, 15, & 30-sec for a total of twelve 3-oz. infusions.

This ripe pu-erh is robust, dark, rich, and velvety smooth w/o any astringency or bitterness. There were no off-putting flavors or aromas of any kind. It’s invigorating enough for breakfast. I didn’t notice any cha qi. Additional infusions had the same enjoyable flavor profile and were nearly as rich using longer brewing times. I also tried a fourth round of infusions @ 60-sec. However, it was too light-bodied.

Impression: I agree with DigniTea & mrmopar that it’s an excellent affordable everyday shou. This is also an excellent choice for pu-erh beginners like us who enjoy full-bodied black tea.

Method:
RO water re-mineralized with an Aptera filter http://steepster.com/teas/teaware/39532-puregen-aptera-alkamag-water-filter
http://steepster.com/teas/teaware/37731-my-weigh-durascale-d2-660-digital-scale
Brewed gongfu-style using a digital variable-temp electric kettle and a tempered 3 oz. Ru Kiln gaiwan: http://steepster.com/teaware/bonavita/39130-1-liter-variable-temperature-digital-electric-gooseneck-kettle
http://steepster.com/teaware/shanghaistory/67231-top-tianqing-ru-kiln-celadon-kinking-gaiwan-90ml-slash-3-dot-0oz
In lieu of a sharing pitcher & tea strainer, a tea mug http://steepster.com/teas/royal-albert/45581-old-country-roses-afternoontea-mugs with a http://steepster.com/teas/teaware/29177-finum-brewing-basket placed in the tea mug were used.

It’s that time of year again for great tea value opportunities! …
TeaVivre’s 4th Anniversary Celebration!
http://teavivre.com/sale/anniversary-celebration.html

Yesterday, courtesy of Lulu and George of Sanne Tea, I brewed Yu Shan High Mountain Oolong tea Western style: 6.5 g / 8 oz. / 212*F / 2 min. without sweeteners, milk, or cream.

Intro.: From the artistic Asian-themed packaging and presentation one gets the impression that this is a very special Oolong that was crafted with great care and pride. Per the enclosed info card, Yu Shan “is among the top grades of Oolong tea.” This hand-picked (April, 2013) and family-made Oolong is grown on the tallest mountain in East Asia, Jade Mountain – “one of the most remote wilderness regions in Taiwan.” With such a growing environment, it’s not surprising that this tea has passed pesticide residue testing. This is very good news for those who are health conscious. Not every tea can pass such rigorous testing.

Leaves: Green balls with some stems
Fragrance: Roasted green tea with a very pleasing floral sent
Color: Light golden yellow
Aroma: Roasted green tea with a very pleasing floral sent
Flavor: Medium roasted with an underlying flavor that reminded me of green tea with a rich caramel buttery-smooth taste.

2-min.: Even though this tea is a light golden color, 8 oz. of it is surprisingly rich, buttery-smooth, warm, and very relaxing. Add to that, the caramel flavor and the very pleasing and potent floral aroma and you have a very captivating tea experience! There was no astringency or bitterness. Sanne Tea’s Yu Shan High Mountain Oolong made an excellent first impression for a tea lover like me who has no previous experience with such high quality Oolong teas.

3-min. resteep: similar to the previous cup but with some bitterness. This cup reminded me of Gunpowder Green tea. The dry green balls were now unfurled into full unbroken leaves. Perhaps 3-min. was too long for the first resteep. The brewing instructions didn’t provided resteeping recommendations.

Impression: A very rich, refined, and very captivating Oolong tea experience!

Thanks to Lulu and George of Sanne Tea for this gracious sample.

Suggestions:
Please consider adding:
1. Complete Western and Gongfu brewing information on the package:
grams / ounces / temp. / time and brewing times for each resteep.
2. Organic certifications, EUROFINS compliance, or webpage of pesticide residue test reports to the packaging.

Method:
RO water re-mineralized with an Aptera filter http://steepster.com/teas/teaware/39532-puregen-aptera-alkamag-water-filter
http://steepster.com/teas/teaware/37731-my-weigh-durascale-d2-660-digital-scale
Brewed western-style conveniently using a digital variable-temp electric kettle in a tempered tea mug with a brew basket:
http://steepster.com/teaware/bonavita/39130-1-liter-variable-temperature-digital-electric-gooseneck-kettle
http://steepster.com/teaware/royal-albert/45581-old-country-roses-afternoontea-mugs
http://steepster.com/teas/teaware/29177-finum-brewing-basket
http://steepster.com/teaware/teavana/39312-perfect-preset-tea-timer

This morning, courtesy of Alistair Rea of What-Cha, I brewed Assam 2nd Flush 2014 STGFOP-1 Black Tea Western style: 2 tsp. (3g) / 8 oz / 203*F / 2 & 3 min. without sweeteners, milk, or cream. This was a free sample that was included with my first order.

Leaf: Fine mostly chocolate brown twisted 1 cm long or less
Fragrance: Notes of hay
Liquor: Beautiful brilliant clear moderately dark copper
Aroma: Mild hay & earth
Flavor: Fruity with a malty finish

2 min.: Lighter-bodied so I gave it another minute.

3-min.: A truly fruity Assam that’s velvety smooth and rich with a mildly malty finish. As one continues to sip, the finish becomes moderately malty. There was no bitterness or astringency.

4-min. re-steep: Still fruity, velvety smooth, and rich with a mildly malty finish.

Impression: A unique fruity Assam with a mild to moderate malty finish for those who like a change from the typical more robust Assam teas.

Thanks to Alistair Rea of What-Cha for this gracious Assam sample.

Method:
RO water re-mineralized with an Aptera filter http://steepster.com/teas/teaware/39532-puregen-aptera-alkamag-water-filter
http://steepster.com/teas/teaware/37731-my-weigh-durascale-d2-660-digital-scale
Brewed western-style conveniently using a digital variable-temp electric kettle in a tempered tea mug with a brew basket:
http://steepster.com/teaware/bonavita/39130-1-liter-variable-temperature-digital-electric-gooseneck-kettle
http://steepster.com/teaware/royal-albert/45581-old-country-roses-afternoontea-mugs
http://steepster.com/teas/teaware/29177-finum-brewing-basket
http://steepster.com/teaware/teavana/39312-perfect-preset-tea-timer

This is my first Whispering Pines blended tea. It’s a very well balanced blend of two black teas from notable Chinese regions: Fujian Xiao Zhong and Yunnan Dian Hong. Instead of writing a review about my first tasting, I’ve waited until after enjoying all 4 oz. of my initial C.M. order. So this initial review is also a sipdown and is thus based on many cups of this excellent tea.

I brewed it using the following Western brewing parameters:

2g / 3 min / 205F / 8 oz: A little lighter-bodied for my taste.

3g / 3 min / 205F / 8 oz: These parameters are how I brewed the majority of my 4 oz. stash. Amber colored. Definite Chocolate aroma that’s strong enough to be appreciated when standing at the kitchen counter! A smooth medium-bodied (but fuller-bodied than Laoshan Black) blended black tea. Flavor: chocolate, toasted rustic bread, honey, malt. There’s a definite fruity note (apricot?) with a marvelous creamy finish. Near the bottom of the now cooler cup, the malty flavor is a more pronounced and there is a cocoa aftertaste.

5-min. resteep: Still enjoyable but lighter-bodied than the original steep with a similar flavor profile. However, the chocolate is not as pronounced and the creamy finish is diminished. Some of the twice-brewed leaves are now fully open.

8-min. resteep: Light-amber color with minimal aroma. Light-bodied. I let it steep another two minutes.

10-min. resteep: Light to medium-amber with minimal aroma. Light to medium-bodied with a similar flavor profile to the 1st resteep. This cup is enjoyable but definitely not as much as the original steep. The 3x-brewed leaves are now fully open.

3g / 5 min / 205F / 8 oz: More full-bodied and very enjoyable. My cup was empty before I knew it. However, with a 5-min. steep, the malty flavor overwhelms the subtle fruity nuances, thus they’re not as apparent. There is a definite unsweetened cocoa aftertaste.

5-min. resteep: Light-bodied.

10-min. resteep: Light to medium-bodied. With a 5-min first steep, there is not too much left for a resteep.

2.6g (All the N.W. that was left!) / 5 min / 205F / 8 oz: Full-bodied and very enjoyable with a marvelous creamy finish to the sip. None of the flavors were overshadowed by a dominant flavor. My cup was empty before I knew it! I wish I had discovered these parameters sooner. To my taste buds, this is the full-bodied version of 3g / 3 min. There’s a less pronounced unsweetened cocoa aftertaste that persists on the tongue. There was zero bitterness or astringency. The once brewed leaves were now fully open.

I especially enjoy teas with a natural rich chocolate flavor as opposed to natural unsweetened cocoa profile. Given my preferences, my two favorite Western brewing parameters to date were:
- 3g / 3 min / 205F / 8 oz.: Fuller-bodied than 2g and the fruity note (apricot?) was more apparent.
- 2.6g / 5 min / 205F / 8 oz.: Full-bodied with a less obvious cocoa aftertaste.

Impression: An excellent unflavored blended Chinese black tea especially for those who enjoy a wonderful chocolate aroma and flavor with a cocoa aftertaste. And who doesn’t like chocolate? : – ) !

Well done Brenden! Thanks also for your superb customer service!

Method:
RO water re-mineralized with an Aptera filter http://steepster.com/teas/teaware/39532-puregen-aptera-alkamag-water-filter
http://steepster.com/teas/teaware/37731-my-weigh-durascale-d2-660-digital-scale
Brewed western-style conveniently using a digital variable-temp electric kettle in a tempered tea mug with a brew basket:
http://steepster.com/teaware/bonavita/39130-1-liter-variable-temperature-digital-electric-gooseneck-kettle
http://steepster.com/teaware/royal-albert/45581-old-country-roses-afternoontea-mugs
http://steepster.com/teas/teaware/29177-finum-brewing-basket
http://steepster.com/teaware/teavana/39312-perfect-preset-tea-timer

Sipdown
To my surprise there was enough Ming Hong for one last session. This time I was determined to follow the recommended brewing times.
Western style: 7.2g / 8 oz / 203*F / rinse, 20, 35, 50, 65 sec. without sweeteners, milk, or cream.

20 sec.: This cup was identical to the first cup from yesterday: http://steepster.com/looseTman/posts/295565.

35 sec.: This cup is identical to the flavor profile of the first steep, but it’s definitely richer . It’s very full-bodied without any astringency or bitterness. Wow, the second steep is a very satisfying morning cup! I suspect the rest period after the short 1st steep allows the wet leaves to produce a richer 2nd cup. As I near the bottom of this cup, the caramel finish now includes cocoa and persists long on the tongue. The final sip of the now cool mug has a hint of green beans.

50 sec.: This cup has the same flavor profile but is less full-bodied than the first cup and not as rich as the 2nd steep. As I near the bottom of the cup, the mild caramel finish no longer includes a strong aftertaste of cocoa.

65 sec.: The fourth cup had the same flavor profile as the 3rd steep, but was light to medium-bodied and definitely not as rich. As I near the bottom of the cup, the mild caramel finish no longer has a cocoa aftertaste. The leaves are now fully open, so I’ll stop here.

Comparison to yesterday’s results:
By following the recommended brewing times, the flavor of the leaves was better divided over the four cups. Additionally, the recommended times yielded the optimum balance of all the flavors, especially in the second cup. The dark chocolate didn’t overpower the other flavors of the second cup today as it had yesterday, which allowed me to fully appreciate the superb richness of today’s 2nd cup. It’s a shame that this is the end of my 4 oz. stash. I’ll be definitely watching Yezi’s sales.

Impression: A very complex-flavored creamy smooth tea that’s not to be missed!

Thanks to Boris of Yezi for his brewing recommendations of this superb tea!

Method:
RO water re-mineralized with an Aptera filter http://steepster.com/teas/teaware/39532-puregen-aptera-alkamag-water-filter
http://steepster.com/teas/teaware/37731-my-weigh-durascale-d2-660-digital-scale
Brewed western-style conveniently using a digital variable-temp electric kettle in a tempered tea mug with a brew basket:
http://steepster.com/teaware/bonavita/39130-1-liter-variable-temperature-digital-electric-gooseneck-kettle
http://steepster.com/teaware/royal-albert/45581-old-country-roses-afternoontea-mugs

I’m nearing the end of my 4 oz. stash of this very enjoyable complex Fujian tea. This morning, I brewed Ming Hong Black Tea from Yezi Western style: 7g / 8 oz / 203*F / rinse, 20, 35, 50 sec. without sweeteners, milk, or cream.

Leaf: Fine dark brown, tan, and golden twisted 2 cm long or less
Fragrance: Notes of hay
Liquor: Beautiful brilliant clear copper
Aroma: Sweet potatoes (as it cools)
Flavors: Baked Bread, Grain (barley?), Dark Chocolate, Sweet Potatoes, Malt, Creamy, Caramel, Green Beans

20 sec.: A wonderfully complex and very satisfying morning cup of Fujian tea with a wonderful sweet potato aroma! It’s a creamy-smooth, full-bodied tea without any astringency or bitterness. Notes of baked bread / grain (barley?), dark chocolate, malt, and sweet potatoes, are equally blended together with a mild caramel finish. It’s great to have one’s first 8 oz. cup of tea in the morning with so much flavor in only 20 seconds! Most black teas brewed Western-style require 3 to 5 minutes. Near the bottom of the now cool cup notes of green beans are apparent.

35 sec.: (Due to a momentary distraction, this was actually 45 sec.) This cup is very full-bodied without any astringency or bitterness. The same flavors as above are noted, but the dark chocolate is now stronger than all the others. Wow, this is a very satisfying morning cup! As I near the bottom of the second cup, the caramel finish now includes cocoa and persists long on the tongue.

50 sec.: Not quite, so I let it steep another 10 sec. This cup has the same flavor profile as the first cup, but a little less full-bodied.

75 sec.: The fourth cup was light to medium-bodied so I let it steep longer until it produced a medium-bodied cup, about two minutes. This cup had the same flavor profile as the original. Most of the leaves were now fully open, so I stopped here.

Impression: A very complex-flavored creamy smooth Fujian tea that’s not to be missed!

Thanks to Boris of Yezi for his brewing recommendations of this excellent complex tea!

Method:
RO water re-mineralized with an Aptera filter http://steepster.com/teas/teaware/39532-puregen-aptera-alkamag-water-filter
http://steepster.com/teas/teaware/37731-my-weigh-durascale-d2-660-digital-scale
Brewed western-style conveniently using a digital variable-temp electric kettle in a tempered tea mug with a brew basket:
http://steepster.com/teaware/bonavita/39130-1-liter-variable-temperature-digital-electric-gooseneck-kettle
http://steepster.com/teaware/royal-albert/45581-old-country-roses-afternoontea-mugs
http://steepster.com/teas/teaware/29177-finum-brewing-basket
http://steepster.com/teaware/teavana/39312-perfect-preset-tea-timer