TeaChat

What can you guys recommend?

Menghai produced a 250 gram beeng of their V93 formula in 2011, it's around 10 bucks US.
I have not tried this one yet but have tried just about every other V93 they have released, might be worth looking at.

In my opinion Dayi is your top choice for shu. There are a handful of good cakes well within your price range that are 4-5 years old that might be worth considering unless your set on buying something young.

Ive been happy with most of the V93 that I have tried, but some years are better than others. Recently I was pleasently surpried with the 2007 Gu Ming Xiang "Nan Nuo Mountain" Ripe Pu-erh Tea cake from YunnanSourcing-US. Its solid for cupping everyday, not exceptional though. The post also contains my feelings for Menghai ripes from the last 10 or so years that I have tried (not good).

I think you can still get the Dayi 2007 Golden Needle White Lotus for under $50, or the 2010 GNWL for less, if you look around. The 250 gram V93 from this year is a tuo, not a beeng (I enjoy V93 a lot, but it's not the most complex tea ever).

Menku puts out some 100 gm tea cakes that are every bit the measure of the Dayi products.

I do have V93 2011, honestly not a big fan.

I got a sample of this brick in an order from the puerhshop. I brewed it at ~1.5x normal strength, and it was really quite nice... I'll probably pick up a couple more at some point.

Actually, come to think of it, what are you looking for you in a shu? Any particular qualities? Doughy? Woody? Some punch left in it?

Right now I'm enjoying Jing Mai and Baozhang by Douji. Fragrance, punch, beautiful strong leaves, nice qi I get good 7 infusions on 4 grams in 110ml gaiwan.

The only downside when I drink it after work and gym, I can't fall asleep until 2am or so.

Hrm, Yunnan Sourcing also has some good options (in general).

I can recommend this medium fermentation one, which is mini-beeng.

Scott has two other ones (here and here), which appear to run in a similar vein, though I have not tried them.

Unfortunately, I can't tell you anything about qi or caffeine... I try not to drink tea late so that I can avoid the problem of not being able to get to sleep...

Not 2010 or 2011, but I would vote for this tea:
http://www.yunnansourcing.com/store/pro ... oduct=1971
2007 Menghai "Secret Aroma" Premium Ripe Pu-erh cake 357 grams
$35.
I tried it last week and would recommend it. It is very smooth, very infuseable, and made for an enjoyable session. It did not have as much "punky" taste as some shu. I still have not tried V93. I did have the Golden Needle White Lotus last week for the first time. It did not overwhelm me. It was okay. That seemed less "composted" than some shu. Maybe a better candidate for a bit of storage?

Good luck and let us know what you pick and how you like it!

outline wrote:I do have V93 2011, honestly not a big fan.

Too young, that cake is only a newborn. Let it age nicely and you'll change your mind.

Catfur wrote:I think you can still get the Dayi 2007 Golden Needle White Lotus for under $50, or the 2010 GNWL for less, if you look around. The 250 gram V93 from this year is a tuo, not a beeng (I enjoy V93 a lot, but it's not the most complex tea ever).

Do you know where?




http://www.houdeasianart.com/index.php? ... ts_id=1381

Also this could be good I have never tried a shu from CGHT but I'm assuming it will be decent. Its supposedly. Yi. Wu gushu.

Also there is essence of tea,s Gushu shu . I happen to be drinking it right now is really pretty good and still has plenty of life left in it. The only problem being that they only have the loose leaf left in stock.