Thoughts from a new Hong Kong bo lei drinker

One of the intentionally aged teas, Pu-Erh has a loyal following.


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Oct 18th, '12, 11:03
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Re: Thoughts from a new Hong Kong bo lei drinker

by jayinhk » Oct 18th, '12, 11:03

Thanks, it's a beautiful mug! Very heavily made though. Using it right now. :)

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Oct 27th, '12, 00:27
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Re: Thoughts from a new Hong Kong bo lei drinker

by jayinhk » Oct 27th, '12, 00:27

I'm really enjoying the liu'an with aglaia odorata flowers today. Had my usual Saturday morning breakfast of excellent dim sum,including my new favorite, Chiuchow fun guo. No pics, but I'll take some (eventually). ;)

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Nov 2nd, '12, 12:56
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Re: Thoughts from a new Hong Kong bo lei drinker

by jayinhk » Nov 2nd, '12, 12:56


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Nov 2nd, '12, 21:49
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Re: Thoughts from a new Hong Kong bo lei drinker

by MarshalN » Nov 2nd, '12, 21:49

Been there.... good luck.

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Nov 2nd, '12, 23:16
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Re: Thoughts from a new Hong Kong bo lei drinker

by jayinhk » Nov 2nd, '12, 23:16

I don't intend to buy any there, but thought the other guys would enjoy the picture!

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Nov 2nd, '12, 23:27
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Re: Thoughts from a new Hong Kong bo lei drinker

by SilentChaos » Nov 2nd, '12, 23:27

Hehe, I should track this place in the photo down when I visit. :mrgreen:

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Nov 12th, '12, 21:19
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Re: Thoughts from a new Hong Kong bo lei drinker

by jayinhk » Nov 12th, '12, 21:19

Been drinking my way through my tea stash recently: my only acquisition has been some Phoenix direct from Chaozhou which should come in by courier today. Drinking some of the best shu from the neighborhood and it is much better. It appears the best shu by HK standards is sweet, sour, bitter and even a little salty with a pleasant/interesting aftertaste.

All the shu I purchase locally seems to improve after several weeks of airing out at home: when packed in a large container with several kilos of tea at the store, it seems to age as a mass and has an intense aging taste until allowed to breathe.

The shu I'm drinking now tastes like Chinese red dates after about a month of airing out...amazing. Very smooth and pleasant. When I first bought it, I was surprised it had such an intense wet taste to it, but after some air, I have to say it was absolutely worth it.

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Nov 12th, '12, 22:16
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Re: Thoughts from a new Hong Kong bo lei drinker

by MarshalN » Nov 12th, '12, 22:16

This is the shop on the tram route?

Nov 12th, '12, 22:53
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Re: Thoughts from a new Hong Kong bo lei drinker

by ethan » Nov 12th, '12, 22:53

jayinkh, Are those the red dates that are very salty? Does the puerh taste quite salty or just a bit?

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Nov 12th, '12, 22:57
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Re: Thoughts from a new Hong Kong bo lei drinker

by jayinhk » Nov 12th, '12, 22:57

M, one of em: your suggested pu place. I went in looking to buy sheng and bought shu instead if you recall. :)

ethan, no, it's just a hint of salt and it tastes like the unsalted dates. The flavor isn't overwhelming, but it's there: it's more of a date aftertaste.

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Nov 22nd, '12, 21:25
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Re: Thoughts from a new Hong Kong bo lei drinker

by jayinhk » Nov 22nd, '12, 21:25

Been an interesting few days. Found an excellent Shanghainese restaurant that is owned by a couple who take their food very seriously. The owners took a course in hygiene and from watching them work, I can see they're taking their hygiene seriously too. The best part: the prices are reasonable and it's on my walk to work! I will definitely be dining there again.

On the pu erh front: I accidentally bought some shu again. It appears I mispronounced the word for 'raw' in Cantonese and ended up with 'mountain' shu. Pricey for what it is, but very smooth. As with all HK shu offerings, It needs some air to really shine as pu erh in HK continues to age in the jars and bins at the stores that sell it loose. The sheer mass of tea in the jars, coupled with the humidity and temperature, keep it aging.

That being said, despite the 'wet' taste, the tea is very smooth, sweet and warming. I can't wait to try it again in a few weeks! It does seem to have a few hairs stuck in the pieces of cake/nuggets, but better hair than cigarette butts and dead bugs I guess! Fortunately the hairs are relatively long and easy to extricate.

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Nov 23rd, '12, 08:54
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Re: Thoughts from a new Hong Kong bo lei drinker

by jayinhk » Nov 23rd, '12, 08:54

Broke up my entire cake of '05 7542 several weeks ago and left it to sit loose in a glass cabinet. Well, surprisingly, it has changed quite a bit since been broken up and the aroma and taste are much mellower now. It appears to be less bitter too. I didn't expect such a remarkable change so quickly, but it's actually pleasant to drink now!

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Dec 8th, '12, 01:00
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Re: Thoughts from a new Hong Kong bo lei drinker

by jayinhk » Dec 8th, '12, 01:00

Drinking this today:

http://www.yingkeetea.com/main/product_ ... 4&itemid=4

Really excellent value and very smooth and pleasant after some airing time. It's sweet, salty and bitter and goes down smooth. I may just go ahead and buy a full catty (600g).

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Re: Thoughts from a new Hong Kong bo lei drinker

by kiwi303 » Apr 3rd, '15, 17:26

jayinhk wrote:apache, good UK fish and chips would be lovely too--I'd trade you (but just once in a while)!

Been reading old posts, I'm intrigued by the story of the bin of random fragments of Pu in one shop you went too, seems a good way to try many teas in a short time, just pick out similar bits from the mass.
Not very scientific and of unknown origin, but a nice way to simply experience teas.

Can I paypal you cash and you ship me a bag from there? :D ;)



As to Fish and Chips... after so long as a British colony, Surely there must be a few F&C shops around, I know of one, just round the corner from the Chungking Mansions where I stayed while in HK. Near the Aussie pub.
Good F&C and I always stopped by there at least once when in HK when on a trip from Chongqing.

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Apr 3rd, '15, 21:06
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Re: Thoughts from a new Hong Kong bo lei drinker

by jayinhk » Apr 3rd, '15, 21:06

Hey! Not really into F&C right now but I think I know the place you speak of. Takeout place, right?

PM me about the assorted pu erh. I've been drinking green tea and oolong instead of pu, but I had some old traditionally stored raw pu erh a few nights ago that really hit the spot!

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