How's this for a sample list?

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


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Aug 28th, '08, 17:03
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How's this for a sample list?

by Bubba_tea » Aug 28th, '08, 17:03

Apologies for the messy formatting - how does this list look?



2007 Premium Mengku Arbor Pu-erh Tea Brick Sampler2007 Premium Mengku Arbor Pu-erh Tea Brick Sampler
$3.99 $3.99 Delete this item from the cart by clicking this icon.



2004 CNNP Grand Red Label Pu-erh Tea Cake Sampler2004 CNNP Grand Red Label Pu-erh Tea Cake Sampler
$3.89 $3.89 Delete this item from the cart by clicking this icon.



2003 CNNP Grand Yellow Label Pu-erh Tea Cake Sampler2003 CNNP Grand Yellow Label Pu-erh Tea Cake Sampler
$6.99 $6.99 Delete this item from the cart by clicking this icon.



2003 Dayi Yiwu Arbor Pu-erh Tea Cake Sampler2003 Dayi Yiwu Arbor Pu-erh Tea Cake Sampler
$6.99 $6.99 Delete this item from the cart by clicking this icon.



2003 Keyixing Yiwu Pu-erh Tea Cake Sampler2003 Keyixing Yiwu Pu-erh Tea Cake Sampler
$4.99 $9.98 Delete this item from the cart by clicking this icon.



Aged Premium Pu-erh Tea Tasting SampleAged Premium Pu-erh Tea Tasting Sample
$4.80 $4.80 Delete this item from the cart by clicking this icon.



2005 Dayi 7542 Pu-erh Tea Cake Sampler2005 Dayi 7542 Pu-erh Tea Cake Sampler
$4.49 $4.49 Delete this item from the cart by clicking this icon.



2006 Old Tree Banzhang Pu-erh Tea Cake Sampler2006 Old Tree Banzhang Pu-erh Tea Cake Sampler
$3.99 $3.99 Delete this item from the cart by clicking this icon.



2006 King of Pu-erh Tea Cake Sampler2006 King of Pu-erh Tea Cake Sampler
$3.99 $3.99 Delete this item from the cart by clicking this icon.

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Aug 28th, '08, 17:06
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by fencerdenoctum » Aug 28th, '08, 17:06

I'm not very knowledgable when it comes to all things pu, but I do know that Keyixing Yiwu is amazing. You'll enjoy that one for sure.

The Tea Sipping Swordsman,
Fencerdenoctum

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Aug 28th, '08, 17:25
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by hop_goblin » Aug 28th, '08, 17:25

Good start to get your feet wet.

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Aug 28th, '08, 17:45
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by shogun89 » Aug 28th, '08, 17:45

You should enjoy the Keyixing and the Old tree Banzhang. Go easy on the steeping time though on the Banzhang, even though its not banzhang it still will give you a strong cup.

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Aug 28th, '08, 17:58
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by Dizzwave » Aug 28th, '08, 17:58

I wasn't too impressed with the 04 CNNP.. For a buck more you can get a whole 100g tuo of the Changtai Banna, which is hard to beat IMHO... if you're looking for a nice shu to play with.
But then, I've only tried that CNNP once... I have some more sitting around here, maybe tomorrow. :)

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Aug 28th, '08, 18:12
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by shogun89 » Aug 28th, '08, 18:12

Your looking at spending about $45 on only samples. Although samples are a great way to learn your really not getting to much for your buck. I would truely recommend getting these products instead, that way you get a good deal, alot of tea to experiment with and I can almost promise you that you will not be disappointed.

http://www.puerhshop.com/index.php?main ... cts_id=420
You really cant go wrong with this cake for the price!

http://www.puerhshop.com/index.php?main ... cts_id=191
My first pu. Excellent sheng intro.

http://www.puerhshop.com/index.php?main ... cts_id=296
another cant go wrong for the price cake.

http://www.puerhshop.com/index.php?main ... cts_id=153
This cake easily compares with the Keyixing, One of my favorite cakes!


You cant get any 3 of those for about the same price as your samples. I'm not saying this is the way to go but its just my honest opinion. They are all good cakes for the price. Hope this helped.

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Aug 28th, '08, 18:29
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by Bubba_tea » Aug 28th, '08, 18:29

Hey Shogun - nice list there. Looks good to me. I'll give them a try. Hey - do you guys bust up the whole cake at once or just what you need at a time?

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Aug 28th, '08, 18:32
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by shogun89 » Aug 28th, '08, 18:32

Bubba_tea wrote:Hey Shogun - nice list there. Looks good to me. I'll give them a try. Hey - do you guys bust up the whole cake at once or just what you need at a time?
I just flake off 5 grams at a time, just enough for one pot, then put the rest of the cake away. It is SOOOO much fun when you receive your first cake!

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Aug 28th, '08, 22:33
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by tony shlongini » Aug 28th, '08, 22:33

shogun89 wrote:It is SOOOO much fun when you receive your first cake!
And your second, and your third, and so forth and so on........

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Aug 28th, '08, 22:35
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by shogun89 » Aug 28th, '08, 22:35

tony shlongini wrote:
shogun89 wrote:It is SOOOO much fun when you receive your first cake!
And your second, and your third, and so forth and so on........
haha so true!!! Especially the most expensive ones.
I really think that even if you dont get the cakes I suggested instead of the samples at least throw the shu I recommended in with your samples, Its only $10 and for that price its sooo good. I should probably get a couple more.

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Aug 28th, '08, 23:20
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by Bubba_tea » Aug 28th, '08, 23:20

I stuck with a few samples - and a cake of the purple leaf and rongzhen - etc...

1 2003 Keyixing Yiwu Pu-erh Tea Cake Sampler $4.99
1 Aged Premium Pu-erh Tea Tasting Sample $4.80
1 2005 Dayi 7542 Pu-erh Tea Cake Sampler $4.49
1 2006 King of Pu-erh Tea Cake Sampler $3.99
1 2007 Rongzhen 9878 Ripe Pu-erh Tea Cake $9.95
1 2007 Purple Leaf Pu-erh Tea Cake $15.00
1 2006 Old Tree Banzhang Pu-erh Tea Cake Sampler $3.99
1 Ceramic Tea Cup with Blue Fish $1.99
1 White Tea Bowl $2.19
1 2000 Bulk Mini Pu-erh Tea Brick (1 Ounce) $1.29
1 Large Blue Patten Porcelain Gaiwan $9.94

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by shogun89 » Aug 28th, '08, 23:33

You have some good stuff on there! I hope you enjoy them. please tell us how they turn out.

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by Salsero » Aug 28th, '08, 23:36

That is a royal start. You will learn a lot ... Of course you will write a little note about each item as you taste it. Your many godparents here are interested in how it goes.

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by devites » Aug 29th, '08, 03:05

Just ordered the Rongzheng. Only 10 ($20 with shipping), imppulse buy. I'll throw some in for those curious in the puerh pass when it comes my way.

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by tony shlongini » Aug 29th, '08, 10:07

I may be a bit of an oddball with regards to this (okay, more than a bit) but I consider an entire cake to be a sample. :shock:

For me, a sample just isn't enough to reveal everything about the tea. From which part of the cake did it come? The beautiful, hand assembled exterior, or the nasty underbelly? What is the level of compression? Am I getting a solid chunk of pu or a bag of lawn clippings?

If I enjoy a tea, I need a whole cake of it (at least!). Even if I don't enjoy it, I'd like to be able to revisit it on occasion to see if it has come around, or if my tastes have changed. If I ultimately determine that it's just no good (for me), I can always pass it on to someone who may have a more favorable opinion of it. When I get a tiny bit of something to try, it's depressing to know that it will be gone in another session of two. :(

Having said that, samples are still a great way to try new items and discover new styles. If my experience with other hobbies is any indication, we tend to go through different phases-
  • I know nothing, so I've got to try anything, even that $5 cake from the local asian mart sitting next to the basket of dried shrimp.
  • I want to know everything, so I've got to try everything, including every oddball, no name producer's wares.
  • I'm a snob, so I've got to have the very best that exists, even if I risk divorce in doing so.
  • I finally know what I'm doing, so I've got to pare down my selections and concentrate on what I really like.
There's a place for all of these approaches, and more.

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