2006 Xi-Zhi Hao "Tai Chi Series - Yan" Lao Ban Zha

[heavydoom]

2006 Xi-Zhi Hao "Tai Chi Series - Yan" Lao Ban Zha

by heavydoom » Sep 23rd, '08, 16:48

this tea is pricey. is it really worth it? i am pretty interested in getting this.

anyone tried this tea? what is the big deal with real lao ban zhan pu erh tea leaves? i am assuming that the price of this tea reflects on the seller using real 100 % lao ban zhan tea leaves.

any noticable differences with the black and the white versions? if not that much, i will just get either the white one or the black one.

thanks.


http://www.houdeasianart.com/index.php? ... 099a1254a9

[shogun89]

by shogun89 » Sep 23rd, '08, 16:52

Looks really good! Way to pricey for me though. . .

[edkrueger]

by edkrueger » Sep 23rd, '08, 16:53

Never tried it, but I might frame the wrapper!

[Salsero]

by Salsero » Sep 23rd, '08, 17:22

Soupnoodles on 02/23/2007 posted this note in BBB's Puerh LJ"

2006 Xi-Zhi Hao "Tai Chi Series - Yan" Lao Ban Zhan, 1oz
Comparison Tasting 24-Feb-2007: Whoa. Compared to the others, this is wild, crazy, bright, like a lightly fermented green Oolong that shouts its fertile floral-herbal fragrance across the room. The young tea is hard to take on the stomach. Should I be looking for a long finish or something? It’s not really there, though the flavor of the tea came back later, even after eating. But if ever a tea needed taming, this is it. I don’t think there’s a viable wine analogy to this out-there but evidently very-high-quality tea.

I had a sample in April of last year and found pungent aromatics, mushroom, thick and rather smooth, more savory than sweet (as Scruff described it), occasional fruity tastes, and even a gingery taste.

I liked it a lot more than the Yin cake of the same tea.

Back then (if my notes are right) it sold for $65.00 a cake which seemed to me like more than what it was worth. I drank up my one oz sample, but didn’t consider buying a cake.

[heavydoom]

by heavydoom » Sep 23rd, '08, 18:35

Soupnoodles on 02/23/2007 posted this note in BBB's Puerh LJ"

2006 Xi-Zhi Hao "Tai Chi Series - Yan" Lao Ban Zhan, 1oz
Comparison Tasting 24-Feb-2007: Whoa. Compared to the others, this is wild, crazy, bright, like a lightly fermented green Oolong that shouts its fertile floral-herbal fragrance across the room. The young tea is hard to take on the stomach. Should I be looking for a long finish or something? It’s not really there, though the flavor of the tea came back later, even after eating. But if ever a tea needed taming, this is it. I don’t think there’s a viable wine analogy to this out-there but evidently very-high-quality tea.

I had a sample in April of last year and found pungent aromatics, mushroom, thick and rather smooth, more savory than sweet (as Scruff described it), occasional fruity tastes, and even a gingery taste.

I liked it a lot more than the Yin cake of the same tea.

Back then (if my notes are right) it sold for $65.00 a cake which seemed to me like more than what it was worth. I drank up my one oz sample, but didn’t consider buying a cake.

this cake is now selling for $145. who the hell decides these price hikes? i mean, you said that the price was only 65 about april last year.

[teakid]

by teakid » Sep 23rd, '08, 19:53

I'm guessing tea hype and marketing tactics...

[edkrueger]

by edkrueger » Sep 23rd, '08, 22:01

Nobody decides prices, yet the get coordinated through human action. Supply and demand, people!

[Salsero]

by Salsero » Sep 23rd, '08, 22:02

who the hell decides these price hikes?

Market forces ... it gets a good name, everyone wants it, they bid up the price. For some people $145 is a good trade for a pretty tasty cake that friends have praised and that might age well. For me, no. I'd rather spend $145 trying out a bunch of cheap cakes hoping for one or two to be as good in their own way but at a lower price.

Get the sample for $12.50. You'll have fun, get to know the product, and probably be glad you didn't buy a whole cake. Even if you aren't, your wife will be.

[heavydoom]

by heavydoom » Sep 23rd, '08, 22:48

who the hell decides these price hikes?

Market forces ... it gets a good name, everyone wants it, they bid up the price. For some people $145 is a good trade for a pretty tasty cake that friends have praised and that might age well. For me, no. I'd rather spend $145 trying out a bunch of cheap cakes hoping for one or two to be as good in their own way but at a lower price.

Get the sample for $12.50. You'll have fun, get to know the product, and probably be glad you didn't buy a whole cake. Even if you aren't, your wife will be.

yeah, i hear ya. the wife does not have to know. i have ways of doing this.

[thanks]

by thanks » Sep 23rd, '08, 23:09

Those leaves look erotic. However, 145$ for a two year old tea in my mind is absolutely insane. You could get a tong of high quality 08 tea for that price, shipped!

If you insist on a lao banzhang that's not too cheap so as to be suspect, then I highly recommend just buying 3 of these http://cgi.ebay.com/2005-Guoyan-Lao-Ban ... m153.l1262 for the same price as that Xi-Zhi Hao. It's a year older as well! If you want to try it first, (which you completely should) the sample is located here; http://cgi.ebay.com/2005-Guoyan-Lao-Ban ... m153.l1262

It's a decent tea for the money, worth every penny.

[hop_goblin]

by hop_goblin » Sep 24th, '08, 11:42

I think it is a fair price. LB Mao cha in 06 went for crazy prices!