Cloud rating of 2011 Xiaguan "Golden Memory"

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


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Feb 22nd, '13, 09:04
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Cloud rating of 2011 Xiaguan "Golden Memory"

by apache » Feb 22nd, '13, 09:04

No need to translate this article, number of stars say it all! :wink:

http://www.hkteaforum.com/forum.php?mod ... d&tid=9206

Basically, he said the suppose aged taste in this cake is not 'REAL'.

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Feb 22nd, '13, 09:29
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Re: Cloud rating of 2011 Xiaguan "Golden Memory"

by gasninja » Feb 22nd, '13, 09:29

Has anyone here tried the offending cake?

I took the aged taste claims from this new Xiaguan cake just like I would take a Gu shu claim from Tian Dren with a truck load of salt.

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Feb 22nd, '13, 10:07
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Re: Cloud rating of 2011 Xiaguan "Golden Memory"

by apache » Feb 22nd, '13, 10:07

I had some samples from YS early last year, but as a mere mortal myself, I cannot tell whether there's any aged taste. All I could say I cannot find enough merit in it to justify having a whole cake.

Feb 22nd, '13, 10:28
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Re: Cloud rating of 2011 Xiaguan "Golden Memory"

by fdrx » Feb 22nd, '13, 10:28

gasninja wrote:Has anyone here tried the offending cake?
for less than $20 i'm happy of this one, even if it's not real. There aren't so many teas available with this profile, for me at least

Feb 22nd, '13, 16:40
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Re: Cloud rating of 2011 Xiaguan "Golden Memory"

by fdrx » Feb 22nd, '13, 16:40

I'm not sure it's the same tea but there's a brick too: http://bit.ly/ZxRMBj

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Feb 22nd, '13, 17:03
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Re: Cloud rating of 2011 Xiaguan "Golden Memory"

by apache » Feb 22nd, '13, 17:03

fdrx wrote:I'm not sure it's the same tea but there's a brick too: http://bit.ly/ZxRMBj
Without tasted this, dare I say they're probably very similar. The description said it has aged 7 years (I assumed it means 7 years old mao cha).

This is slightly more expensive but similar age:
http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a23 ... 5768159414

I have 04 version and IMHO, it is better than the 2011 Golden Memory Cake.

Feb 22nd, '13, 18:27
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Re: Cloud rating of 2011 Xiaguan "Golden Memory"

by fdrx » Feb 22nd, '13, 18:27

yes, i have this 05 brick, it's not bad. it's aging well and has more real and woody aged taste... however mouthfeel and durability are not great. It's maybe better sheng and better processed, but i brew turbo-pu more often, probably for its nice aftertaste and decent mouthfeel.

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Feb 22nd, '13, 19:04
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Re: Cloud rating of 2011 Xiaguan "Golden Memory"

by apache » Feb 22nd, '13, 19:04

Less than $0.1 per g, even use 10g for a session, still less than a dollar. Really can't expect more. On the whole Xiaguan is cheaper than Dayi.

Turbo-pu? What is it?

Feb 22nd, '13, 19:18
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Re: Cloud rating of 2011 Xiaguan "Golden Memory"

by fdrx » Feb 22nd, '13, 19:18

Turbo pu = 2011 Xiaguan Golden Memory

Mar 4th, '13, 13:00
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Re: Cloud rating of 2011 Xiaguan "Golden Memory"

by bryan_drinks_tea » Mar 4th, '13, 13:00

I purchased a tong of this cake last year. It supposedly uses somewhat dryly stored maocha from 2005.

I store my tong at 75% humidity and about 72-74 degrees F. Since I've stored it, no problems have abounded. I have an extra cake for periodic tasting every year or so.

Compression is pretty tight - it's xiaguan.

The last time I tried it, it showed clear liquor and an expansive aroma that told me it was beginning to mellow out. The flavour of the cake was spicy, with other notes of caramel/sugar and herbs and whatnot so there was some active changes going on. There was power and strength in the liquor and there was some element of qi that I could feel in my core a little bit, kind of a surging feeling.

The flavour changed throughout the session (9 grams, 120ml pot) There's no smoke flavour, and the flavour didn't last long after the 'gulp'. In other words, a short lived aftertaste. There was good bitterness in the back of the throat.

The liquor isn't thin, but it isn't terribly thick either. Some rough elements showed up on the tongue and cheeks, but this tea is still really young.

Overall..meh. It's a trial. I only know as much as I've experienced with my storage thus far. Good Luck, Tea Friends!

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Mar 4th, '13, 21:41
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Re: Cloud rating of 2011 Xiaguan "Golden Memory"

by TwoDog2 » Mar 4th, '13, 21:41

gasninja wrote:Has anyone here tried the offending cake?

I took the aged taste claims from this new Xiaguan cake just like I would take a Gu shu claim from Tian Dren with a truck load of salt.
You just haven't tried that special edition $150 Tiandiren !

On Cloud's numbering/rating system, sometimes I am not sure where he is coming from. Example that 2005 DXS S.Mengku. I wonder if the cake I had was particularly dry or if I was expecting too much. He rated it quite highly though. Given the price, it was a decent cake, but once you get into 4 star territory, i think he should be separating the wheat from the chaff.

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