Essence of Tea, wonderful scents

[Drax]

I ordered some of the new offerings from Essence of Tea (aka Nadacha) and they came in a couple of days ago.

They're sitting on my table next to my laptop and I get this wonderful scent wafting through.

Has anybody had a chance to try any of them yet...?

[nickE]

I know AdamMY has tried a few of them, he reviewed the Mansai in particular on his blog.

I've got an order from Nada coming as well, though it's in transit.

• Mansai - full cake
  Manmai - full cake
  Bulang - 12g sample
  1997 Bulang - 12g sample

I'll be sure to share my thoughts as soon as they arrive!

Also, there's been some discussion/reviews on the B&B SOTD thread if you wanna check that out.

[apache]

I tried the 2010 Bulang, my word, I don't think I will ever forget that.

[shogun89]

I really want to try these, however I dont think it justifies the price.

[Drax]

After apache's comments, I had to test out the Bulang.... and holy cow. I started brewing before I saw the comments on the "only need half" and so I'm brewing with short times. But it's still extremely potent. Whew. I think I'm going to have to finish this one off tomorrow....

I know what you mean about price, shogun. I basically blew the rest of my tea budget on this last purchase. Then again, I knew it was going to be a big purchase so I planned accordingly.

Also picked up some of the aged oolong because it's just so derned spectacular. And also got some of that 1997 bulang as well. I'm really curious about that one -- smells spectacular as well!

[apache]

I really want to try these, however I dont think it justifies the price.

You can order some samples instead of a whole cakes, I think it is worth just to try the Bulang cakes and use them as a yard stick for other cakes.

Just as to put price into prospective:
http://www.cguardian.com/special.php?se ... 322&Page=1
I think the price here is per cake! Someone said most of these cakes were stored in HK.

[apache]

I like the description of the Mansai (I haven't tried this one yet), he wrote:

This is the most remote area we sourced puerh from this year. Located at the southernmost tip of the Bulang range, this village is in a small area bordered on the north by an impassable mountain ridge and on the south by a river crossable only by a rope bridge ...

Can't help, but picture of Indiana Jones came to mind, "Raiders of the last pu'erh cake".

Here Nada clutching a bag full of priceless mao cha and was running like hell across the rope bridge. A large group villagers brandishing clubs and sticks chasing closely behind ...

I know it's a bit of exaggeration, but I can't thank him enough for putting great effort into sourcing his material.

[TIM]

Just as to put price into prospective:
http://www.cguardian.com/special.php?se ... 322&Page=1
I think the price here is per cake! Someone said most of these cakes were stored in HK.

I am LOVING this Link!!! Thank you apache

[apache]

Just as to put price into prospective:
http://www.cguardian.com/special.php?se ... 322&Page=1
I think the price here is per cake! Someone said most of these cakes were stored in HK.

I am LOVING this Link!!! Thank you apache

As the cheapest on the list is still way beyond I can afford, I wonder have you ever tried any of these teas or anything with similar caliber? I know it's very subjective, are they really worth the price for the experience which other more ordinary pu'erh could not offer?

[pgho]

I really want to try these, however I dont think it justifies the price.

I need to get samples, oh yes samples !!, the bank says I can perform balance transfer from my other credit card ... hmmm this will indeed help make it easier. Just don't tell the missus.

[TIM]

Just as to put price into prospective:
http://www.cguardian.com/special.php?se ... 322&Page=1
I think the price here is per cake! Someone said most of these cakes were stored in HK.

I am LOVING this Link!!! Thank you apache

As the cheapest on the list is still way beyond I can afford, I wonder have you ever tried any of these teas or anything with similar caliber? I know it's very subjective, are they really worth the price for the experience which other more ordinary pu'erh could not offer?

The best way to try the true experience of tasting these vintages are with friends, 3 people together, as the Chinese character of true tea tasting is call "品茗" 品 means 3 mouths sharing and enjoying tea.

My experiences of these 150 years old tea to the earlier 50s red label were shared online:

http://themandarinstea.blogspot.com/200 ... -2008.html

http://themandarinstea.blogspot.com/200 ... label.html

http://themandarinstea.blogspot.com/2008/08/vincer.html

http://themandarinstea.blogspot.com/200 ... -qing.html

To me, these moment were life changing to say the least. Euphoria and wholesome joyfulness. Do try the real 80's raw first to have a small taste of the transcendent experience. Every added 10 years aging from the 80s puerh will multiply the effect in double fold.

The truth is, good aged tea don't lie

[apache]

Just as to put price into prospective:
http://www.cguardian.com/special.php?se ... 322&Page=1
I think the price here is per cake! Someone said most of these cakes were stored in HK.

I am LOVING this Link!!! Thank you apache

As the cheapest on the list is still way beyond I can afford, I wonder have you ever tried any of these teas or anything with similar caliber? I know it's very subjective, are they really worth the price for the experience which other more ordinary pu'erh could not offer?

The best way to try the true experience of tasting these vintages are with friends, 3 people together, as the Chinese character of true tea tasting is call "品茗" 品 means 3 mouths sharing and enjoying tea.

My experiences of these 150 years old tea to the earlier 50s red label were shared online:

http://themandarinstea.blogspot.com/200 ... -2008.html

http://themandarinstea.blogspot.com/200 ... label.html

http://themandarinstea.blogspot.com/2008/08/vincer.html

http://themandarinstea.blogspot.com/200 ... -qing.html

To me, these moment were life changing to say the least. Euphoria and wholesome joyfulness. Do try the real 80's raw first to have a small taste of the transcendent experience. Every added 10 years aging from the 80s puerh will multiply the effect in double fold.

The truth is, good aged tea don't lie

Thanks for sharing. This must be one end of the spectrum of pu'erh drinking experience, the other end end might well be drink shu pu, which cost less than 5 bucks and tastes like pound water ... Sadly, I only know the latter experience too well!

[Drax]

nickE -- I ordered a bit of the 1997 Hen Li Chang as well, and I'm just trying it now. It's *spectacular*.....

It saddens me, though, that I only have time to drink pu'erh on the weekends now... it's going to take a long time to even sample all of this stuff!

[nickE]

nickE -- I ordered a bit of the 1997 Hen Li Chang as well, and I'm just trying it now. It's *spectacular*.....

FedEx says mine is coming tomorrow.

*excited*

I'll post a few quick reviews here when I get a chance.