50 Year Old Puerh on Amazon

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

Aug 18th 13 8:08 pm
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50 Year Old Puerh on Amazon

by wrcowan2002 » Aug 18th 13 8:08 pm

If anyone knows the history of puerh, can you read this below & let me know if you think this is legit. I thought the warehouses were emptied during the cultural revolution & the only cakes left from that time were going for 6 figures.

Amazon.com is selling this tea: 1960's Guang Yun Beeng Cha Pu-erh Tea - 350g - High End Pu-erh Teas. Price: $2850. by Generation Tea

This old cake is made from leaves from Yunnan that were brought to Guang Dong Province for processing. This practice continued into the 1990's and produced a sought after and collected series of green Pu-erh's. This cake is 40+ years old and had lost all the scent of tea. This shows good aging in a good environement. This tea is similiar to the famous Blue label editions of the 1950's. The taste is light and the brew is amber brown and almost sparkles. The leaves come from the Dai district (where the Blue label was also picked). The processing and compression, though, were in Guang Dong. This was the practice during the Cultural Revolution and it has made this a famous tea. We are happy to offer this fine antique cake. There are no wrappers on this tea, as they were produced......

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Re: 50 Year Old Puerh on Amazon

by mr mopu » Aug 18th 13 8:34 pm

Use caution. The info about the blue label production is correct. In my opinion I would not buy this at that price without sampling the tea. The questions would be how this tea was stored. Wet or dry can greatly alter the taste of the same cake.

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Re: 50 Year Old Puerh on Amazon

by shah82 » Aug 18th 13 8:36 pm

Generation Tea does not have a good reputation. They have their own website.

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Re: 50 Year Old Puerh on Amazon

by AllanK » Aug 19th 13 4:06 am

mr mopu wrote:Use caution. The info about the blue label production is correct. In my opinion I would not buy this at that price without sampling the tea. The questions would be how this tea was stored. Wet or dry can greatly alter the taste of the same cake.
Wouldn't wet storage in a 50 year old cake be mold, mold, and more mold?

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Aug 19th 13 4:53 am
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Re: 50 Year Old Puerh on Amazon

by TIM » Aug 19th 13 4:53 am

AllanK wrote:
mr mopu wrote:Use caution. The info about the blue label production is correct. In my opinion I would not buy this at that price without sampling the tea. The questions would be how this tea was stored. Wet or dry can greatly alter the taste of the same cake.
Wouldn't wet storage in a 50 year old cake be mold, mold, and more mold?
Was it labeled wet storage?

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Re: 50 Year Old Puerh on Amazon

by mr mopu » Aug 19th 13 10:31 am

TIM wrote:
AllanK wrote:
mr mopu wrote:Use caution. The info about the blue label production is correct. In my opinion I would not buy this at that price without sampling the tea. The questions would be how this tea was stored. Wet or dry can greatly alter the taste of the same cake.
Wouldn't wet storage in a 50 year old cake be mold, mold, and more mold?
Was it labeled wet storage?
Not sure , some mold is beneficial others are not. I don't think it said "wet storage" . But if I was going to purchase it for that price I would want to taste it first.

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Re: 50 Year Old Puerh on Amazon

by MarshalN » Aug 19th 13 1:08 pm

Mold doesn't grow uncontrollably over time, and traditional storage only lasts for maybe two years.

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Re: 50 Year Old Puerh on Amazon

by mr mopu » Aug 20th 13 1:07 am

MarshalN wrote:Mold doesn't grow uncontrollably over time, and traditional storage only lasts for maybe two years.
Great schooling from the master. Thanks Marshal I was not sure about the time tea was stored at. This is why I read read and read some more. I try to pick up as much info as possible. That"s why I love this forum so much can be learned here! :D

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Re: 50 Year Old Puerh on Amazon

by William » Aug 20th 13 1:22 am

mr mopu wrote:That"s why I love this forum so much can be learned here! :D
+1

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Re: 50 Year Old Puerh on Amazon

by Teaism » Aug 20th 13 2:38 am

Firstly I wouldn't drive ahead looking at the back mirror. Tea collection should be forward looking. If we think we can find treasure of the past, esp online we are taking a big risk.

Anyway for old tea the storage and condition of the tea is the most important. I have 2 pieces of this tea made in early 80s store by different collectors. The one which stored in sealed plastic bag taste heavenly. The other that was left around exposed don't worth a dime.

So, I am really not sure about quality of this one offered online. Also this tea is not a high end Puer tea as claimed. This tea is rough production tea during that time. I wouldn't buy a cotton rag for the price of silk even the cotton rag is 50 years old. :D

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Re: 50 Year Old Puerh on Amazon

by mr mopu » Aug 20th 13 2:47 am

Teaism wrote:Firstly I wouldn't drive ahead looking at the back mirror. Tea collection should be forward looking. If we think we can find treasure of the past, esp online we are taking a big risk.

Anyway for old tea the storage and condition of the tea is the most important. I have 2 pieces of this tea made in early 80s store by different collectors. The one which stored in sealed plastic bag taste heavenly. The other that was left around exposed don't worth a dime.

So, I am really not sure about quality of this one offered online. Also this tea is not a high end Puer tea as claimed. This tea is rough production tea during that time. I wouldn't buy a cotton rag for the price of silk even the cotton rag is 50 years old. :D
+1
Thus the need for a sample or taste before purchasing

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Re: 50 Year Old Puerh on Amazon

by gasninja » Aug 20th 13 10:45 am

Samples of this are available online from other vendors if one makes the effort to do a google search.

Mr mopu you have tried Blue Mark? Is it similar to a 60's GYG? I have not tried a blue mark. but I would have assumed they would be very different do to the different processing styles and provinces.

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Re: 50 Year Old Puerh on Amazon

by mr mopu » Aug 20th 13 11:20 am

gasninja wrote:Samples of this are available online from other vendors if one makes the effort to do a google search.

Mr mopu you have tried Blue Mark? Is it similar to a 60's GYG? I have not tried a blue mark. but I would have assumed they would be very different do to the different processing styles and provinces.
I hade not had a chance to try the Blue mark as of yet. I think the oldest I have had up to now is a 1998 .

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Re: 50 Year Old Puerh on Amazon

by nada » Aug 20th 13 1:11 pm

gasninja wrote:... you have tried Blue Mark? Is it similar to a 60's GYG? I have not tried a blue mark. but I would have assumed they would be very different do to the different processing styles and provinces.
They are very different teas. Well stored Blue Mark is much smoother, more refined, thicker in the mouth and throat and a much better all round tea. There's a reason for the price difference!!

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Re: 50 Year Old Puerh on Amazon

by AllanK » Aug 25th 13 6:02 am

Teaism wrote:Firstly I wouldn't drive ahead looking at the back mirror. Tea collection should be forward looking. If we think we can find treasure of the past, esp online we are taking a big risk.

Anyway for old tea the storage and condition of the tea is the most important. I have 2 pieces of this tea made in early 80s store by different collectors. The one which stored in sealed plastic bag taste heavenly. The other that was left around exposed don't worth a dime.

So, I am really not sure about quality of this one offered online. Also this tea is not a high end Puer tea as claimed. This tea is rough production tea during that time. I wouldn't buy a cotton rag for the price of silk even the cotton rag is 50 years old. :D
It is interesting that you said the one in the sealed plastic bag was the best, I thought you were supposed to expose puerh to the air? At least to some degree?