I have been drinking tea since I was a child. I am originally from Georgia (deep South) and was raised on Lipton sweet tea ... And when I say sweet, I mean 2 cps of sugar/pitcher. Awful stuff.

I started getting into loose leaf tea about 20 years ago when I worked at a coffee/Teahouse in Los Angeles. Back then my favorite teas were Oolongs and Assam, Ceylon, Keemum ... but that was then.
Now, my favorite is Pu erh! I am just learning about them and having a great time. love the deep flavors and rich experience a cup/cups bring.
I am a newbie and I am so happy to have found this awesome forum. I just received my new Gaiwan and tomorrow morning I am looking forward to "tribute ripe" from Bana Tea. Ripe Pu erh 2004, mixed harvest. I also have "fragrant spring" 2010, raw.
I am waiting for 2011 Douji "Phoenix Tour" ripe cake. 357 grams from ChaDao ...Yunnan Yiwu Zhengzhou Shan Mt. Tea co.
Thinking about many different cakes ... Maybe 2008 Menghai Boyou "secret life" shu
Or ... Tong - Menghai 7542 or "big classic" or 2006 Haiwan raw brick
Or Shengs ... 7542?.. 2004 Haiwan Lao Tong
I think I will just order samples, if I can resist the cakes, and see what I really like.