I know this stuff is similar to puerh, in that it post ferments and all, but other than that I really dont know a whole lot. I am really starting to look into a "drink now" type of tea and came across some aged baskets of this stuff at a good price. Does anyone have any experiences with the stuff? Would this be a good drink now or would I be better off going with a nice Shou cake?
http://cgi.ebay.com/2002-Liu-Bao-tea-in ... .m14.l1262
http://cgi.ebay.com/1999-Aged-Liu-An-Ba ... .m14.l1262
Oct 2nd, '09, 18:39
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Re: Liu Bao/ Liu An?
I've had a Liu An from the 80's, and it was very interesting. It has a good, aged medicinal tea sort of taste that some oolongs get, but more pronounced. It's somewhat of a sharp taste. The chaqi can be very strong with this tea, and it's best to brew it with a little snippet of the bamboo wrapper the comes wrapped in. I think what's most interesting after trying different types of aged teas, is that they all share some similar characteristics. Pretty much after having had aged pu'er and aged oolong most other aged teas will at least seem a little familiar. I have not tried the 99 from Scott, although I've heard Liu An takes longer than pu'er to age fully, and younger Liu An (I have a basket of 04 Sun Yi Shun) can be downright vicious, so it could really go either way. I'd assume you're fairly safe at 10 years though.
I have not had Liu Bao yet, it's at the top of my "to try" list.
I have not had Liu Bao yet, it's at the top of my "to try" list.
Re: Liu Bao/ Liu An?
Liu An is a very different acquired taste than young sheng. I rather like it. I was confused why everyone used this "medicinal" adjective to describe its taste, but once tried, the comparison becomes understood. I find young Liu An to be much harder to drink than young sheng, but just as noteworthy.
Liu Bao on the other hand...think shu.
My 2 cents.
Liu Bao on the other hand...think shu.
My 2 cents.
Re: Liu Bao/ Liu An?
a friend sent me a liu an from the 70s and early 2000's
the 70s was very nice... very similar to a 80s ripe pu erh i have that is more aroma than taste... both the 70s liu an and the 80s ripe was very similar in all aspects as far as i can recall them... the distinct difference is in the aroma... the 80s ripe has a dark cherry woody aroma, and the 70s liu an has a medicinal aroma. both are very enjoyable.
the 2000's liu an however was not really enjoyable... feels more like a young ripe pu... has that wo dui? taste which is unbearable to drink for me.
id suggest you ask people from malaysia about liu an and liu bao because when i was there in kl, i always see liu bao in large baskets for sale, and it seems big for everyday tea there...
the 70s was very nice... very similar to a 80s ripe pu erh i have that is more aroma than taste... both the 70s liu an and the 80s ripe was very similar in all aspects as far as i can recall them... the distinct difference is in the aroma... the 80s ripe has a dark cherry woody aroma, and the 70s liu an has a medicinal aroma. both are very enjoyable.
the 2000's liu an however was not really enjoyable... feels more like a young ripe pu... has that wo dui? taste which is unbearable to drink for me.
id suggest you ask people from malaysia about liu an and liu bao because when i was there in kl, i always see liu bao in large baskets for sale, and it seems big for everyday tea there...
Re: Liu Bao/ Liu An?
Hey shogun, I looked back at my journal for some examples, so take these at face value.
I picked up that 2002 Liu Bao from YSLLC. The Liu Bao leaves have a very distinctive smell -- like shou pu'erh, but with a "bright" kick to it. Hard to describe beyond that (almost like the lifting scent in some detergents... not soapy, but that similar crispness). It brews and tastes very similar to shou, but again I noted sweetness and that same 'bright kick' to it. I noted the low-earthiness similar to shou, but again, a difference in the higher registers of taste. I took it a fair number of sessions (8-9).
I've also tried a Liu An from Nadacha (a 1980s one) -- this is the one that the wholesaler claimed was a 70s, but Nada thinks it's 80s. This one I noted as having a powerful taste; mouth-watering, earthy, doughy, with a high "minty" tone... a tingly kick with a woodsy floor to it. By the 5th cup, I was noting the woodsiness fading, but the 'buzz' staying. I actually noted that it reminded me of the Liu Bao I tried, but "not as airy" -- maybe between liu bao and aged pu'erh. I was able to take this one a long distance (13 sessions, last one steeped 12 m), noting that the power of the taste subsided, but was still getting a buzzy tingliness from it.
As always, your mileage may vary. I've not tried other baos or ans beyond those two
I picked up that 2002 Liu Bao from YSLLC. The Liu Bao leaves have a very distinctive smell -- like shou pu'erh, but with a "bright" kick to it. Hard to describe beyond that (almost like the lifting scent in some detergents... not soapy, but that similar crispness). It brews and tastes very similar to shou, but again I noted sweetness and that same 'bright kick' to it. I noted the low-earthiness similar to shou, but again, a difference in the higher registers of taste. I took it a fair number of sessions (8-9).
I've also tried a Liu An from Nadacha (a 1980s one) -- this is the one that the wholesaler claimed was a 70s, but Nada thinks it's 80s. This one I noted as having a powerful taste; mouth-watering, earthy, doughy, with a high "minty" tone... a tingly kick with a woodsy floor to it. By the 5th cup, I was noting the woodsiness fading, but the 'buzz' staying. I actually noted that it reminded me of the Liu Bao I tried, but "not as airy" -- maybe between liu bao and aged pu'erh. I was able to take this one a long distance (13 sessions, last one steeped 12 m), noting that the power of the taste subsided, but was still getting a buzzy tingliness from it.
As always, your mileage may vary. I've not tried other baos or ans beyond those two
Re: Liu Bao/ Liu An?
While we are on the topic of fermented/aged tea that is not puerh... has anyone tried Hunan brick tea (Hua Zhuan, Fu Zhuan)? I think Yunnan Sourcing has some Hunan bricks from the 90s, I was wondering if they're worth trying.