Tea/Vendor Recomendations for a Newbie?

[dokpm0]

Pu-Erh Fans,

I'm looking for suggestions for Pu-Erhs to try and/or vendors to acquire them from. I have seven dogs. Most of my money goes towards dog food. As a result my tea budget is very limited. Budget friendly selections would be a definite plus.

So far all the Pu-Erhs I've tried have been from Upton tea. I'll list what I've tried and liked or disliked in case it helps one in suggesting something for me to try next. I've sampled most of Upton's inexpensive pu-erhs. The first I sampled was their ZH25: China Pu-Erh Standard. It was the first tea where I took one sip and thought, "WOW!! I could see myself drinking this regularly!!" I next tried their ZH20: China Pu-Erh Leaf. When I ordered it their stock was low and samples weren't available. Based on reviews I took a chance and ordered a small tin without sampling it. I liked it fairly well, and am almost out of it. I've also sampled their ZH30: China Pu-Erh Tuo Cha, Size 1, which I liked fairly well. The only one I've tried that I didn't care for was their ZH75: Green Pu-Erh Tuo Cha. It reminded me of most of the green teas that I don't care for. It was way too lite for my taste. All their other pu-erhs that I've tried have been very dark and rich.

[TIM]

Pu-Erh Fans,

I'm looking for suggestions for Pu-Erhs to try and/or vendors to acquire them from. I have seven dogs. Most of my money goes towards dog food. As a result my tea budget is very limited. Budget friendly selections would be a definite plus.

So far all the Pu-Erhs I've tried have been from Upton tea. I'll list what I've tried and liked or disliked in case it helps one in suggesting something for me to try next. I've sampled most of Upton's inexpensive pu-erhs. The first I sampled was their ZH25: China Pu-Erh Standard. It was the first tea where I took one sip and thought, "WOW!! I could see myself drinking this regularly!!" I next tried their ZH20: China Pu-Erh Leaf. When I ordered it their stock was low and samples weren't available. Based on reviews I took a chance and ordered a small tin without sampling it. I liked it fairly well, and am almost out of it. I've also sampled their ZH30: China Pu-Erh Tuo Cha, Size 1, which I liked fairly well. The only one I've tried that I didn't care for was their ZH75: Green Pu-Erh Tuo Cha. It reminded me of most of the green teas that I don't care for. It was way too lite for my taste. All their other pu-erhs that I've tried have been very dark and rich.

Toki Welcomes You

[entropyembrace]

dark and rich...sounds like you want shu (also known as cooked or ripe) puerh...which luckily usually is not very expensive

I´d recommend you try starting with shu puerh from the Menghai Dayi factory. They´re available from any vendor with a decent puerh selection...I´d personally buy from here http://www.yunnansourcing.com/store/cat ... ry=6634690

Buy samples first to see what you like!

but if you´re in the United States maybe another vendor like Jas-e-tea or Puerh Shop would be more convienient for you...but I´ve never purchased puerh from the US so I won´t give a specific recomendation.

[iannon]

dark and rich...sounds like you want shu (also known as cooked or ripe) puerh...which luckily usually is not very expensive

I´d recommend you try starting with shu puerh from the Menghai Dayi factory. They´re available from any vendor with a decent puerh selection...I´d personally buy from here http://www.yunnansourcing.com/store/cat ... ry=6634690

Buy samples first to see what you like!

but if you´re in the United States maybe another vendor like Jas-e-tea or Puerh Shop would be more convienient for you...but I´ve never purchased puerh from the US so I won´t give a specific recomendation.

well..ordering from jas-e or puerh shop are pretty much like ordering from YS it seems since thats where MOST of their tea seems to come from on just a more limited basis right. I ordered from puerh shop this last time..same stuff I had gotten from YS basically.

[dokpm0]

dark and rich...

That sums up my taste fairly well. I'm a Cajun coffee drinker. Well, a former coffee drinker. Someone once described the coffee I brew as carburetor cleaner.

sounds like you want shu (also known as cooked or ripe) puerh...which luckily usually is not very expensive

If the shu fits. If it fits my tastes and my budget who could ask for anything more?

I´d recommend you try starting with shu puerh from the Menghai Dayi factory. They´re available from any vendor with a decent puerh selection...

I've seen that factory recommended in various threads. They do seem to have a good reputation.

That's one downside to the pu-erh I've tried from Upton. They give no details on where their selections came from, or when.

Buy samples first to see what you like!

I've learned that from experience. So far there have been a few teas I was sure I'd like and ordered a small quantity without sampling first. With most of them I haven't liked them well as I thought I would.

but if you´re in the United States maybe another vendor like Jas-e-tea or Puerh Shop would be more convienient for you.

I'll check them out. I had already heard of Jas-eTea and Yunnan Sourcing, and checked out their web sites. With the variety they have to choose from I wasn't sure where to start. Thanks for all tips!! I feel a sample order coming on.

[FlyedPiper]

I've had good experiences with puershop.com. Shipping is cheap and he always includes samples. Try the one brew 2000 mini bricks, its the best Puerh I've tried yet and it's really cheap- you get like 11 bricks for a dollar and some change.

[dokpm0]

I've had good experiences with puershop.com.

I'll keep them in mind.

Shipping is cheap and he always includes samples.

Is the inexpensive shipping under "other shipping?" The first time I browsed around their site I saw their flat shipping rate, and moved on to other sites. Their flat rate is $10.70. Compared to Adagio's flat rate of $3.75($5.75 for me with the extra rural delivery charge), or Upton Tea's flat rate of $4.20(with no extra for rural delivery) it seemed a little high.