Bought a 2007 smaller factory Menghai cake in my old neighborhood here in HK back in 2012. I liked it, and the price, so I bought another. Flavor was mild, pleasant and inoffensive back then, and not bitter. I wouldn't buy it today as I like more flavorful tea.
Now in 2017...
https://www.instagram.com/p/BQjrgcRj0R8/
Feb 16th, '17, 23:41
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Re: Official Pu of the day
2012 Y. S. Autumn Yiwu purple sheng. Fairly smooth and sweet. 
Re: Official Pu of the day
Been experimenting with overleafing in my new 60ml pot to see how far the bitterness muting goes.
Had a bit over 6g of the 2012 YS Impression, downed 7 or so quick infusions in a short time. Damn that sent me floating in space, like I was on painkillers.
Flavourwise there was some astringency, not a lot, the bitterness was pretty muted but the thick body and asparagus sweetness were there as I remember them. It feels like it would age well, not that I know a lot on that.
Kept going till about 30 or so infusions, could probably have stopped sooner but was really in the zone.
Had a bit over 6g of the 2012 YS Impression, downed 7 or so quick infusions in a short time. Damn that sent me floating in space, like I was on painkillers.
Flavourwise there was some astringency, not a lot, the bitterness was pretty muted but the thick body and asparagus sweetness were there as I remember them. It feels like it would age well, not that I know a lot on that.
Kept going till about 30 or so infusions, could probably have stopped sooner but was really in the zone.
Re: Official Pu of the day
2004 CNNP 7542 (greenteaguru - sold out)
Being not much of a 7542 fan, especially when it comes to Dayis, most likely due to some heavy overdoses back in the day, I hesitated too long before I pulled the trigger on these leaves but in the end I'm glad I did. I have some other 7542s and the rest of another 2004 CNNP version in my stash but this cake is my favorite of the bunch. Compared to the other 2004 CNNP this one hasn't been composted beyond recognition, the storage has been somewhat less humid and there's still a lot of oomph, character and kuwei left in these leaves, just the way I like it. It's also more complex and dynamic but both teas have a pretty similar viscosity and are somewhat close when it comes to the long impressive finale. IF Oli gets them back in stock I might just get another cake or two.
Being not much of a 7542 fan, especially when it comes to Dayis, most likely due to some heavy overdoses back in the day, I hesitated too long before I pulled the trigger on these leaves but in the end I'm glad I did. I have some other 7542s and the rest of another 2004 CNNP version in my stash but this cake is my favorite of the bunch. Compared to the other 2004 CNNP this one hasn't been composted beyond recognition, the storage has been somewhat less humid and there's still a lot of oomph, character and kuwei left in these leaves, just the way I like it. It's also more complex and dynamic but both teas have a pretty similar viscosity and are somewhat close when it comes to the long impressive finale. IF Oli gets them back in stock I might just get another cake or two.
Re: Official Pu of the day
Spring 2016 Mahei sheng from Die Kunst des Tees in Frankfurt. A very nice mellow tea to get me ready for the weekend tea tests. 
Jan 26th, '17, 09:07
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Re: Official Pu of the day
Tried a Guangdong aged 7542 today at Yue Hwa in Hong Kong...my mom was visiting a doctor nearby and I decided to check out the top floor, where the tea stores are, since I'd never been up there. That's about as close as you can get to a Mainland tea market in Hong Kong and it was an interesting experience. The tea store in Yue Hwa in Singapore is kind of the same, but the HK Yue Hwa really feels a lot more like the Mainland and our Yue Hwa is a lot bigger. Lots more tea stalls and there's a massive tea store downstairs, too, but I felt like prices were too high for the quality across the board, and you get the same shadiness you get on the Mainland, I feel, and those who didn't know what they were doing might end up getting robbed by buying a fake cake.
I didn't buy any as the tea had a lot of storage aroma to it, but the smell from the dry leaves was quite shu like and enticing. The price was also higher than I'd pay for cakes of 2001 CNNP 7542 aged here in HK, so I decided to pass on it, even if it might have improved considerably with airing out (it was stored in a canister). I also tried a raw liu an with a little age, in the basket with the bamboo wrapper and all, but felt it was overpriced for what it was. It had definitely seen some humid storage as it wasnt as astringent or bitter as the aged sample I received from a member here several months ago (via chawangshop), but the dealer didn't know how old it was and it didn't seem like good value.
Tried a modern roast Chinese market tieguanyin as well...and it was TERRIBLE. Tasted like it might have been chemically altered and it was too sour. Another lady who'd stopped by had wanted to try it and some shoumei, so I sat in for both. I drank the first infusion but the second was just more than I could handle and I had to dump it. The other lady was like, you didn't like it? I was like, it was ok. lol. I thanked the seller and left at that point. I probably came off as rude for not saying I'd come back, but the TGY was that bad! As I was walking away, I heard a cup or gaiwan lid drop and shatter.
Had a funny experience before that--at the first tea stall I went to, I was looking at Xiaguan tuos and the lady there said, "green pu erh tea." I nodded, and said, "Xiaguan tuocha." She lit right up like She never expected me to know exactly what I was looking at, since the majority of non-Chinese clientele coming up there probably buy the same crappy green jasmine teas. I think I made her day. lol.
Took a picture of this Xiaguan promotional display at the store. I've seen this kind of thing in Kunming, but didn't take a pic then, and thought you guys might enjoy it. A mockup of the wooden frame used to transport pu erh along the Tea Horse Road in times gone by.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BPuvQyIj1WE ... e.hk&hl=en
I didn't buy any as the tea had a lot of storage aroma to it, but the smell from the dry leaves was quite shu like and enticing. The price was also higher than I'd pay for cakes of 2001 CNNP 7542 aged here in HK, so I decided to pass on it, even if it might have improved considerably with airing out (it was stored in a canister). I also tried a raw liu an with a little age, in the basket with the bamboo wrapper and all, but felt it was overpriced for what it was. It had definitely seen some humid storage as it wasnt as astringent or bitter as the aged sample I received from a member here several months ago (via chawangshop), but the dealer didn't know how old it was and it didn't seem like good value.
Tried a modern roast Chinese market tieguanyin as well...and it was TERRIBLE. Tasted like it might have been chemically altered and it was too sour. Another lady who'd stopped by had wanted to try it and some shoumei, so I sat in for both. I drank the first infusion but the second was just more than I could handle and I had to dump it. The other lady was like, you didn't like it? I was like, it was ok. lol. I thanked the seller and left at that point. I probably came off as rude for not saying I'd come back, but the TGY was that bad! As I was walking away, I heard a cup or gaiwan lid drop and shatter.
Had a funny experience before that--at the first tea stall I went to, I was looking at Xiaguan tuos and the lady there said, "green pu erh tea." I nodded, and said, "Xiaguan tuocha." She lit right up like
She never expected me to know exactly what I was looking at, since the majority of non-Chinese clientele coming up there probably buy the same crappy green jasmine teas. I think I made her day. lol. Took a picture of this Xiaguan promotional display at the store. I've seen this kind of thing in Kunming, but didn't take a pic then, and thought you guys might enjoy it. A mockup of the wooden frame used to transport pu erh along the Tea Horse Road in times gone by.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BPuvQyIj1WE ... e.hk&hl=en
Re: Official Pu of the day
LP. A young padawan of mine... Great guy!gatmcm wrote:It was a part of a puer sample pack I got from liquidproust, been meaning to ask him a few questions on a few of the teas but waiting till I try all of them so I can ask them all at once.jayinhk wrote:
Where did you get it?
Re: Official Pu of the day
2006 Zao Xiang Zhuan Cha from Cha Ma Si tea company. This ripe brick has really benefited from several years storage in a ceramic jar. I had written this off as not that good, but it has developed nicely!
Jan 25th, '17, 01:32
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Re: Official Pu of the day
Gotcha. From the description it sounds like it has aged slowly and in very mild storage!gatmcm wrote:It was a part of a puer sample pack I got from liquidproust, been meaning to ask him a few questions on a few of the teas but waiting till I try all of them so I can ask them all at once.jayinhk wrote:
Where did you get it?
Re: Official Pu of the day
It was a part of a puer sample pack I got from liquidproust, been meaning to ask him a few questions on a few of the teas but waiting till I try all of them so I can ask them all at once.jayinhk wrote:
Where did you get it?
Jan 25th, '17, 00:07
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Re: Official Pu of the day
Where did you get it?gatmcm wrote:I'm not sure, I'm assuming so but do not have a term of comparison atm.jayinhk wrote: Kunming storage, right?
Re: Official Pu of the day
I'm not sure, I'm assuming so but do not have a term of comparison atm.jayinhk wrote: Kunming storage, right?
Jan 24th, '17, 19:37
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Re: Official Pu of the day
Kunming storage, right?gatmcm wrote:I'm drinking the last bit of a sample of 2005 CCNP shu (dont have any more info on it), it tastes kinda mutted, you can tell it has a lot going on but the flavours dont seem to come out, there's a bit of smokyness and a bit of spice but the sweetness feels muted even though its there, the mouthfeel is also a bit watery even when overbrewed.
Not sure if this is due to storage, I let it air out fot a few weeks after I tried it for the first time and am drinking it in a gaiwan to make sure my teapot wasn't eating the flavour.
Don't have experience in older shu, my daily drinker is a 2016 dayi 0532 and I've had a few samples here and there but nothing that old.
Drinking a HK traditional storage loose shu pu made from broken up smaller cakes. From one of my favorite vendors in town--I've bought po lei from her from quite a while and she's always happy to see me. She gave me a sample of this tea to try and I'm glad she did as it is really lovely tea with light traditional storage--still sweet character and flavor to it that would have been lost with heavier storage. No trace of fermentation flavor or storage aroma whatsoever, and the liquor is sweet and thick. This tea is quite good value, too, so I'll have to pick some up next time. From the same vendor who I get my '99-'06 7542/7572 raw/ripe mix from!
Re: Official Pu of the day
I'm drinking the last bit of a sample of 2005 CCNP shu (dont have any more info on it), it tastes kinda mutted, you can tell it has a lot going on but the flavours dont seem to come out, there's a bit of smokyness and a bit of spice but the sweetness feels muted even though its there, the mouthfeel is also a bit watery even when overbrewed.
Not sure if this is due to storage, I let it air out fot a few weeks after I tried it for the first time and am drinking it in a gaiwan to make sure my teapot wasn't eating the flavour.
Don't have experience in older shu, my daily drinker is a 2016 dayi 0532 and I've had a few samples here and there but nothing that old.
Not sure if this is due to storage, I let it air out fot a few weeks after I tried it for the first time and am drinking it in a gaiwan to make sure my teapot wasn't eating the flavour.
Don't have experience in older shu, my daily drinker is a 2016 dayi 0532 and I've had a few samples here and there but nothing that old.
Re: Official Pu of the day
He has a lot of nice pieces for sure. My wallet thanks me for only buying a tiny teaboat and small amout of tea though. Price was $1/g. Not super cheap but priced fair considering how clean the storage is. I havent been drinking much HK\TW stored stuff lately so it was a nice change too.kyarazen wrote:his teas and wares are good! may i enquire the price of his mid 90s loose raw?Zared wrote:Mid 90's loose raw. Thick woody sweetness. This stuff is pretty potent. 20+ steeps and its not done. I acquired this from Orchid tea house today. I definetly need to come back and rescue some of the vintage teaware he sells.