Official Pu of the day

[auhckw]

What brand and what price was this LBZ?

Guoyan '05 fall was something like $50 at YS for the longest time. Those are all gone now. I can't easily tell, but the leaves seem smaller and less premium-looking than the usual superpremium stuff. That isn't to say they're bad...the HLH '06 LBZ looks pretty cut up as well, and it's one of the famouse versions.

As for Banzhang pricing...yeah, it's got its own price/quality ratio. Just buy one nice one and move on.

Don't know what brand. Supposed to be from some minority maker. I was told that this is premium. I have not tasted other LBZ before, so I can only set this as my 'premium' standard benchmark for LBZ. This is my first. Will hope to sample some other better/lesser quality LBZ to compare.

Price: 500.00 MYR = 160.746 USD

[shah82]

What brand and what price was this LBZ?

Guoyan '05 fall was something like $50 at YS for the longest time. Those are all gone now. I can't easily tell, but the leaves seem smaller and less premium-looking than the usual superpremium stuff. That isn't to say they're bad...the HLH '06 LBZ looks pretty cut up as well, and it's one of the famouse versions.

As for Banzhang pricing...yeah, it's got its own price/quality ratio. Just buy one nice one and move on.

[auhckw]

2006 Lao Ban Zhang Raw Pu-erh

I was told that this is premium spring grade. Leaves were from 2005 spring. Beeng compressed in 2006.





Though it has been 4 years, this Pu seems relatively young in terms of taste and colour. Doesn't have smoke smell/taste. No bitter. Most likely dry storage.


8g : 200ml water

Rinsing - 10 seconds


1st infusion - 60 seconds
-Taste like normal grade Pu, Nothing great. The taste seems weak. No aftertaste feel yet.


2nd infusion - 15 seconds
-Taste improved. Can start feeling the aftertaste in the throat.


3rd infusion - 30 seconds
-The joy starts from here. Aftertaste quite deep in throat. Taste spread throughout the mouth, but also feeling a little dry.


4th infusion – 45 seconds
-Same feeling as 3rd infusion. Quality didn't drop.


5th infusion – 60 seconds
-Still feels good, but slight drop in taste. I think it has reached its peak and is heading downward if I were to continue brewing. Stopped here.



Overall, this is a good premium LBZ. Even after 50 minutes, I can still feel the nice aftertaste in throat/mouth.

Now the question is, does the taste justify the price? Was it really that good for the price it is? I definitely didn't regret buying this, but price vs quality ratio, I think LBZ may be over hyped.

[auhckw]

CNNP - Meng Hai Lang He Tea Factory 2000 Raw







10 years old. Dry storage.

Liquor has become thicker and quite smooth.


Colour of the tea above is 1st infusion.

Aroma and Taste is quite ok. Still have Pu smell.

A little dry.

A little bitter. Maybe this used to be bitter but bitterness has gone down from the aging. Acceptable bitterness.

Not much aftertaste. The taste only lasted in mouth/tongue but not much in the throat

[debunix]

Shi Tou Xin Jai loose mao cha from Norbu tonight. Sweet, mellow, marvelous, making me so excited for the upcoming OTTI #5.

[auhckw]

2010 Mi Di Raw Pu-erh

That's too bad, it's a nice looking cake. I'm betting it will benefit from aging. What kind of water did you use?

Only time will tell

I'm using diamond filtered water

*Picture not mine - and i don't live that high up with such a nice view

[shah82]

Tol' dja!

Had Zhai Zi Po today, easy going session. Tummy is burned out on harsh tea...

[nickE]

Pu of the day - Nada's 2010 Manmai.

This was really really good today. It might be because it's my first Puerh in like 5 days... Seriously though, the flavor is delicious, exceptionally clear, potent, but not overpowering. I'm excited to watch this one age.

[TwoPynts]

2010 Mi Di Raw Pu-erh

That's too bad, it's a nice looking cake. I'm betting it will benefit from aging. What kind of water did you use?

[auhckw]

2010 Mi Di Raw Pu-erh









5g : 120ml water

Rinsing - 10 seconds


Picture: 1st infusion - 60 seconds - don't like

2nd infusion - 15 seconds - still dont' like
3rd infusion - 45 seconds - gave up

Tasted dry with light bitterness aftertaste. If I recall correctly, it shouldn't be this kind of taste when I bought it. Kind of not my preference. I won't be drinking this anytime soon. Hope aging will make it better.

[auhckw]

2008 – Meng Ku High Mountain Raw Pu-erh

Finally decided to open this. My first purchased raw pu.







I bought this when I first started my venture into pu. Initially I thought I was a raw guy, but in the midst of the venture, I found out that I am a ripe pu guy. Drinking this reminds me why I liked raw at the first place.

Though it is still a young raw, but there is not much of the young solid taste. I have tasted quite a few young raw pu and mostly are strong or has the smoky smell or bitterness or spikiness for me. This on the other hand is very much drinkable and smooth. I enjoyed it. The smell of the pu is good. The after taste is real long lasting (maybe partially because I am brewing it with Shigaraki Kyusu). There is some sweetness in my throat from 2nd infusion onwards.



5g : 120ml water

Rinsing - 10 seconds


Picture: 1st infusion - 60 seconds

2nd infusion - 15 seconds
3rd infusion - 30 seconds
4th infusion – 45 seconds


Picture: 5th infusion – 60 seconds. Taste and colour of the tea didn’t change much from the 1st infusion till the 5th infusion.

[TwoPynts]

I think "Cloud" has two different versions of #2. I heard the other version is more suitable for storage.

Could be. I don't think my sample was the "special" version.

[apache]

I think "Cloud" has two different versions of #2. I heard the other version is more suitable for storage.

[TwoPynts]

This thread will not die! Not on my watch..

I hope this helps Nick.

Clouds Tea Collection Series No. 2 Raw Pu

http://www.cloudsgrouphk.com/

dry leaf

cloud1.jpg (18.38 KiB) Viewed 2312 times

Got a sample from Nicolas and had it for a second time today.

Astringency - moderate
Smoke - very little
Dryness-(mouth) - not much, if any
Mouthfeel - a bit light, but lively
Huigan - slight but present, last a minute or two
Flavor - after the rinse, first infusion was like tasting the air of a fresh mountian forest, very light, hints of lavender
Aroma - woods after the rain, slightly floral
Overall value - for its age and immeadiate drinkability, very fair
Purchase again - I will purchased a whole cake next time

liquor

cloud.jpg (8.76 KiB) Viewed 2312 times

Came more alive in the 2nd and 3rd infusion. A delightful sheng, my first. Didn't have some of the less desireable features of young sheng I'd heard about, but it is supposed to be drinkable immediately according to the Clouds website. It gave me a nice calm alertness which is perfect for work, though it also gave me the munchies.

I'm looking forward to getting the samples from the OTTI.

[nickE]

This thread will not die! Not on my watch..

1997 Henlichang Bulang today. Oh, how I love this tea. Deep woody flavors, some damp moss, camphor, very thick mouthfeel.

This cake is worth its $150 pricetag, not that I'm going to buy one.


Oh one more thing, I got a hygrometer a few days ago.. The room in which my pu-cabinet resides has been averaging 40-45% RH, while inside the cabinet averages 50-55%. I find this interesting as I haven't yet done anything to artificially increase the RH in the cabinet. Maybe the moisture in the tea humidifies the space by itself.. which is awesome!

I'd still prefer ~5-10% more RH so maybe I'll be sticking a bowl of water in there or something.