Puershop 2007 Purple Leaf Puerh from Mengku ZFH Tea Factory (apparently not the well-known Mengku Shuangjiang Factory).
This cake was $11.70 when I bought it early this year and it is now at $15.00. I really have enjoyed the few sessions I have had with it. Very drinkable now, moderate compression, creamy wood taste, enough body to be interesting, and pretty good aftertaste. Pungent aromatics that are almost floral at times. I have enjoyed it more brewed a bit stronger than my normal. This is a cake that is well worth having around, but I worry a bit that its lack of astringency or other nastiness means it won't age too well, although I think it may have improved in the ten months that I have had it in the pumidor.
Thanks Bryan, I picked up a few of them on line, some in local shops, I live near an Asian community so I just keep my eyes open.thanks wrote:Jim where did you get those cups? I've been meaning to ask you, I absolutely love them.
Also to (kind of) stay on topic, no pu today, just some dian hong.
Jim
Dec 10th, '08, 14:45
Posts: 330
Joined: Feb 27th, '08, 11:03
Scrolling: scrolling
Location: Portland, OR
Contact:
Dizzwave
2008 Nan Jian 902 and 913
hahaha! nice pic, Tony!
I'm playing around with some samples of these (2008 Nan Jian Tulin 902 and 913 -- both organic sheng), trying to figure out which I like better. I believe the 913 is a mix of Menghai and Banzhang leaves, and the 902 has some Wu Liang. Don't quote me on that though.
First time through, I liked the 902 better. Then yesterday I tried the 913 again, brewing one dense 5g chunk. It was smooth, thick, and peppery, and lasted for more infusions than I could count. Flavor was not exactly "strong," but very solid and pleasant all day. Some hints of honey and nuts later on. Usually I get bored with a sheng toward the end, but I didn't want to dump this one. I'm definitely going to get a cake or two of it.
Right now I'm trying the 902 again, to see what I liked better about it the first time. I think maybe it's a tad smokier and stronger. Definitely some sweetness hiding in there. A pleasant amount of astringency too. It's really hard to say -- brewing is such a day-to-day thing, and yesterday's 913 session may not be easily reproducible.
Overall, these are both nicely priced, especially for organic tea. The cakes are quite dense, but I don't think I'll let that bother me.
-dave
edit, the next day:
Ok, I'm trying the 913 again, trying to brew it exactly the same as last time, and it's not delivering quite the same! Ah, the mysteries of tea and gongfu... I suspect I'll have to try yet another time or two to figure these out enough.
I'm playing around with some samples of these (2008 Nan Jian Tulin 902 and 913 -- both organic sheng), trying to figure out which I like better. I believe the 913 is a mix of Menghai and Banzhang leaves, and the 902 has some Wu Liang. Don't quote me on that though.
First time through, I liked the 902 better. Then yesterday I tried the 913 again, brewing one dense 5g chunk. It was smooth, thick, and peppery, and lasted for more infusions than I could count. Flavor was not exactly "strong," but very solid and pleasant all day. Some hints of honey and nuts later on. Usually I get bored with a sheng toward the end, but I didn't want to dump this one. I'm definitely going to get a cake or two of it.
Right now I'm trying the 902 again, to see what I liked better about it the first time. I think maybe it's a tad smokier and stronger. Definitely some sweetness hiding in there. A pleasant amount of astringency too. It's really hard to say -- brewing is such a day-to-day thing, and yesterday's 913 session may not be easily reproducible.
Overall, these are both nicely priced, especially for organic tea. The cakes are quite dense, but I don't think I'll let that bother me.
-dave
edit, the next day:
Ok, I'm trying the 913 again, trying to brew it exactly the same as last time, and it's not delivering quite the same! Ah, the mysteries of tea and gongfu... I suspect I'll have to try yet another time or two to figure these out enough.
Last edited by Dizzwave on Dec 11th, '08, 16:20, edited 1 time in total.
Dec 10th, '08, 13:56
Posts: 529
Joined: Jul 23rd, '08, 17:07
Location: The Isle of Malta
Dec 10th, '08, 13:53
Posts: 529
Joined: Jul 23rd, '08, 17:07
Location: The Isle of Malta
2000 Long Yuan Hao Yi Wu Mountain
2000 Long Yuan Hao Yi Wu Mountain
B&B group buy 3.50 per 25 gr.
Flavor - Good
Mouthfeel - Medium
Hui gan - Subtle
Astringency - Moderate
Smoke – Very Subtle
Dryness-Some
Chaqi- Buzzy,floaty
Overall value - Good
Purchase again – Meh
The liquor is very orange. The scent of the first rinse was smokey, but did not travel to the cup very much. The tea is very consistent from beginning to end, I pushed it harder and it rewarded me with more of the same.
While this tea is well balanced and has all the right moves, I find it a little boring.
Jim
Sounds like a sensible plan. I am eager to hear your thoughts on it.Salsero wrote:I just continued with the same leaf the next day and continued to get pleasant, but light, tea. I thought it would be more practical to start over in another session with the greater amount of leaf, which I will likely get to doing on the weekend.Goose wrote: how did your revisit with the 2002 Hai Lang Hao go?
Jim
Jim
Dec 10th, '08, 12:50
Posts: 5151
Joined: Dec 20th, '06, 23:33
Scrolling: scrolling
Location: Gainesville, Florida
I just continued with the same leaf the next day and continued to get pleasant, but light, tea. I thought it would be more practical to start over in another session with the greater amount of leaf, which I will likely get to doing on the weekend.Goose wrote: how did your revisit with the 2002 Hai Lang Hao go?
Dec 8th, '08, 23:17
Posts: 5151
Joined: Dec 20th, '06, 23:33
Scrolling: scrolling
Location: Gainesville, Florida
Always the best way to learn!Goose wrote: the lovely young lady
I have used this as a guideline for many oolongs, but it may be that I should start applying it to puerh also.Goose wrote: tea leaves open and should almost fill the vessel while brewing. I am not sure if she is "right" or not.
I found the Mu Ye Chun also light, but lovely: aromatic, oily, occasionally a nice pear like flavor. It made me think of a rough Dan Cong (very aromatic) and driving me back in the later infusions more for aftertaste than flavor. If I can get more of that with more leaf, I am down!PolyhymnianMuse wrote: I'm in the middle of a session with 2007 Mu Ye Chun 001 sheng from Scott. I used a little bit over 11g for this one, came out really wonderful.