Official Pu of the day

[PolyhymnianMuse]

Can you tell us anything else about the CEO's experience? Has he worked for any of the major pu players?

The time was a day afternoon in Oct. 2008 I was sipping tea with Yiwu Yongpin Hao's boss. I asked him about his cooperation with Yiwu Guanzizai Tea Factory on all 2008 Guanzizai's offerings. 'A small world', he laughed. It turned out they were related, also another vendor's name was mentioned: Huali Tea Factory. Well, it's simple, yet complicated. Let me try: his uncle married to a woman whose brother was the boss of Huali, and Huali's sister ...... to Mr. Huang of Guanzizai. At this point, a family tree drawn would be very much helpful.

Then I entered a shop, Yiwu Hongqing hao owned by Ms. Zhang to have a chat. Now YuanNian's name was mentioned. Needless to say, the boss at Yuan Nian was related to her, they were acquainted years ago.

Once an Yiwunese, always an Yiwunese, who knows making Pu tea.

Wow Jim that is lovely information. Seems like pu literally runs in certain families.

[Goose]

I had sent Scott at YSLLC an email about this Yuan Nian Yi Wu 2007
tea earlier today-I will report his reply.

Scott did get back to me. He will investigate this company and see about sourcing this tea.I will update ASAP.

Jim

[Goose]

Nice pictures! How was it, where'd you get it, and was it worth the price?

Well, thank you for your kind comments.
I purchased 2 Beng from Skip4teas and while I am not sure the price, it was not very costly. The item # is 10025 if you would like to find it.
I am very inexperienced, having only sampled a dozen or so Shengpu so far, The following comments are worth what you can get for them- I will say that this is a very complex tea. The dry leaves have an earthy leather smell. Like a old saddle,but, in no way stale or dank. The liquor is a deepish red and the aroma cup leaves a dry woody feeling in the nose,almost like an old wood shop or mill would when you walk in.
The mouth feel is dryish and smooth. The tea has a very slight sweetness with a bit of astringency overlaying it,pleasant. The tea feels thicker than it is. Caffeine is low.
I have had on session with it and I do like it. I hope this information is helpful.
Jim

[hop_goblin]

Wow, from the wrapper it appears to be a very oily example. Looks good!

[thanks]

Hui gan - don't have a clue what the hell this is.

+1

Anybody? (:

According to babelcarp,

"huigan = (1) pleasant aftertaste, literally Returning Sweet (回甘) [2,1]; or, much less commonly, a less specific label for virtually any effect after the liquor has been swallowed, literally Returning Feeling (回感) [2,3]"

[Drax]

Hui gan - don't have a clue what the hell this is.

+1

Anybody? (:

[thanks]

Nice pictures! How was it, where'd you get it, and was it worth the price?

[Goose]

[Jim Liu]

Can you tell us anything else about the CEO's experience? Has he worked for any of the major pu players?

The time was a day afternoon in Oct. 2008 I was sipping tea with Yiwu Yongpin Hao's boss. I asked him about his cooperation with Yiwu Guanzizai Tea Factory on all 2008 Guanzizai's offerings. 'A small world', he laughed. It turned out they were related, also another vendor's name was mentioned: Huali Tea Factory. Well, it's simple, yet complicated. Let me try: his uncle married to a woman whose brother was the boss of Huali, and Huali's sister ...... to Mr. Huang of Guanzizai. At this point, a family tree drawn would be very much helpful.

Then I entered a shop, Yiwu Hongqing hao owned by Ms. Zhang to have a chat. Now YuanNian's name was mentioned. Needless to say, the boss at Yuan Nian was related to her, they were acquainted years ago.

Once an Yiwunese, always an Yiwunese, who knows making Pu tea.

[Goose]

I had sent Scott at YSLLC an email about this Yuan Nian Yi Wu 2007
tea earlier today-I will report his reply.

[Salsero]

I just posted a review of

2007 Yunnian Tea "Premium Alliance" or "Summit"(?) or "8848"(?)
Yun Nan Yuen Nian Tea Co

in the Puerhshop thread. The review is based on only one session about a month ago, so take it with a grain of salt.

[hop_goblin]

Yuan Nian Yi Wu 2007
Ebay vendor vins_n_teas $13

Astringency - none
Smoke - some
Dryness - none
Mouthfeel - medium +
Hui gan - some
Flavor - excellent
Overall value - off the hook
Purchase again - I can only hope to obtain more

Right off the bat….a bit of smoke and bacon. Then wood, hay and a hint of camphor. Fairly complex. Initially the brewed leaves hit hard with the scent of bacon. Somewhat strange but somehow satisfying. Leaning more to the earthy side which is nice for a change. Flavors have an aged feel about them for an 07. Coats the mouth with flavors that linger long after liquor is swallowed. Nice large leaves that are mostly intact…they are dark as well making me wonder if they are fall leaves. After later brews the leaves had a complex and magnificently sweet smell to them. For the $13 I paid including shipping…an obscene bargain. One of the best shengs I have had.

Interesting. Bacon? Not what I would find pleasant in a pu. I have never heard the claim that fall leaves are dark. However, I have read that ancient tree can be dark. Although highly doubtful for 13$. Fall leaves are generally larger in size and are less aromatic or astringent in profile. I hate to say it, but the profile is not reminiscent of Yiwu. I wonder where the leaves came from.

I thought I had read somewhere that fall leaves were generally darker but I could be mistaken. I do not know how much this would retail for from a YSLLC as this was purchased from an individual. The website and the cakes are as professionally done as any I have seen. The neifei is reminiscent of Menghai in complexity. I have no reason to believe there is not at least some Yiwu in the mix. I did post a pic of the leaves on the original post.

Hey there PK, perhaps it may contain a some YiWu leaves. I was just commenting that many of the Yiwu teas I have ever tasted are sweet and florally. What one has to remember is that YiWu leaves are among some of the most expensive on the market and with a 13$ price tag, well you do that math. Yes, I can see that it has a nice Nefei, although remember, the purpose for the the DaYi neifei is to to stop DaYi counterfeiting only and it is not a guarantee of contents. Same could possibly said about this example.. I know when it comes to puerh, we all hope for a diamond in the rough. The only rough diamonds that existed were those prior to 2001 when puerh was a common commodity. Just be careful. With its uncommon characteristics both in taste and in color and cheap price, it may be border tea.

[puerhking]

I know for a fact that I would purchase more cakes from Yuannian. What kind of price are we talking to get some to the states?

I am using the slowest, sea cargo for shipping, and I have to wait for at least two months.

With that, it is estimated that Summit cake would sell at about $ 14 and Jianchen Wild cake at $ 11.

BTW, these two are among their most expensive offerings, since this company is barely one year old (however the CEO is a veteran in Pu business).

Can you tell us anything else about the CEO's experience? Has he worked for any of the major pu players?

[puerhking]

I have obtained two of their best 2008 offerings: Jianchen Iron Cake and Summit (some called it 'Alliance' ) Cake, currently sitting in my Kunming warehouse doing absolutely nothing.

Summit Cake is also named as 8848, the height of the tallest mountain in the world, the only Pu drunk at 8848 meters above the sea level. Yuannian's website posted some pictures here:
http://www.yuanniantea.com/forum_view.a ... ew_id=2423
and here:
http://www.yuanniantea.com/forum_view.a ... ew_id=2414

I wonder if it's worthwhile to have them shipped to US and get a few other offerings.

Very cool. I have the Alliance cake. I thought the 8848 had the usual meaning! Too funny. I tried that cake last week and liked it a lot. I will have it again in a couple days and will give tasting notes.

[PolyhymnianMuse]

I will ask my brother send the boxes, remind you that it would take at least 2 months.

I'm more than willing to wait for something like that. Also makes it much more easier to break open the cakes I already have knowing that I can load up on more

I will deff be keeping my eyes out for these. Like I said I'd like to pick up tongs of some of these cakes for storage and at the price it makes it very attractive to do so.