Official Pu of the day

[jayinhk]

Sounds like good traditional storage followed by appropriate airing out. I haven't had any good traditional storage teas from Guangdong, but it sounds like a trip up to Fangcun is in order to see what the score is up there!

[kuánglóng]

^ that sounds like nice storage!

Yeah, Jay. I'd guess that at some point those cakes must have undergone some fairly hot and humid treatment, maybe just 3 or so years in their early days but I've kept them in my standard multilayer bags since I've got them, about 2-3 years ago. Like I've mentioned they look pretty darn dark, almost black, the soup dark amber and the spent leaves are surprisingly tough and chewy after those steeps and didn't disintegrate between my fingers. Good stuff

[jayinhk]

^ that sounds like nice storage!

[kuánglóng]

Broke in to one of my GuangDong stored, almost black 2007 NanQiao iron cakes yesterday. I had a couple lying around for quite a while and most likely haven't paid much for them. After having drunken a bunch of aged Yiwus the night before this stuff is just what my system needed - a mighty but gentle, dark bitter wave that slowly spreads down into the upper stomach - all of us shared a similar somatic experience and enjoyed it quite a bit. Taste wise neither of us noticed any storage or off notes but distinct walnuts without any sharpness or adstringency and darker, dried apricots. Nothing overly complex but definitely interesting enough. What else? A sufficiently thick texture and some salivation during the first few rounds - we all felt deeply relaxed after about 8-9 steeps and didn't feel the need to go any further. Now, if I only remembered where I got this stuff from ... I might pick up some more.

[john.b]

I just reviewed a Jing Mai pu'er from the Golding shop in Malaysia (I think there are really two, one in KL and one in Penang).

It seemed nice to me but I don't drink all that much pu'er to be a great judge. Has anyone tried their tea?

[Rui]

Today I am sipping a 2006 Jingmai raw pu'er from Terre de Ciel in France. Very mellow and great all around tea.

[Rui]

With my lunch I am now sipping a 1999 shou from Canton Tea Company. No fermentation aroma or taste any longer just smoothness and sweetness.

[kuánglóng]

Sipping some 2012 Sen Zhi Kui Bada Mtn. This is still pretty wild, in a nice way, but that's about it for me. I'd pick almost any Xiaguan tuo over this stuff any day of the week.

Next please ...

[Rui]

Sounds like a very pleasing group of cakes.

Yes, they have all been stored in France for the past few years and matured enough to show only minimum bitterness and/or astringency. Amongst them there are differences of course but it depends on each individual's taste.

[Rui]

Today I am sipping 2016 YS Man Lin ancient arbor sheng once again. As mentioned before the aroma and mild apricot taste made me buy one of the cakes.

[debunix]

Sounds like a very pleasing group of cakes.

[Rui]

Sipping a very nice 2012 Yiwu from Terre de Ciel in France. This 100gms cake is part of a set of 6 cakes from 6 different mountains.

Today was the turn of the 2012 Gedeng tea from the same series of cakes. Very nice too.

Today I am sipping tea from the Manzhuang cake of the same series. A bit more flavourful than the previous ones (or did I use more leaves?) still smooth, very mild and lightly sweet.

Today I am sipping the 5th of the 6 mountain teas: Mangzhi. Aromatic, light flavoured and with a sweet aftertaste.

Last tea of this 6 mountain series: Youle. The very aromatic, light flavoured and very smooth liquor is great for this time in the morning.

[gasninja]

This evening while digging through old samples I found an excellent 1996 Menghai 7542. The storage couldn't have been more perfect for this tea. I think that I received this sample in 2012. It has been wrapped in a paper bag so it has continued to age. Nice hui gan and a physically relaxing yet mentally stimulating Qi.

The fourth infusion brings that classic plum taste. Yum

I rarely drink puerh that is this mature in the summer months. But it is cooler tonight. SO This is a treat.

[Rui]

Sipping a very nice 2012 Yiwu from Terre de Ciel in France. This 100gms cake is part of a set of 6 cakes from 6 different mountains.

Today was the turn of the 2012 Gedeng tea from the same series of cakes. Very nice too.

Today I am sipping tea from the Manzhuang cake of the same series. A bit more flavourful than the previous ones (or did I use more leaves?) still smooth, very mild and lightly sweet.

Today I am sipping the 5th of the 6 mountain teas: Mangzhi. Aromatic, light flavoured and with a sweet aftertaste.

[Rui]

Sipping a very nice 2012 Yiwu from Terre de Ciel in France. This 100gms cake is part of a set of 6 cakes from 6 different mountains.

Today was the turn of the 2012 Gedeng tea from the same series of cakes. Very nice too.

Today I am sipping tea from the Manzhuang cake of the same series. A bit more flavourful than the previous ones (or did I use more leaves?) still smooth, very mild and lightly sweet.