I am not sure what others mean by "barnyard", but for me, barnyard conjours up images of knee deep poop and a smell of ammonia that starts about 10 miles away.
I would not even say good shu has a "hay" or vegetal taste / smell. Woody, even leathery, yes.
It does not really have (in my limited experience) the real pu'erh flavor of 20 year old tea, can have the color, and finishes sweet.
It is funny that the foojoy bo nay teabags have a more "pu'erh" tatse than a lot of beengs, but are very 1 dimensional.
I like shu, as it is easier to drink and brew compared to young sheng. I think a year or 4 aging does make it better, but not really sure if past that does alot.
I am drinking a 2008 7262 I got from YSLL, which is nice now and I think should age well. I like the cha qi, it is mellower than young sheng.
It is kinda like scotch, really nice single malt scotch has a "rounder" mouth feel, smokey and complex. Crappy scotch is brown liquor. Johnnie Walker is blended, and thus not what a purist would drink, but can substitute, but not replace, a high end, well aged, single malt. (I realize not all scotch or pu'erh is smokey- this is a cheap analogy)
I have to admit I have never tried a "mini tou", so I can't comment on how they rate. Perhaps they really recall south dakota in the spring.
I would not even say good shu has a "hay" or vegetal taste / smell. Woody, even leathery, yes.
It does not really have (in my limited experience) the real pu'erh flavor of 20 year old tea, can have the color, and finishes sweet.
It is funny that the foojoy bo nay teabags have a more "pu'erh" tatse than a lot of beengs, but are very 1 dimensional.
I like shu, as it is easier to drink and brew compared to young sheng. I think a year or 4 aging does make it better, but not really sure if past that does alot.
I am drinking a 2008 7262 I got from YSLL, which is nice now and I think should age well. I like the cha qi, it is mellower than young sheng.
It is kinda like scotch, really nice single malt scotch has a "rounder" mouth feel, smokey and complex. Crappy scotch is brown liquor. Johnnie Walker is blended, and thus not what a purist would drink, but can substitute, but not replace, a high end, well aged, single malt. (I realize not all scotch or pu'erh is smokey- this is a cheap analogy)
I have to admit I have never tried a "mini tou", so I can't comment on how they rate. Perhaps they really recall south dakota in the spring.
Oct 11th, '08, 18:23
Posts: 505
Joined: Jun 1st, '08, 11:57
Location: The Golden Horseshoe
krueger,edkrueger wrote:Hop, whats good shu? Everything I've had, at least resembles barnyard.
get this one, i think some of us here on the forum can vouch for this brick :
2007 Haiwan *9908* Cha Tou Ripe Pu-erh Brick
2007 Haiwan *9908* Cha Tou Ripe Pu-erh Brick
- 500g - $17.60
the usual suspects should sell this.
Oct 11th, '08, 18:45
Posts: 5151
Joined: Dec 20th, '06, 23:33
Scrolling: scrolling
Location: Gainesville, Florida
Though I haven't tasted it, someone mentioned recently that Menghai has a similar product made from old tea nuggets, 2007 Menghai Factory * Lao Cha Tou * Ripe Pu-erh Tea. I am quite curious to know if it is as good as the Haiwan product.
Oct 12th, '08, 00:37
Posts: 24
Joined: Sep 18th, '08, 19:09
Location: Spartanburg, SC
Contact:
zipflint
TomVerlain wrote:I am not sure what others mean by "barnyard", but for me, barnyard conjours up images of knee deep poop and a smell of ammonia that starts about 10 miles away.
I would not even say good shu has a "hay" or vegetal taste / smell. Woody, even leathery, yes.
Ah. Leathery. THAT was the description that was escaping me earlier. As I said, being new to pu'erh and its unique properties, I am finding it difficult to accurately describe it. But yes, the shu I have has a definite but very pleasant leathery aspect.
The barnyard thing is (as I'm finding out now, heh) quite subjective. I can easily see how the word would conjure some unpleasant things. I'm not much of a "country mouse" by any stretch, but I like the analogy because it makes me think of a calmness, a sort of warmth and closeness to animals. Well trodden soil. Things like that. Which I realize are still highly subjective, but there ya go.
Another thing I forgot to mention is how wonderful these items stand up to multiple steepings.
Oct 12th, '08, 03:40
Posts: 921
Joined: Feb 6th, '08, 04:57
Location: enjoying a cup of Red Rose down in GA
I think it all depends on where you're from.zipflint wrote:
The barnyard thing is (as I'm finding out now, heh) quite subjective.
I stand by my "barnyard" comment because that's how a farm smells down here. We don't have what others describe as 'wet forest floor' for me to compare to. 
It's all good, no matter how it's described.
EW
Oct 12th, '08, 03:42
Posts: 921
Joined: Feb 6th, '08, 04:57
Location: enjoying a cup of Red Rose down in GA
As soon as I get the nerve up to break it open, I'll ship some down to you.Salsero wrote:Though I haven't tasted it, someone mentioned recently that Menghai has a similar product made from old tea nuggets, 2007 Menghai Factory * Lao Cha Tou * Ripe Pu-erh Tea. I am quite curious to know if it is as good as the Haiwan product.
*edit* Oops, sorry, Tom. I actually have the Haiwan and not the Menghai (yet)
EW
Oct 14th, '08, 04:01
Posts: 24
Joined: Sep 18th, '08, 19:09
Location: Spartanburg, SC
Contact:
zipflint
Here are a few more photos of the two cakes, in case anyone is interested.
One of these days I'm going to pick up a macro lens. Then, watch out!!
Shu leaves post-steep
Sheng leaves post-steep
Higher resolution versions are at my flickr page:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/zipflint
One of these days I'm going to pick up a macro lens. Then, watch out!!
Shu leaves post-steep
Sheng leaves post-steep
Higher resolution versions are at my flickr page:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/zipflint
Re:haiwan
the menghai is pretty good.Salsero wrote:Though I haven't tasted it, someone mentioned recently that Menghai has a similar product made from old tea nuggets, [url=http://cgi.ebay.com/2007-Menghai-Factor ... m153.l1262]2007 Menghai Factory * Lao Cha Tou * Ripe Pu-erh Tea. I am quite curious to know if it is as good as the Haiwan product.
Mar 25th, '13, 21:56
Posts: 749
Joined: May 2nd, '10, 02:03
Location: Shaker Heights, Ohio USA
Re: pu for you,pu for me (now with photos!)
you guys are funny!! If you check out another site st.....er you can check my cupboard out under mrmopar.edkrueger wrote:What is a 5 year old thread?
