These are some recent offerings on YSLLC that have caught my interest. They seem to be quite cheap for their age which is what strikes up my curiosity. Also, the color, though they are by no means aged, they have the looks of some of my 2007 cakes which leads me to believe they have been stored rather dry. Any opinions out there of these cakes?
http://cgi.ebay.com/2004-CNNP-Menghai-7 ... .m14.l1262
http://cgi.ebay.com/2002-CNNP-Huang-Yin ... .m14.l1262
Re: Opinions?
Isn't that interesting: CNNP version of Menghai's 7532 recipe. Never heard of such a thing, but there is a lot about Pu-erh I have yet to learn.
Re: Opinions?
And? Leaf being chopped up doesn't really matter except aesthetically. If you break leaves while preparing them for brewing, then that's where the bad bitterness can come from, but even then I don't notice a massive difference.aKnightWhoSaysNi wrote:Eh, anyone else think that the 2002 cake looks a bit chopped?
Both cakes seem decent, I'd suggest trying samples of course. I've had some good Huang Yin before, and it is from 02 so it might be from when CNNP still had their head on straight. As for the CNNP take on 7532, these could go either way- just don't expect a 7532 cake, and you'll probably be pleased.
Re: Opinions?
Hey, that 02 looks awesome!
Mind if I order one?
It says there are more than 10 available, but I don't want to steal your find
Mind if I order one?
It says there are more than 10 available, but I don't want to steal your find
Sep 29th, '09, 14:48
Posts: 1633
Joined: Feb 15th, '08, 10:15
Location: Pennsylvania
Re: Opinions?
depravitea wrote:Hey, that 02 looks awesome!
Mind if I order one?
It says there are more than 10 available, but I don't want to steal your find
No, go ahead! Grab one and tell me what you think!
Re: Opinions?
Probably grown like a low hedge and harvested with a lawn mower type harvesting machine.
Re: Opinions?
Eh, I just assumed that chopped leaves = smaller bits = more bitterness. I do have the tendency to buy pretty cakes with nice big leaves; perhaps I should give this one a go.thanks wrote:And? Leaf being chopped up doesn't really matter except aesthetically. If you break leaves while preparing them for brewing, then that's where the bad bitterness can come from, but even then I don't notice a massive difference.aKnightWhoSaysNi wrote:Eh, anyone else think that the 2002 cake looks a bit chopped?
Both cakes seem decent, I'd suggest trying samples of course. I've had some good Huang Yin before, and it is from 02 so it might be from when CNNP still had their head on straight. As for the CNNP take on 7532, these could go either way- just don't expect a 7532 cake, and you'll probably be pleased.
Sep 29th, '09, 16:55
Posts: 1633
Joined: Feb 15th, '08, 10:15
Location: Pennsylvania
Re: Opinions?
I tend to find that cakes with the big pretty leaves are usually weak. Its these chopped blends that give the punch. There are of course exceptions...
Sep 29th, '09, 18:20
Posts: 2299
Joined: Oct 23rd, '06, 19:46
Location: Seattle Area
Contact:
tenuki
Re: Opinions?
The top 5 tasting puerhs I own all look like total chopped blended crap. Don't believe the single tree big leaf hype. 
Re: Opinions?
One of the best young shengs I've had was the 2006 king of puerh cake. Its leaves were pretty big and it had plenty of flavor. I guess the two cakes I'm drinking now just have regular leafage; the 2007 FT Taiwan Cake and a 2007 Menghai Jia Ji cake (very delicious).
Re: Opinions?
hi shogun!
these cakes seem attractive, and scott is a nice vendor to deal with, but from my experience, i ordered an 02 raw cake from him before, it was said to be "stored in kunming" and it felt really more like 07 or 08. its green and very much raw... in fact its aging here in manila and if it was not for the date stamp i put on every cake, you might have a hard time telling it apart from the 07-08 cakes. ive seen some hong kong storage cakes from 02 that are already drinkable...
well its also really down to your purpose of buying tea... for consumption now, or for storage to consume later... if its for consumption now, and you like young sheng, i think this might be worth a try (not that i have tried it already) and see for yourself if you like the tea.
-darwin
these cakes seem attractive, and scott is a nice vendor to deal with, but from my experience, i ordered an 02 raw cake from him before, it was said to be "stored in kunming" and it felt really more like 07 or 08. its green and very much raw... in fact its aging here in manila and if it was not for the date stamp i put on every cake, you might have a hard time telling it apart from the 07-08 cakes. ive seen some hong kong storage cakes from 02 that are already drinkable...
well its also really down to your purpose of buying tea... for consumption now, or for storage to consume later... if its for consumption now, and you like young sheng, i think this might be worth a try (not that i have tried it already) and see for yourself if you like the tea.
-darwin
Sep 29th, '09, 21:16
Posts: 196
Joined: May 1st, '09, 22:28
Location: Malaysia
Contact:
oldmanteapot
Re: Opinions?
It's so dry in Kinming, the aging process seems to take much longer than usual. At the other end of the spectrum, the humid conditions in Hong Kong really speeds up the aging process. Yeah, I've seen '02 Sheng, HK stored to be drinkable.odarwin wrote:i ordered an 02 raw cake from him before, it was said to be "stored in kunming" and it felt really more like 07 or 08. its green and very much raw... in fact its aging here in manila and if it was not for the date stamp i put on every cake, you might have a hard time telling it apart from the 07-08 cakes. ive seen some hong kong storage cakes from 02 that are already drinkable...
+1...odarwin wrote:well its also really down to your purpose of buying tea... for consumption now, or for storage to consume later... if its for consumption now, and you like young sheng, i think this might be worth a try (not that i have tried it already) and see for yourself if you like the tea.
Cheers!
Sep 29th, '09, 22:33
Posts: 1633
Joined: Feb 15th, '08, 10:15
Location: Pennsylvania
Re: Opinions?
Thanks for your input odarwin! Though I have not ordered anything from YSLLC older than 2 years, I do know what you mean. Comparing this 2002 with a HK 2002 there is defiantly a noticeable difference. He even mentions how the 2004 cake has been stored in a dry climate and it does show, it looks like a 2007. I wish I could find a 2002 HK for $25, as I would love to have a drink now sheng, but dont we all...?