where to start?
Well i am looking to a good starting point in my pu-erh journey. I would love to purchase many different samples but too many places to look. US vendor to start would be ideal. And as far as types of pu-erh where to start there.
Re: where to start?
I categorized puerh in these categories:-
Young Ripe (cheap)
Young Ripe (expensive)
Young Raw (cheap)
Young Raw (expensive)
Aged Ripe (5 to 15)
Super Aged Ripe (15 and above)
Aged Raw (5 to 15)
Super Aged Raw (15 and above)
Puerh is somehow an acquired taste (especially for aged puerh), so sample in categories and see which one you fall into. Sometimes it may take awhile before you will acquire the liking for puerh, so take your time. Once you have identified which category and specific type of puerh you like, then it is easier for your selection. Not everyone likes aged. Not all young raw are hard to drink. So sample sample sample.
For puerh, there is a Up and Down in terms of its character/taste. When it is Down it will loose its flavor and taste, but it doesn't mean that piece of puerh is gone. It 'may' still go Up but this may take from days, weeks, months or even years. So don't throw away your puerh when it is Down. Keep it aside for future tasting.
When tasting, always go for ripe first then only raw. Preferably you drink in sequence of grade too, from low to high. Reason, raw taste is stronger than ripe. So if you tasted raw first, you cannot fully enjoy the ripe. Same goes for grade sequence, higher grade will overwrite the lower grade.
For a start, go for Big Factory Puerh such as Menghai-Dayi then Xia Guan then explore the rest as you go. These days it is 'safer' to buy from big factories be it genuine or cleanliness.
If you are lost and don't know where to start, go for standard recipe such as Dayi's 7542 (raw), 8582 (raw), 7452 (ripe), 7572 (ripe). Then you can venture into their more special/premium editions.
Next venture can be more specific to which mountain you like too. But take note when they say eg, Bulang mountain, this mountain area can be very very big. Not all quality are the same. But in general, if the leaves are from very old trees (hundreds to thousands of years old) and is at high altitude then it 'should' be better. Don't be surprise with the price difference when it come to these criteria.
Also, first batch puerh are usually better. You can identity the batch by the number on the packing. Eg. Year 2009's first batch will be labeled 901, Year 2010's first batch will be labeled 001, and so on... Another thing to look for is, Spring tea is usually better than other season's harvest, but this can be hard to identify especially when it come to big factories where they usually mix the leaves.
I don't buy tea online, but here are some places i look for puerh reference:-
http://www.yunnansourcing.com/store/
http://stores.ebay.com/Dragon-Tea-House
A chinese seller for new products and price reference:
http://goodtea114.taobao.com
I don't know how to read chinese, but looking at the pictures and google translator helps
Young Ripe (cheap)
Young Ripe (expensive)
Young Raw (cheap)
Young Raw (expensive)
Aged Ripe (5 to 15)
Super Aged Ripe (15 and above)
Aged Raw (5 to 15)
Super Aged Raw (15 and above)
Puerh is somehow an acquired taste (especially for aged puerh), so sample in categories and see which one you fall into. Sometimes it may take awhile before you will acquire the liking for puerh, so take your time. Once you have identified which category and specific type of puerh you like, then it is easier for your selection. Not everyone likes aged. Not all young raw are hard to drink. So sample sample sample.
For puerh, there is a Up and Down in terms of its character/taste. When it is Down it will loose its flavor and taste, but it doesn't mean that piece of puerh is gone. It 'may' still go Up but this may take from days, weeks, months or even years. So don't throw away your puerh when it is Down. Keep it aside for future tasting.
When tasting, always go for ripe first then only raw. Preferably you drink in sequence of grade too, from low to high. Reason, raw taste is stronger than ripe. So if you tasted raw first, you cannot fully enjoy the ripe. Same goes for grade sequence, higher grade will overwrite the lower grade.
For a start, go for Big Factory Puerh such as Menghai-Dayi then Xia Guan then explore the rest as you go. These days it is 'safer' to buy from big factories be it genuine or cleanliness.
If you are lost and don't know where to start, go for standard recipe such as Dayi's 7542 (raw), 8582 (raw), 7452 (ripe), 7572 (ripe). Then you can venture into their more special/premium editions.
Next venture can be more specific to which mountain you like too. But take note when they say eg, Bulang mountain, this mountain area can be very very big. Not all quality are the same. But in general, if the leaves are from very old trees (hundreds to thousands of years old) and is at high altitude then it 'should' be better. Don't be surprise with the price difference when it come to these criteria.
Also, first batch puerh are usually better. You can identity the batch by the number on the packing. Eg. Year 2009's first batch will be labeled 901, Year 2010's first batch will be labeled 001, and so on... Another thing to look for is, Spring tea is usually better than other season's harvest, but this can be hard to identify especially when it come to big factories where they usually mix the leaves.
I don't buy tea online, but here are some places i look for puerh reference:-
http://www.yunnansourcing.com/store/
http://stores.ebay.com/Dragon-Tea-House
A chinese seller for new products and price reference:
http://goodtea114.taobao.com
I don't know how to read chinese, but looking at the pictures and google translator helps
Last edited by auhckw on Sep 21st, '10, 22:55, edited 1 time in total.
Re: where to start?
Some additional notes from my puerh hunting:
http://www.teachat.com/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=13749
http://www.teachat.com/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=13749
Sep 21st, '10, 22:56
Posts: 101
Joined: Aug 15th, '10, 14:32
Scrolling: scrolling
Location: USA
Re: where to start?
Some US stores are Puerhshop, Norbu Tea, and JAS-eTea. All of them have individual samples, and JAS-eTea has some "samplers" that I have been considering myself.
Sep 22nd, '10, 11:30
Posts: 17
Joined: Sep 7th, '10, 15:26
Scrolling: scrolling
Location: Minneapolis
Re: where to start?
auhckw wrote:
Also, first batch puerh are usually better. You can identity the batch by the number on the packing. Eg. Year 2009's first batch will be labeled 901, Year 2010's first batch will be labeled 001, and so on... Another thing to look for is, Spring tea is usually better than other season's harvest, but this can be hard to identify especially when it come to big factories where they usually mix the leaves.
I am also new to Pe-Erh Hunting and buying. This is sort of something that stumps me. While searching...say on Yunnan Sourcing, when you click on a bing, it does't seem like it ever has a code. Where do you find it? Thanks
Re: where to start?
Not all puerh come in batches. Those that does usually are produced in big volumes. Here is an example.Christopher wrote:auhckw wrote:
Also, first batch puerh are usually better. You can identity the batch by the number on the packing. Eg. Year 2009's first batch will be labeled 901, Year 2010's first batch will be labeled 001, and so on... Another thing to look for is, Spring tea is usually better than other season's harvest, but this can be hard to identify especially when it come to big factories where they usually mix the leaves.
I am also new to Pe-Erh Hunting and buying. This is sort of something that stumps me. While searching...say on Yunnan Sourcing, when you click on a bing, it does't seem like it ever has a code. Where do you find it? Thanks
2009 Menghai Tea Factory * 7542 901 * Raw Pu-erh Tea
http://www.yunnansourcing.com/store/pro ... roduct=996
USD16
2009 Menghai Tea Factory * 7542 902 * Raw Pu-erh Tea
http://www.yunnansourcing.com/store/pro ... roduct=998
USD15
As you see the price is different. The design of the packing looks slightly different too. At times, batches can go more than 2.
Few days ago, I was at a tea shop looking for 0622 (2006), they didn't have first batch (601) and only have third batch (603). According to them the taste is quite different and didn't want to recommend me to take later batch. Instead they asked me to go for 0622 (2008) first batch.
Re: where to start?
i tried and really enjoyed some pu-erh samples from Zhi Zheng but i don't understand why their cakes cost around $120 when those apparently famous Menghais cost only $16... sorry for this newbie question but i'd like to understand
Re: where to start?
With the limited information you provided and I'm assuming you are comparing young vs young puerh, here are the possibilities:-fdrx wrote:i tried and really enjoyed some pu-erh samples from Zhi Zheng but i don't understand why their cakes cost around $120 when those apparently famous Menghais cost only $16... sorry for this newbie question but i'd like to understand
-It depends on the raw material that is used to make the puerh. Like I've mentioned previously, even the puerh is of the same mountain/area but if it comes from a high up and very old trees, the price variation can be very big. I have an example, you can get Menghai-Dayi's Bulang for about USD25 (estimation) per cake, but I once tasted an Unbranded Bulang High Mountain very old trees (as in thousand of years old) and from a specific location of the mountain, the price is USD100 (estimation) per 100g. Both are from the same year.
-Menghai usually mixes diff grades of leaves so that they can produce the volume therefor they normally don't produce one high grade cake. The cake you mentioned can be of better grade materials compressed into one cake.
Last edited by auhckw on Sep 22nd, '10, 22:48, edited 1 time in total.
Re: where to start?
Also saying Menghai Dayi is famous is kind of like saying Hershey´s chocolate is famous...Menghai Dayi is a well known brand name that´s famous because it produces inexpensive but enjoyable puerh tea
Re: where to start?
thank you very much for all those informations!
I'm shure Menghai tea is better than Hershey's chocolate
I'm shure Menghai tea is better than Hershey's chocolate
Re: where to start?
Welcome to the pu erh world. I just started learning myself. Pu erh subject, like Physics, 
Re: where to start?
interesting pu' course!
auhckw i read the presentation of the cake i was talking about and it says "pure raw ancient tea tree " that's what you were talking about! thanks again
auhckw i read the presentation of the cake i was talking about and it says "pure raw ancient tea tree " that's what you were talking about! thanks again
Sep 24th, '10, 04:03
Posts: 17
Joined: Sep 7th, '10, 15:26
Scrolling: scrolling
Location: Minneapolis
Re: where to start?
Just thought I'd share, because I'm new and very excited, today I went to a local tea place in Minneapolis and tried my third and best type of Pu erh this far. I had 2006 Raw Yunnan Chitzu Pincha, which in my opinion was the earthiest tea I've ever drank thus far. The first and second steeping were nearly identical but the third through the fifth the smokiness of it really came out. I was just really excited about my little adventure today and wanted to share it with someone. 
Re: where to start?
Sounds like some shu pu. How much are they selling it for?Christopher wrote:Just thought I'd share, because I'm new and very excited, today I went to a local tea place in Minneapolis and tried my third and best type of Pu erh this far. I had 2006 Raw Yunnan Chitzu Pincha, which in my opinion was the earthiest tea I've ever drank thus far. The first and second steeping were nearly identical but the third through the fifth the smokiness of it really came out. I was just really excited about my little adventure today and wanted to share it with someone.