Starting a sheng collection

[teashionista]

Fellow TeaChatters,

I'm looking for advice on starting a sheng collection. After a few shus and shengs, I can say with certainty that I prefer aged sheng (surprise surprise) So I'm thinking about starting a small collection of shengs to age and enjoy a few years down the road. I have no intention of drinking them any time soon (I really did not care for young stuff), and at this point I don't have the experience to sample a young sheng and decide on its aging potential. From what I've seen online, anything and everything commands a high price as long as it's at least 10 years old.

So here comes my question: what's a solid factory/recipe that's consistent year in and year out, so that I can start buying a couple (or three?) cakes of it each year for aging.

Any input would be greatly appreciated!

[JAS-eTea Guy]

Menhai and Xiaguan recipes are very nice:
I like the Menhai classics to include 8582, 7542, 7532, the 0622 and the Peacock series.
From the Xiaguan, I have very much enjoyed the T8633, Cang er Tuo, Taiwan #6 and #4, the XY 8853, and too many others to list.
I am not sure that I know how to prioritize these. My tastes sometimes vary day to day.

Best regards,
Steve

[coloradopu]

ok lets start with how you will age them?

i think the outcome you want will rely on this a great deal

and then lets see what you like best

then if it is a blend you might not have any trouble but pure cake might present a bit of a problem.

i am new so i will follow this very close

good thread to start

[shogun89]

If you want quality aging material at a good price I have one company for you. Menghai!!!
Recipes such as the 7542, 7532 and 8582 are classics that have been around, well, since the first 2 numbers in the recipe. Anyway, you can pick up a tong or each for about $70ish. I even like them for drinking now, they are really good, but are supreme for aging.

[beecrofter]

An impossible request, even winemakers don't produce consistent vintages that age well year in and year out and there are far more of them than there are puerh chachang.

[coloradopu]

i can not believe i am going to say this

even winemakers don't produce consistent vintages that age well year in and year out

yes in wine this is true but what sucks this year might be good for the next 2 and then ya it might suck again but if you collect that wine then that is how the grape falls.

and if you collect a wine in that manor then you most probably collect a type that is well known and liked by most who collect too.

sorry for the wine--ing

[teashionista]

Thanks everyone for the suggestions!

So would you suggest sticking with several beengs of the same recipe or diversifying (within any given year)? I.e. buy a couple of 7542 and a couple of 8582 or a tong of 7542??

[coloradopu]

it really sounds like you are worried that you will not have all the pu you need?
well only you can answer that and i guess your wallet too.
if you are comfortable with it do it but i do not think you will find anyone that will tell you what to get.

look out more wine---ing

if i buy a case and it sucks i make brandy

you can not do the equal to pu.


sooooooo its the big Q' for the pu.

it goes like this if i want it i get it and if it sucks after X years then i can not blame anyone but me. i have to educate myself all i can about a tea and then decide.

yes i follow the 3 cake rule after research and then i go bigger if i think it is good tea after time “if it is real good or I get a gut feel i do not wait and go bigger”
no one tells me what to buy or how much.

i do worry about supply but that should be part of the research too. not the decision maker.

[TIM]

If you are new to puerh, I would suggest spending 1 year and sample as much as you can. Understand and educate on why and what you like about those sample, the only way you learn about tea is to taste and drink with as many teaheads as possible. Drop down notes on those samples and tasting sessions, (if you are investing in a 15-50 yrs collection, tea notes is a reasonable act). Then buy in tongs afterwards.

From my experience, 80% of what newbies got in the first year will end up haunting them.

[tony shlongini]

Diversify. By the time you get to the end of a bing, you'll have a pretty good idea if you'll want to keep drinking it over a long time.

[shogun89]

I would recommend getting 2 of each cake your interested in. That way you have a variety and you can taste each one alot, ones that arnt to good, so what you didnt spend much, ones that are good, you have 2 cakes to see how they age, ones that are great, buy a tong. thats my opinion. So yes, 2 7542's and 2 8582's and whatever else is the way to go.

[hop_goblin]

The guys gave you some really good advice. From the onset, stick with big factory fare e.g, MengHai Dayi, Xiaguan, Haiwan etc., classic recipes. Although they tend to vary from year to year, they are, relatively the most consistent. This way, you atleast have a decent chance what you have purchased will age nicely. Once your collection is stocked with enough pu to get you going for atleast 5 years or so, you may want to venture out and buy more of the boutique offerings.

This advice is ONLY for starting a collection and has nothing to do with educating yourself about pu. If you want education start sampling and sampling, reading and reading. Etc

Howevr, if you have money to burn, just buy whatever you want

[jackdaniel]

So, then, what ARE the "major brands" and "major recipes?" Can we start a list?

[odarwin]

If you are new to puerh, I would suggest spending 1 year and sample as much as you can. Understand and educate on why and what you like about those sample, the only way you learn about tea is to taste and drink with as many teaheads as possible. Drop down notes on those samples and tasting sessions, (if you are investing in a 15-50 yrs collection, tea notes is a reasonable act). Then buy in tongs afterwards.

From my experience, 80% of what newbies got in the first year will end up haunting them.

+1

[oldmanteapot]

If you are new to puerh, I would suggest spending 1 year and sample as much as you can. Understand and educate on why and what you like about those sample, the only way you learn about tea is to taste and drink with as many teaheads as possible. Drop down notes on those samples and tasting sessions, (if you are investing in a 15-50 yrs collection, tea notes is a reasonable act). Then buy in tongs afterwards.

From my experience, 80% of what newbies got in the first year will end up haunting them.

+1

+2 Let me add that 25g samples are barely enough to provide you with a decent paragraph of information....