Some puerh products are in adjustment now. If you are interested in a tea but don't see the shopping cart button for it, please feel free to drop us a line.
Although aged sheng is a lot milder than young sheng, to brew an aged sheng, we recommend brewing method that you would normally use for a sheng, not brewing method you would use for shu, nor method you would use for humid-stored tea.
Please read!
* Some of the aged teas have bug bite holes on the wrapper (obtained during storage in China). This is normal condition and the cake didn't suffer from any bug attack. If we notice the bug bite holes on some products, we will try to include it in the product description. But we may not be able to always cover it in the description. If it's important for you to get a cake without bug bite on the wrapper, please contact us before purchase and we will check first (however, cakes of some products all have bug-bite holes).
* Some of the aged teas have holes (not bug-bite holes) on the wrapper. This can be separated from bug-bite holes by size, pattern, number, shape and whether the holes go all the way through the wrapper as well as the inner ticket. This type of holes are very common and could also happen during shipping (however, we do pack very carefully).
* Tea loses weight during aging. For example, a 357 gram cake could become around 340 gram or even lighter after more than 10 years of aging.
Limited Edition sample set: "twins" - 2003/2004 Chang Tai Heng Feng Yuan Limited Edition. Hong Kong humid storage vs. purely dry storageProduct# 6hcjfy
Last updated in January 2013.
Some cake wrappers have bug-bite holes.
Including 2 samples (10 g or 20g). The unit price of 10 g version is a little more expensive than the 20 g version because we usually give more than the specified amount and there is also greater fringing loss before packing when the samples are smaller. More photos of the tea can be found here. (The guessing game on the blog is still going on. So we won't tell which one in the photo is which storage style. But the samples in the set will be labeled.)
Manager's comments:
1. We focus on dry-stored teas. The Hong Kong humid storage version of this tea is an exception in our store. But we do believe both versions are very good representative of each style, and the tea is overall of very high quality. The manager has tasted 6 versions of this tea (various batches and storage conditions) and selected the favorite dry-stored version and favorite Hong Kong humid-stored version. Everybody has a preference, and these samples may just confirm your existing preference, or lead you to a whole new preference. We are not trying to demonstrate which is better. We regard it as an experience and enjoy both versions.
2. We believe, the best way to compare different storage styles must have following features:
a. The teas of the two storage styles should be of the same quality level (preferably the same tea)
b. The teas of the two storage styles should be of comparable age (preferably the same age)
c. The humid storage version should be proper humid storage (not rotten, smelly or insanitary storage). The dry-storage version should be clean dry storage as well.
In other words, they should be good teas, with good storage, and the two teas should be comparable to begin with.
Teas with all above features are not easy to find. So we think these "twins" are very interesting.
3. This tea was a special edition and was produced only once. The above-linke d blog post explains why this tea is a very special version of Chang Tai product. Many people say this tea was produced in 2003 and many others say it was produced in 2004. Hence we put 2003/2004 in the title.
4. The Hong Kong humid-storage version selected here has some light "storage taste," but is among the less humid among this storage style. In Hong Kong humid-storage version, even cakes stored in the same warehouse could have different levels of humidity levels. But overall all the humid-stored cakes have a consistent style and all the dry-stored cakes have a consistent style.
2010 Da Dian Mangfei Arbor Tree Puerh Sheng "5 year anniversary tea"
2008 Meng Song Arbor Tree
Why we chose this tea?
Mengsong is a late-rising star in the most recent puerh market boom. The raw tea price in this region back in 2008 was still relatively low. Besides, the tea trees in the region didn't suffer from over-exploitation as some other puerh producing regions. Therefore this tea is available at a very good price, and in our opinion, the quality exceeds its price level. More importantly, with very nice and clean dry storage in Guangzhou, the tea seems to have completed its first aging stage and is quite enjoyable now.
This tea was in completely dry storage in Guangzhou between 2008 and 2015. It has dry-stored tea characteristics but matures faster than dry stored tea from dryer regions such as New England.
2006 Chang Tai Mr. Chen's Tea "Ban Zhang"Production Year 2006 Production Season Spring Production Region Factory Yunnan, Bulang Mountain, Ban Zhang region Chang Tai Style Sheng Size 400g, 15g Price per unit $150, $9 Product # 6hpuerhychbz06
We add quote-and-quote to "Ban Zhang" because when a large factory (or any factory) claims a tea is Ban Zhang, our suggestion is: ignore the claim and just see how the tea is. The tea is a favorite of the manager's, however, there are too many claimed-to-be Ban Zhang products today, including teas blended with small amount of Lao Ban Zhang and tea produced from "Greater Ban Zhang region". There is no way for us to tell which category this tea falls into. But we thought this tea may serve as a pleasant experience for drinkers, and may facilitate drinkers to understand that any tea less pleasant than this one would probably be even farther away from Ban Zhang standard.
This tea was in completely dry storage in Guangzhou between 2006 and 2013. It's one of our few products with Guangzhou storage. The storage was completely professional equipped with modern dehumidifying device during rain seasons. The tea ages somewhat faster than many of our other Kunming storage teas. However, it has typical dry storage taste, without any damp taste or unpleasant storage taste.
2014 Burma-China Border Small Cake by Ming Yan Hao2013 version of this tea is available too and is included in the price list.
A vibrant sheng from one of the best producing regions that's less known.
Advantage: From arbor trees of over 300 years old; Semi-wild trees in a great ecosystem without much human intervention; Many spring buds; Some bug bites (if it could count as an advantage...)
Flaws: The tea leaves didn't go through as strict control of leaf sizes as many other high-end teas. Most leaves are young and healthy leaves. But there are some outliers of large/older/yellow leaves and broken leaves. Not too many to be noticed in a brewing pot/gaiwan, but you can always find some.
The 2014 version of this tea has a style highly similar to that of 2013 and 2012
circa 1990 Menghai 8972 Brick
Why do we call it "circa 1990"? More information about this tea is here.
*Rumors* are this tea is a blend of shu and sheng (from both a couple of vendors selling this tea and a couple of buyers having this tea). To our knowledge, this is not true. The tea does not have any hint of shu taste. Blending sheng and shu is only a recent year trend adopted by very few small factories. Although the idea was once discussed in large factories, it has always been strongly disliked by large factories. This tea, however, is a blend of various grades of sheng, as a long-time tradition of large factories. The contrast of various degrees of oxidation of leaves seen in this tea is not sufficient to support the sheng-shu blend theory. Such contrast can also be seen by comparing any two different aged teas with very different leaf grades.
2010 Yi Ru Chang Flowing Water Sheng
|
|
Production Year |
2010 |
|
Production Season |
spring |
|
Production Region Factory |
Yunnan Yi Ru Chang |
|
Style |
Sheng |
|
Size |
250g |
|
Price per unit |
|
|
Product # |
6hpuerh2010yrcby |
A shu made of high grade arbor tree leaves. An example of non-stinky young shu.
2012 Bu Lang Zhang San Arbor Tree Sheng
2010 version of this tea is available too and is included in the price list.
|
Production Year |
2010 |
|
Production Season |
spring |
|
Production Region Factory |
Yunnan, Bu Lang, Zhang Jia San Dui Ming Yan Hao |
|
Style |
Sheng |
|
Size |
2012 (100g, 10g); 2010 (200g, 10g) |
|
Price per unit |
2012 ($30, $5); 2010 ($60, $5) |
|
Product # |
6hpuerh2010zs |
Ming Yan Hao's Zhang San of recent years is all from uncultivated mountains outside the village. The trees are not old, but all large size arbor trees. The ecosystem is good, and there are not many bugs in early spring. But I happened to find some bug bites on a few leaves.
1998 CNNP 7542 Sheng
|
Production Year |
1998 |
|
Production Season |
|
|
Production Region Factory |
Yunnan Meng Hai Tea Factory (the tea factory for current Da Yi) |
|
Style |
Sheng |
|
Size |
357g, 50g, 10g |
|
Price per unit |
|
|
Product # |
6hpuerhzc754298 |
Manager's note:
1. Please be aware that this tea is a CNNP7542, NOT a Dayi brand 7542. It was produced by Menghai factory, which is the factory owned by today's Dayi. Same product, different brand labels and different price levels, because Dayi generally is a more expensive brand. For more details please see:
2. If you would like the aged taste of 7542, you may want to try this (and we suggest trying samples first for any puerh, especially aged puerh). If the brand name is important to your collection habit, then please be aware this tea is CNNP brand, not Dayi brand. If the wrapper and cake ticket (neifei) of a tea is important to you, then please be aware that Dayi wrapper and cake ticket are the expensive ones and CNNP wrapper and cake ticket are not. If you collect tea for investment (other than personal drinking), then we do NOT recommend this tea. We believe this is a great tea for drinking, but not ideal for investment. This blog post attempted to explain why.
3. A tea with same wrapper as this one is NOT necessarily the same tea. The above-linked first blog post also explains this. The 2000 CNNP sheng we have has exactly the same wrapper as this one. The wrappers of the two teas are as identical as two $20 notes printed in the same year. But the two cakes have completely different leaf materials and tastes.
1996 Xia Guan Butterfly Spring Tuo Sheng
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Production Year |
1996 |
|
Production Season |
|
|
Production Region Factory |
Yunnan Xia Guan Tea Factory, Butterfly Spring Brand, made for Taiwan market |
|
Style |
Sheng |
|
Size |
250g, 50g, 10g |
|
Price per unit |
$200, $45, $11 |
|
Product # |
6hxggh9608 |
View more photos and information about this tea...
This tea was made in 1996 for Taiwan market. According to the supplier, leaf material of this tea was from 300 years old arbor tea tree. Although this cannot be physically proved, it is very likely to be true, as indicated by the leaf quality. The tea has been in purely dry storage over the past 15 years and demonstrates features of high quality dry-aged sheng. The flavor is significantly different from that of sheng aged in humid storage. Current price of this tea is based on supplying costs. The price is subject adjustment in the future based on rarity.
2007 Lao Lin Cang Silver Tips Tuo sheng
|
Production Year |
2007 |
|
Production Season |
Spring |
|
Production Region Factory |
Yunnan Lao Lin Cang Tea Factory |
|
Style |
Sheng |
|
Size |
100g, 15g |
|
Price per unit |
|
|
Product # |
6hllcyht2007 |
This tuo is made with leaf material from old arbor tree. Current price of this tea is based on supplying costs.The price is subject to adjustment in the future based on rarity.
2009 Li Ming Ba Jiao Ting Yi Wu Old Tree Sheng
|
Production Year |
2009 |
|
Production Season |
|
|
Production Region Factory |
Yunnan Li Ming Tea Factory |
|
Style |
Sheng |
|
Size |
357g, 15g |
|
Price per unit |
$60， $4.5 |
|
Product # |
6hlmbjtyw2009 |
This tea bears the factory owner's signature on the wrapper to express his special pride on this product.
2010 Huang Ye (Wilderness) Tuo sheng
|
Production Year |
2010 |
|
Production Season |
Spring |
|
Production Region Factory |
Yunnan Da Dian |
|
Style |
Sheng |
|
Size |
100g, 10g |
|
Price per unit |
|
|
Product # |
6hddhy2010
|
View more photos and information about this tea...
2010 Da Dian Mangfei
2008 Meng Song Arbor Tree
2006 Chang Tai "Ban Zhang"
2012 Ming Yan Hao China-Burma border (2013 and 2014 version of this product look very similar)
circa 1990 Menghai 8972
2010 Yi Ru Chang Flowing Water
2010 Yi Ru Chang Beautiful Years
2010 Bu Lang Zhang San
1998 CNNP 7542
1996 Xia Guan Butterfly Spring Tuo
2007 Lao Lin Cang Silver Tip Tuo
2009 Li Ming Ba Jiao Ting Yi Wu Old Tree
2010 Wilderness Tuo
