Puerh & Yunnan White

The sample sets are in adjustment now. If you would like to have a specific sample and don't see it listed, please feel free to drop us a line.

It's our choice to deal with purely dry-stored puerh only. We simply prefer dry-stored puerh to humid-stored puerh, without being against any other people's preferences that might be different. It's NOT our choice to judge which is better between dry-stored and humid-stored puerh. We believe it should be your decision, not something plainly told to you.

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 storage

Product# 6hcjfy

The current price is valid till the end of August 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-linked 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.

Puerh Sample Set 7, Shu of 9 Years & Above, $9.99

Product# 6hpuerhsample7
Including 3 samples (10 gram or 0.35 oz. each). Please see details of these products by scrolling down this page.

1. 2002 CNNP 7581 French Export Shu Brick
2. 2004 CNNP Y421 loose shu (this is the same style of tea that made the previously sold 2002 Golden Brick)
3. 2007 Chang Tai Wei Rong Hao "Golden Bowl Silver Tip" (This tea was produced in 2007 blended in aged shu of up to 20 years old, under the direction of Wu Shurong, one of the most reputable tea professionals in Hong Kong.)

Puerh Sample Set 8, Pre-2000 Sheng, $9.99

Product# 6hpuerhsample8
Including 3 samples (10 gram or 0.35 oz. each). Please see details of these products by scrolling down this page.

1. circa 1990 Menghai 8972 (product# 6hpuerh8972)
2. 1998 CNNP Sheng Cake 7542 (product# 6hpuerhzc754298)
3. 2000 CNNP Sheng Cake (product# 6hpuerhzcly00)

Puerh Sample set 5, Yi Wu, $9.99

Product# 6hpuerhsample5

Including 3 samples (15-20 gram or 0.5-0.7 oz. each). Please see details of these products by scrolling down this page.

1. 2005 Guan Zi Zai Sheng Yi Wu Jing Xuan Ancient Tea Cake Sheng (15g)
2. 2009 Li Ming Ba Jiao Ting Yi Wu Old Tree Sheng (20g)
3. 2010 Da Dian Yi Wu Jing Xuan 302 Sheng (15g)

Puerh Sample set 6, Lin Cang, $9.99

Product# 6hpuerhsample6

Including 4 samples (15 gram or 0.5 oz. each). Please see details of these products by scrolling down this page.

1. 2006 Guan Zi Zai Sheng Puerh Meng Ku Bing Dao Ancient Tree Tea Sheng
2. 2010 Da Dian Mang Fei "Five Year Anniversary"
3. 2005 Lao Lin Cang Early Spring Ancient Tree Cake Sheng
4. 2007 Lao Lin Cang Silver Tip Tuo Sheng

Puerh Sample set 1, Big Tree, $9.99

Product# 6hpuerhsample1

Including 4 samples (15 gram or 0.5 oz. each). Please see details of these products by scrolling down this page.

1. 2005 Guan Zi Zai Sheng Yi Wu Jing Xuan Ancient Tea Cake
2. 2006 Guan Zi Zai Sheng Puerh Meng Ku Bing Dao Ancient Tree Tea
3. 2005 Bu Lang Mountain Big Tree Silver Tip Cake Sheng
4. 2011 Meng Song Man Lv Early Spring Arbor Tree Sheng

Puerh Sample set 4, Shu, $9.99

Product# 6hpuerhsample4

Including 3 samples (20 gram or 0.7 oz. each). Please see details of these products by scrolling down this page.
1. 2009 Guan Zi Zai Xiao Man Cake Shu
2. 2010 Yi Ru Chang Beautiful Years Shu
3. 2007 Meng Ku Rong Shi Loose Tea Shu

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, 50g, 15g
Price per unit	$80, $12, $5
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.

2012 Burma-China Border Small Cake by Ming Yan Hao

Production Year	2012
Production Season	Spring
Production Region Factory	Yunnan (Burma border) Ming Yan Hao
Style	Sheng
Size	200g, 50g, 15g
Price per unit	$35, $11, $4
Product #	6hpuerhmyhborder2012

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.

circa 1990 Menghai 8972 Brick

Production Year	around 1990
Production Season
Production Region Factory	Yunnan Menghai Tea Factory (the factory of Dayi)
Style	Sheng
Size	250g, 50g, 10g
Price per unit	$120, $28, $6
Product #	6hpuerh8972

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, blended arbor tree leaves
Size	250g
Price per unit	$60
Product #	6hpuerh2010yrcfw

2010 Yi Ru Chang Beautiful Years Shu

Production Year	2010
Production Season	spring
Production Region Factory	Yunnan Yi Ru Chang
Style	Sheng
Size	250g
Price per unit	$45
Product #	6hpuerh2010yrcby

A shu made of high grade arbor tree leaves. An example of non-stinky young shu.

2010 Bu Lang Zhang San Arbor Tree Sheng

Production Year	2010
Production Season	spring
Production Region Factory	Yunnan, Bu Lang, Zhang Jia San Dui Ming Yan Hao
Style	Sheng
Size	200g, 10g
Price per unit	$30, $2
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.

2012 version of this tea is also available and will be listed soon. Due to the rapid price rise in Zhang Jia San Dui, 2012 version was made of 100g smaller cake for cost management. If the 2013 raw tea price is above certain level, the producer will give up this tea for this year.

2011 Meng Song Man Lv Early Spring Arbor Tree Sheng

Production Year	2011
Production Season	spring
Production Region Factory	Yunnan, Meng Song, Da Mang Lv Village Ming Yan Hao
Style	Sheng
Size	100g, 15g
Price per unit	$25, $5
Product #	6hpuerh2011ml

(Buyers who contacted us for this tea but didn't get it due to our moving are welcome to contact us again and buy up to one cake or up to two 15g samples at last year's price.)

2000 CNNP Green Stamp Sheng

Production Year	2000
Production Season
Production Region Factory	Yunnan information not available
Style	Sheng
Size	357g, 50g, 10g
Price per unit	$40, $7, $2.50
Product #	6hpuerhzcly00

This cake has a wrap very similar to that of the 1998 CNNP 7542 Sheng below. Why? See here for more information.

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	$80, $14, $3.5
Product #	6hpuerhzc754298

1996 Xia Guan Butterfly Spring Tuo Sheng

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	$160, $35, $7.5
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.

Updates from the manager:

To potential buyers - sorry for distracting you with all these dramas. But we thought when considering an expensive tea, it's important for you to get all the warning messages. Our goal is not just selling tea, but selling tea that make people happy. Even if you eventually decide they are "false alarms", it doesn't hurt to hear of it before your purchase. In this TeaChat discussion, the person who thought this tea is moldy posted a photo of this tea (photo shows a sample of about 1 square inch) as "evidence". In the same discussion thread, I explained why that is by far Not mold. To me is not a "belief". It's a plain fact. But I would encourage all potential buyers to take a look at the photo. And if you think that is mold, then you may want to hold back from buying this tea.

From the manager:

Although I strongly disagree with the steepster comment at the following link, I would like to point to any potential buyer to this comment before the purchase, because we would rather you read this before your purchase instead of after it. Besides, we strongly suggest that a sample purchase is made before the purchase of a whole cake. We are in no hurry of selling this product. And we don't encourage buyers to buy a whole cake in a rush. Even if this product is sold out someday, we promise we will keep offering other good options of dry-stored puerh.

Here is the product feedback page on steepster. In one of the comments, the writer believes this tea is "extremely wet stored."

http://steepster.com/teas/life-in-teacup/18868-1996-xia-guan-butterfly-spring-tuo-sheng-250g

And here is my comment (which couldn't show up on steepster yet due to the recent system obstacles of steepster.com)

"I respectfully disagree. I believe it's not about who to disagree with, but what opinion to disagree with.

I can only guess the "white stuff" you are talking about is the crystallization on the surface of the tea. The formation of crystallization on the surface of old tea is significantly different from white mold. Even the crystallization is tiny and modest in my eyes, and probably one has to be very sensitive to feel the cake is "entirely covered" by it. This tea doesn't have a taste of wet storage. In fact, that's what some wet-stored-puerh lovers complain about this tea - they think the storage of this tea is too dry for their taste preference. To be honest, I thought it's pretty easy to distinguish a purely dry-stored tea (like this one) and an "extremely wet stored" tea. And I had thought the major complaint received by this tea would be its "too dry" taste.

Mold is the number 1 thing we try to avoid for any of our puerh. Without being against wet-stored puerh, we choose to deal with dry storage puerh only. Although there are some wet-stored-puerh lovers, we choose to cater to dry-stored-puerh lovers."

The purpose of posting the comments here is not arguing with anybody, but rather making potential buyers aware of various comments before purchases of whole cakes are made.

It's our goal to make buyers happy not just upon the purchase, but also after their purchase. Therefore we would like any potential buyer to be aware that this tea is commented as "extremely wet stored" by some tea drinker, and is also commented as "too dry" by some other tea drinkers. It's a little puzzling how these exactly opposite comments were made on the same tea. But we would like buyers to know that there are such various comments, among numerous other positive comments we've received from tea drinkers who just like this tea.

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	$15.99, $4
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.

2005 Lao Lin Cang Ancient Arbor Sheng

Production Year	2005
Production Season	Spring
Production Region Factory	Yunnan Lao Lin Cang Tea Factory
Style	Sheng
Size	400g, 50g, 15g
Price per unit	$60, $8, $3
Product #	6hllcgqm2005

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, 50g, 20g
Price per unit	$35, $6.50, $3
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, 40g, 10g
Price per unit	$14, $8, $3
Product #	6hddhy2010

View more photos and information about this tea...

2002 CNNP French Export 7581 Shu Puerh Brick

Production Year	2002
Production Season
Production Region Factory	Yunnan CNNP Kunming Tea Factory
Style	Shu
Size	250g, 50g, 10g
Price per unit	$50, $12.99, $4
Product #	6hcnnp75812002

2005 Guan Zi Zai Sheng Yi Wu Jing Xuan (Premium Choice) Ancient Tea Cake

Production Year	2005
Production Season	Autumn
Production Region Factory	Yunnan, Xishuangbanna, Yiwu Guan Zi Zai
Style	Sheng (Raw) Manually pressed on a traditional stone mill.
Size	400g, 50g
Price per unit	$40, $7
Product #	6hgzzywjx2005

Please see more information of this tea here.

Meng Ku Rong Shi （勐库戎氏）2007 shu puerh loose tea

Production Year	2007
Production Season	Spring
Production Region	Yunnan, Lingcang, Mengku
Factory	Meng Ku Rong Shi
Style	Shu (Ripe)
Size	100g (3.4 oz.)
Price per unit	$7.99
Product #	6hmkrsshu2007

Please see more information of this tea here.

2005 Bu Lang Mountain Big Tree Silver Tip Cake Sheng

Production Year	2005
Production Season	Spring
Production Region	Yunnan, Meng Hai, Bu Lang
Factory	Meng Hai County Bu Lang Village Tea Farmers' Co-op
Style	Sheng
Size	200g, 50g
Price per unit	$40, $12
Product #	6hblyhb2005

2009 Guan Zi Zai Xiao Man Cake Sheng

Production Year	2009
Production Season
Production Region	Yunnan
Factory	Guan Zi Zai
Style	Sheng
Size	125g
Price per unit	$25
Product #	6hgzzxm2009

2009 Guan Zi Zai Xiao Man Cake Shu

Production Year	2009
Production Season
Production Region	Yunnan
Factory	Guan Zi Zai
Style	Shu
Size	125g
Price per unit	$25
Product #	6hgzzxmshu2009

Mini Shu, pack of 10 (about 4.5 grams each mini tuo)

Production Year	2007
Production Season	Spring
Production Region	Yunnan

Style	Shu (Ripe)
Size	about 45 g (1.5 oz.) 10 x 4.5 g
Price per unit	$4.5
Product #	6hmini

Moonlight White

Production Year	2010
Production Season	Autumn
Production Region	Yunnan, Jing Mai

Style	White Tea
Size	1 oz. (28g)
Price per unit	$4.5
Product #	6iygbjm

Brewing method: 3-3.5g leaves in 4 oz. teapot, brewed with newly boiled (hottest possible) water. Around 1 minute for each of the initial infusions. You can aim at seven infusions or more when brewing in gongfu style. When using a larger teapot, increase the amount of the leaves OR the infusion time.