2018 Intrigue Sheng Puer from Crimson Lotus Tea

I first tasted Crimson Lotus Tea’s Intrigue Sheng Puer before release at PDX Tea Fest and it was my favourite tea out of the haul. Something, like the art, called to me. I recall the tea was thick with a great aftertaste, but something also just mysteriously sang to me in this tea, making it a standout. I was ready to buy it then but had to wait. When this tea was finally released, I made the purchase ASAP. I love this wrapper. I don’t know why, but the texture just vibrates with my brain, making it pleasing to the… Continue reading, hoot!

2018 Chirping Bird Sheng Puer from White2tea

Of all the White2Tea 2018 spring puer teas, 2018 Chirping Bird and Lucky Puppy caught my eye the most. I am ultra slow this year reviewing these new puer teas as I waited to have a bit longer time in China storage on young tea, then I waited for a sale. My tastes are expensive this year, so giving teas the best chance will make my buying choices easier. Unlike previous years, I could not sample the entire line or all of the expensive line. I would not have any money to buy a full cake if I did. 2018… Continue reading, hoot!

2018 Cactus Sheng & Mushroom Shou Puer from Puerh Panda

Today’s review is a pair of puer cakes from Puerh Panda. I have a Raw/Sheng and a Ripe/Shou Puer to review. First off, how cool are these puer wrappers??? I love them both! Puerh Panda’s 2018 Cactus Sheng Puer Cactus is a 200gram 2018 sheng puer blend. It is promised to be a pretty forgiving steeper. Each purchase of a cake gets a donation to Friends of Saguaro National Park, for Saguaro cactus and conversation research. Well if this tea is supposed to be bombproof, I’ll give it my all… well give it my usual since I tend to always… Continue reading, hoot!

2013 Golden Flower Dark Tea Fu Zhuan from Tea Art of China

Today’s review is a Tea Art of China’s 5 year old Golden Flower Dark Tea, also known as Fu Zhuan. This Fu Zhuan is of Anuha, Hunan origin. I love Fu Zhuan and it is a strange dirty tea. This tea is encouraged to be covered in mold, like blue cheese. I had samples off friends and I loved how the mold adds a spun honey flavour. Fu Bricks are also pretty affordable but harder to get your hands on. Funky heicha is one thing, but moldy tea generally makes people run for the hills. I bought an 800 gram… Continue reading, hoot!

2017 Ba Nuo Ancient Tree Sheng Puer from Meimei Fine Teas

Today’s review is a puer from Meimei Fine Teas – a 2017 Spring harvest, Ba Nuo Ancient Tree sheng. This tea is from the Mengku region, at Ba Nuo Villiage which has 100-300 year old trees. I am impressed with the amount of information Meimei Fine Teas provides about this tea, from harvest time, elevation, varietal (Mengku Da Ye), video of the trees, and photos of the fresh leaf and maocha before pressing. Leaf and Steeping Instructions The dry leaf of the 2017 Ba Nuo Ancient Tree Sheng Puer smells quite stone fruity and sweet. Like usual, I used 1… Continue reading, hoot!

2018 Enchantment of Ancient Trees Shou Puer from Bana Tea Company

Today’s tea review is Bana Tea Company’s 2018 Enchantment of Ancient Trees Shou puer. It is of 300 year old tree bulang material. The tea leaves were fermented with local mountain spring water and stored for 3 years before pressing. Bana Tea always has some of the best shous. I didn’t hesitate to purchase a 100gram cake for $39. I later realized, “Oh man, that is expensive for a shou!” The 100g cake is deceptive and smart, I don’t mind dropping $40 on a good shou. $80 for a 200g or $142 for 357g cake likely would have made me… Continue reading, hoot!

2018 Gu Yun Sheng Puer from Denong Tea

Today’s tea is Denong Tea’s 2018 Gu Yun Sheng puer. I don’t have much information on this puer other than this is a Menghai tea grown in Denong’s tea gardens. “2018 Gu Yun Raw. Made from ancient arbor material grown in our own tea gardens in Menghai, this tea’s taste satisfies those who are well acquainted with Pu-erh.” During the PDX Tea Festival I asked Jeffrey McIntosh his TLDR picks for Denong Tea‘s 2018 expensive line, he said the Nannou was good (but out of my price range) and his other pick is the Gu Yun. He said it is… Continue reading, hoot!

The Bitter End 2018 Spring Lao Man E Sheng Puer from Bitterleaf Teas

Early release, I purchased all three Bitterleaf Teas’ 2018 Spring Lao Man E teas – The Bitter End Lite brick, Bitter End, and Xtra Bitter maocha. Originally what I wanted to do was comparison drink all three teas but that would likely destroy anyone’s stomach lining from all the bitter. I’ve already reviewed The Bitter End Lite, which is the sweeter huang pian version. Today lets drink the regular Bitterleaf Teas’ The Bitter End 2018 Spring Lao Man E sheng puer. My Bitter End cake got aired out for a while, over the summer with my tea room being really… Continue reading, hoot!

2013 Xiaguan FT Love Forever Sheng Puer

Today’s review is the 2013 Xiaguan FT Love Forever Sheng Puer made by Feitai.  LOL this wrapper! Like.. what is this tea? Of pretty tea wrappers of the factory variety, most have a young woman on it, zodiac, birds, or flowers, not hot pink with hearts all over the place. Despite tea here in North America seems more of a gal thing, puer is heavily male drinkers. Heck, I know my blog stats and the majority of you readers are male. I guess the target for this Xiaguan Love Forever tea is a gift for a loved one, as I… Continue reading, hoot!

2018 Forgotten Nebula from Crimson Lotus Tea

Crimson Lotus Tea’s 2018 Forgotten Nebula is a Sheng Puer blend of 2018 Spring material.  What stands out immediately is that this puer cake has a killer wrapper so this tea is mighty tempting to get and frame. This wrapper is done by Jones Pitsker. Crimson Lotus Tea described Forgotten Nebula as a “mouth-watering sweetness that keeps on giving. It will surprise you how many steeps you can get from this tea.” Alas, I just have a sample of this tea. Another reminder of how awesome the Crimson Lotus Tea’s sample packaging is. These packets are perfect for the pumidor.… Continue reading, hoot!