Zendo and Haiku Ripe Puer from Mandala Tea

Back again with more incredible Mandala Tea shou puer! For today, I have mini touchas of 2020 Zendo and Haiku ripe puer. Mandala Tea ripe puer game is always strong and they ship fast for those in the US as they are in Minnesota. Mandala Tea’s 2020 Zendo Ripe Puer The material from Zendo is from Mang Fei mountain in Yongde county, Yunnan. I have the mini toucha as my sample, but Mandala Tea sells this tea also in 100 gram cakes and loose leaf form. Zendo’s leaves have an earthy and black licorice scent. For both shous, I went… Continue reading, hoot!

2020 Baby Dragon Sheng Puer from Crimson Lotus Tea

Today’s tea is Crimson Lotus Tea’s 2020 Baby Dragon sheng puer. Baby Dragon is “Slumbering Dragon lite” as it has a blend of wild Kunlu and other mountains to make it a bit more affordable. The wrapper artwork is A+. Stasia Burrington‘s work is enchanting! I only have a sample of this tea, so I do not have the wrapper art, but I do own a Baby Dragon shirt! Leaf and Steeping Method Unwrapping Baby Dragon’s packaging emitted a strong herby floral scent. Upclose in the hot gaiwan, the dry leaves smell of straw and bruised peaches. My young sheng… Continue reading, hoot!

2020 Mud Sheng Puer from White2tea

Today’s tea is White2tea’s 2020 Mud Sheng Puer. I purchased this sample as it sounded up my alley with promises of mega huigan (returning sweetness aftertaste). Yes, I know I’m way behind in the White2tea club but I am at the mercy of China Post. In the meantime, let’s drink some Mud. Leaf and Steeping Method Mud’s leaves have a honey sweet scent. As usual, a gongfu ratio of 1gram per 15ml vessel, steeped in boiling water. After a rinse, the wet leaves have a honey nut and tangy grass scent. Tasting of White2tea’s 2020 Mud Sheng Puer First and… Continue reading, hoot!

2020 String of Pearls Sheng Puer from Bana Tea Company

Bana Tea Company’s 2020 String of Pearls raw sheng puer is 5 gram Dragon Pearls from old growth trees in Mengsong, Xishuangbanna, Yunnan. I got one as a free sample with a previous Bana Tea Company order. Leaf and Steeping method The tea has a zesty wild honey vegetal scent. Compression on the dragon pearl is tight so I used the whole 5 grams, paired with a 75ml tea vessel. The easiest way to steep a tight compression tea like this is to use boiling water. Pour directly on the tea, pour out the rinse and leave the lid on… Continue reading, hoot!

Antwerp’s Placebo and Scarlet Fire Shou Puer from Mandala Tea

With the temperatures dropping, I am excited to get my shou game on! I love how shou warms me up on cold days, along with its comforting rich flavor. Today is a pair of shou from Mandala tea, who have some of the best shou and are based in the US. Both Antwerp’s Placebo and Scarlet Fire are available in cake (100g-200g) or mini tuochas – samples today are all mini tuochas. 2020 Antwerp’s Placebo Shou Puer Antwerp’s Placebo Shou is 2017 Menghai material, processed in 2018 and then pressed later. The mini tuocha has a sweet earthy scent. I… Continue reading, hoot!

2021 July White2tea Club feat. Guangzhou Storage Puer

White2tea has lovely natural storage located in Guangzhou City. The 2021 July White2tea club is a flex comparison between 2013 Yiwu sheng puer stored in Guangzhou and not Guangzhou. 2013 GZ Natural Storage Yiwu Sheng Puer The leaves have a bruised peaches and copper scent. As usual and for both teas, I used a gongfu ratio of 1 gram of leaf per 15ml of vessel size, steeped in boiling water. After a rinse, the leaves smell like a fruity pawn shop. First, Second, and Third Infusion: 2013 GZ Natural Storage Yiwu starts off light and sweet with a blur of… Continue reading, hoot!

2021 Seven Steps Sheng Puer from Mandala Tea

Mandala Tea has a number of incredible sheng that I hold dear to my heart, but also hold up as quality tea despite me drinking them very early in my puer drinking journey. Today, I got a sample of 2021 Seven Steps. I found the 2020 Seven Steps on their website, maybe this is a new one or a mislabel? Either way, this sheng is said to have some high tea energy, so let’s rock! Leaf and Steeping Method Seven Steps Sheng smells of amber incense and bruised apricots. My gongfu ratio is 1 gram of leaf per 15ml of… Continue reading, hoot!

2021 June White2tea Club feat. 2021 Hype Sheng Puer

Another year of HYPE! June’s White2tea club included a full cake of 2021 Hype Sheng Puer. The months White2tea includes a full cake is always a deal ($38 a cake vs $29.99 tea club price). Also included is a sample of 2021 Yesheng Gushu Baicha Maocha, which is available in cake form. 2021 Hype Sheng Puer from 2021 June White2tea Club The cake has a vegetal peppery scent. As usual, I used 1 gram of leaf per 15ml of vessel size, gongfu style with boiling water. The hot leaves have a steamed banana leaves scent. First, Second, and Third Infusion:… Continue reading, hoot!

2020 Honeybomb Sheng Puer from Crimson Lotus Tea

This is for all the sweet sheng drinkers out there – Crimson Lotus Tea’s 2020 Honeybomb Sheng Puer! Honeycomb is an inexpensive Jingmai blend of young and old trees as well as huangpian (yellow/ ugly leaves) material with a focus on having a sweet profile. Leaf and Steeping Method The leaf has a sweet weedy scent. As usual, I used 1 gram of leaf per 15ml of vessel size ratio, gongfu steeped with boiling water. After a rinse, the tea smells of maple leaves and hay. Tasting of Crimson Lotus Tea’s 2020 Honeybomb Sheng Puer First and Second Infusion: 2020… Continue reading, hoot!

2021 May White2tea club feat. 2021 Spring Old Arbor Sheng

I was awaiting the yearly The Thing Is / RIP Chicken mini cake, but this year White2tea pressed it into 200gram cakes for everyone to purchase, so instead our $$$$ fancy mini cake is a 2021 Spring Old Arbor. Leaf and Steeping Method The scent is vegetal with a bit acidic but mainly smells very fresh. I used a gongfu ratio of 1 gram of leaf per 15ml of vessel size, steeped with boiling water. 200f/ 93c also would have been a good choice in water temperature. After a rinse, the tea has a sweet bell pepper and pan charred… Continue reading, hoot!