This episode, Denny and James drink a clean, friendly ripe from Healthy Leaf. The leaves purportedly come from Bulang.
https://healthy-leaf.com/product/bu-lang-ancient-tree-2012-bu-lang-gu-shu/
Author: James
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Some Thoughts & Problems With Traditionally Stored Pu’erh
85-90% of the tea being sold is young pu’erh, and the remainder is almost exclusively ripe or 5-10 year old semi-pu’erh. Old-school, traditionally stored pu’erh is an afterthought or an afterthought of an afterthought… This sort of tea can be hit or miss and more of an acquired taste for many.. For me, it’s always been a tea category I personally enjoy and turn to on a regular basis (~25% of the time). I also think if you can find decent examples it is well-worth exploring. As “traditionally stored” implies, this is a style of pu’erh that has been around for a long time. The pu’erh scene has changed and this sort of tea isn’t viewed fashionably or favorably as other sorts of pu’erh (this is not just restricted to the west). (more…)
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2015 Hailang Hao Bianxiang Suiyihao Ripe Pu’erh via YS [Inbetweenisode 164]
This episode, James brings on a premium ripe pu’erh from Bulang mountain. This tea normally sells in large 1kg bricks. Thanks to Scott for providing the tea!
7.3 rating.
https://yunnansourcing.com/products/2015-hai-lang-hao-bi-an-xiang-sui-yi-hao-ripe-pu-erh-tea-of-bu-lang-mountain
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Leafy Green’s Heavy Roast Dongding [Episode 260]
This episode, Denny and James bring a heavy roast Dongding onto the show. Leafy Green is a relatively new vendor who sources some of their teas from Chen Hauying, a Taiwanese tea producer.
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Tsuen’s Uji Fujitsubo Gyokuro [Episode 259]
This episode, James brings on a tea purchased on his recent trip to Japan. The tea is from Tsuen, one of the oldest teahouses in the world established in the year 1160. Gyokuro is a shade-grown Japanese green tea. Brewed with a very high leaf to water ratio and a low temperature, this tea is very strong, potent and intense.
This Fujitsubo Gyokuro is also available on O-Cha.
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Western Vendor Pu’erh Prices at Conception have Risen Since 2011 (& Probably Before)
It’s common in the pu’erh-verse to note the seemingly always rising price of freshly produced tea. Every year more expensive than the last… Even with the limited scope of western-vendor labeled pu’erh, we can take a quick look at the Way Back Machine and glance at what pu’erhs were selling for a few years ago and compare it to 2017/2018 prices.. It’s also an interesting exercise to look at old Half-Dipper reviews and realize that a lot of tea is simply no longer available. It used to be noteworthy when a fresh cake sold for three figures, now it’s commonplace. Those times are gone.. Oh and that cake is probably 200 grams… (more…)
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Indoor vs. Outdoor Pu’erh Storage & Aging Cigars Compares w/Aging Pu’erh [Inbetweenisode 163]
In this episode, James is joined by recurring guest Garrett for another long conversation on pu’erh.
The first half of the conversation involves a post written by James on Indoor vs. Outdoor Storage and some of the implications on home storage.
The second half of the conversation involves Aging Cigars and how the scenes compare. They discuss the different stages of cigar aging, the importance of temperature, dew point, etc.
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2014 Hunan Heicha Tianjian Basket Tea via Jonny [Episode 258]
This episode, James & Denny review a Hunan Heicha generously provided by Jonny. The tea is tippy, but brews quite smooth and the profile is some combination of oolong and pu’erh. Very interesting and enjoyable tea! Big thank you to Jonny for the tea!
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2002 Tailian International Pu’erh Tea Expo Raw Pu’erh via YS [Inbetweenisode 162]
This episode, James brings on a Kunming dry-stored raw pu’erh blend from Yunnan Sourcing, the 2002 Tailian International Pu’erh Tea Expo Raw. Thank you to shah and another tea friend for sending this sample at different points.
6.3 rating.
2002 Tai Lian "International Pu-erh Tea Expo" Anniversary Raw tea Cake
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Everlasting Tea’s Experimental White Tea [Episode 257]
This episode, Denny and James, review a Taiwanese white tea, sold by Everlasting Teas. The tea is a little atypical as Taiwan doesn’t . tasty with a lot of fresh white tea notes. A very nice change of pace from our usual diet of oolongs and pu’erh. Big thank you to Sammy for providing the tea.