Category: Long-form Podcast
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Pu’erh Storage Explainer [Inbetweenisode 212]
The history of storing pu’erh.
Pu’erh storage terminology.
Storing pu’erh in the US or Europe.Pu’erh is a tea grown in Yunnan for export to Hong Kong and other parts of southern China and southeast Asia. Here it was stored by vendors for consumption. For many decades, this was done in a process that is referred to as traditional storage. But at some point this changed and people began to store pu’erh in different climates with different methods.
There are a few common pu’erh terms typically used to describe storage (12:57). I also explore a few of the major challenges in storing pu’erh in an inherently different, colder, and drier climate.
Voices:
Garrett ( https://www.instagram.com/islikewater/?hl=en )
Kelsey Schergen: http://www.kelseyschergen.comReferenced:
http://www.marshaln.com/2011/01/traditional-not-wet/
http://www.puerh.fr/en/article/vesper_chan.htm
https://www.banateacompany.com/pages/storage.html -
Aging White Teas & Aged Whites w/Char (Oolong Owl) [Inbetweenisode 211]
In this episode, I have a conversation with Char, best known for her popular blog Oolong Owl. This is a longer video and we cover quite a range of material. We begin by talking about the the different types of white tea and their aging trajectories, where the aged white tea has been aged thus far, and finishing by discussing a few of the different school of thoughts on aging white tea and how a hobbyist might decide to do it.
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Storing Pu’erh in North America (& The West). Pu’erh Storage Q&A [Inbetweenisode 207]
This episode, I answer a series of questions sent in about pu’erh storage. This is one of the more hot button topics in the west.
Over the course of the episode, I give some context on how pu’erh storage has been stored in east Asia, and talk about what I find to be acceptable parameters. Also talked about are how my teas have been aging in the 5 years I’ve stored them here in Seattle. Many more questions answered as well.
Thank you for those who sent in questions!
Mentioned:
Marco’s Hotbox, https://mgualt.com/tealog/2018/08/04/temp-control-experiment-w2t-bosch/ and https://mgualt.com/tealog/2019/07/20/storage-experiment-2016-w2t-bosch-two-years-in/Washington Progress Report and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9oflRNrCOM
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Pu’erh Collection Trajectories & Regrets [Inbetweenisode 205]
This episode Garrett talk and reflect on pu’erh collecting, including different trajectories towards your pu’erh stash. We finish by talking a bit about regrets and things we would’ve liked to know earlier on in our tea journeys. We don’t drink tea in this episode but if you are into spreadsheets and the nerdier aspects of just thinking about collecting pu’erh this is a good episode for you.
Mentioned:
https://www.mrlovenstein.com/images/comics/1092_objectified.png
http://www.marshaln.com/2013/06/hitting-hard-with-a-hammer/ -
Deep Dive: An Exploration of Temperature & Heat Retention [Inbetweenisode 189]
This is a non-tea drinking episode that explores a topically related topic to tea. In this episode, I perform a series of very simple tests that explore the interaction between heat and a number of various factors.
I use a variety of different devices (small gaiwans, large gaiwans, yixing, larger pots) and measured temperature immediately, after a minute, and then after five minutes. These experiments were repeated a few times.
Topics explored include pre-heating, does yixing retain heat more, high pours, filling up half your vessel and how quickly you may want to reboil your kettle.
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Storage Deep Dive featuring 2007 YQH Lingya [Inbetweenisode 183]
This episode is my second deep dive into looking at the storage . I recently acquired a cake of Lingya from a non-Yang source in Taiwan and decided to compare it with the tea I’ve been storing. The first cake is a cake I’ve kept in my own pumidor storage (an unplugged wine cooler) for three years and was previously acquired from Yang. The second cake is one that I’ve stored in a pumidor for a year in a half and then on my shelf in a ziploc for another year in a half. This is the cake I’ve consumed out of and I’ve drank up around half of it. The final cake is the aforementioned cake acquired from Taiwan.
The tea featured is the 2007 YQH Lingya Yiwu. In my opinion this is a very decent Yiwu and I enjoy drinking it quite often.
The episode is set around a mix of visual examination/narration and direct comparison. I begin by taking a look at dry leaves and the humidity generated by them. I then compare the three teas with each other, before concluding with a wet leaf examination and some overall thoughts/takeaways,
If you are are pu’erh nerd or at all interested in storing pu’erh I think you will enjoy this episode. If you want to learn more about storage conditions, please check out some of our other storage related content.
Feedback for this episode is highly appreciated!
From Yang/Fridge/Shelf Rating: 7.5.
From Yang/Wine Cooler Rating: 7.7.
From TW/Non-Yang Rating: 6.1.If you missed it, please check out the deep dive on the storage of the 2006 Chenguanghetang Yiwu Yecha .
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Garrett Post-Taiwan Travel Recap [Inbetweenisode 180]
In this episode, Garrett and I discuss his recent trip to Taipei and some of his tea-related adventures. We talk about teas he was interested in and ended up buying, meeting up with tea friends, and communicating with teashops abroad (+a creative solution).
You can see the pre-Taiwan episode here.
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Garrett Pre-Taiwan Travel Diaries [Inbetweenisode 171]
In this episode, we discuss Garrett’s upcoming trip to Taiwan in September. We talk about shopping for tea abroad, what he hopes to buy, and some aspects of traveling there.
After he returns from his trip in late September, we plan to do a recap episode.
