TeaDB

Category: Tea Learning

  • Not Quite so Young “Yiwu” Raw Pu’erh [June 2015 Tea Drinking Report]

    Not Quite so Young “Yiwu” Raw Pu’erh [June 2015 Tea Drinking Report]

    Big shoutouts to Dignitea and Brian (double B) for providing teas for this month and allowing the content to be what it is!

    Welcome to Part 2 of the overly-indulgent Yiwu report. Part 1 was young teas and was composed principally of western vendor’s own productions. This month represents a portion of not quite sp young teas, marketed and sold as Yiwu. With a little over 20 teas, it’s shorter than last month. As most pu-heads know the landscape has been very dynamic in the last 20 years. Even though much of the tea from this month is only a few years older than Part 1, it’s a very different era. I’m also going to be preemptively splitting my Menghai County report into two (July and August). (more…)

  • Pu’erh Buying Categories. A Few Common Approaches.

    Pu’erh Buying Categories. A Few Common Approaches.

    In 2007, it was estimated that as much as 95% of the pu’erh purchased was for storage and speculation, and not actual consumption (Zhang, Ancient Caravans). Psychologically free of tea going bad, pu’erh-heads are known to go a little purchase crazy. People buy and store pu’erh for many different reasons. Some of us buy as we go. Others store pu’erh as a hobby to see what might happen. Others simply store pu’erh because we bought too damn much of it! (more…)

  • Bana Tea’s 2009 Sanhe Hao & 2014 Red Yiwu — TeaDB James InBetweenIsode Episode #34

    Comparison of two excellent teas from the same farm in the Yiwu area. Thanks to Carrie for kindly providing the Red Yiwu and Linda Louie of Bana Tea for providing the Sanhe Hao!

    http://www.banateacompany.com/pages/puerh_teas.html

  • Tin vs. Straight from the Cake.. 2013 YS Xiangming — TeaDB James InBetweenIsode Episode #33

    This week’s inbetweenisode is a comparison using Yunnan Sourcing’s 2013 Xiangming. One of the brews has been tinned for the past few months, whereas the other was freshly broken off.

  • “Yiwu” Raw Pu’erh [May 2015 Tea Drinking Report]

    “Yiwu” Raw Pu’erh [May 2015 Tea Drinking Report]

    Big shoutouts to Carolyn, Richard, Dignitea and several vendors for providing teas and others like Shah8 for their recommendations! A brief disclaimer: This report should be taken as my own personal journey into tea and not as the ultimate, definitive anything.

    WTF Part 1!? These reports have been getting progressively longer. Rather than do something sensible, (a) get an editor to reduce flab and misspellings or (b) allow my mom or girlfriend to chuck out samples/stage an intervention… I stuck my middle finger out and indulged.. That’s right! This report is even longer than the previous one and will be released in two installments. The first will cover the young tea and the second will consume the Yiwu with some age (somewhat arbitrary set as 8 years). (more…)

  • 2012 Yiwu Purple (YS) & 2012 Cangyan Gufeng (W2T) — TeaDB James InBetweenIsode Episode #31

    Comparison of two cheaper teas supposedly from Yiwu. The Cangyan Gufeng is mistakenly referred to as being from 2013.

  • What is Pu’erh?

    What is Pu’erh?

    This article heavily references Zhang Jinghong’s book, Ancient Caravans & Urban Chic. Do yourself a favor and read her book!

    At the height of the pu’erh craze in 2007, the Simao prefecture changed its name back to Puer. At the same time, a ceremony was arranged to welcome back the Golden Melon Tribute Tea back to its supposed birthplace in Simao. This event was not without controversy and was not well-received in the neighboring Xishuangbanna. The Golden Melon’s base material was from Yibang (located in Mengla County, Xishuangbanna) and Xishuangbanna-based people felt that their association with pu’erhs history had been compromised and hijacked. Many also complained the name change would lead to confusion, because pu’erh was primarily known and marketed as a tea. (more…)

  • Sampling Pu’erh. A Few Considerations

    Sampling Pu’erh. A Few Considerations

    What’s in the bag?? For people trying to explore pu’erh, sampling is inevitable. A sample is a good, albeit imperfect way to learn and get a feel for a tea. Pu’erh is an endless subsection of teas with various makes, source materials, storage etc. and while repetition is also very important, it’s also a good idea to sample widely to experience the breadth that pu’erh offers. Here’s a few considerations to keep in mind while sampling. (more…)

  • Tin vs. Straight from the Cake.. 1990s HK Style Raw Pu’erh via White2Tea — TeaDB James InBetweenIsode Episode #27

    This week’s inbetweenisode is a comparison using the 1990s HK Style raw pu’erh sold by White2Tea. One of the brews has been tinned for the past few months, whereas the other was freshly broken off.

  • Zhang Jinghong’s Puer Tea: Ancient Caravans and Urban Chic

    Zhang Jinghong’s Puer Tea: Ancient Caravans and Urban Chic

    This is a review of Zhang Jinghong’s Puer Tea: Ancient Caravans and Urban Chic. Please also check out TwoDog’s review. More people need to read this book. Seriously!

    What is authentic pu’erh? This question is constantly asked in Zhang Jinghong’s challenging and informative Ancient Caravans and Urban Chic. Similar to other buzzwords like artisan or specialty, authenticity is frequently used as a term to push a product (tea or otherwise). The pu’erh world is very guilty of this. It’s no secret that the pu’erh world is full of lots of bullshit and misinformation that are just there to sell tea (read an ebay description). It’s a marketplace built on flat-out lies (ummm..) and numerous softer, difficult to verify lies (i..e why are all the trees ancient and wild?). Zhang’s book attempts to do the impossible and unpack the endless maze of perspectives and opinions in the pu’erh world. (more…)