We’ve not had a review of this in 9-10 years, so here’s mine! I bought 100g of this “1990s Rare Wild Arbor Ripe Puerh” tea way back in May of 2017, shortly after Tealux became Tealyra. And three months later I bought another 100g of it, so I must have liked it—but got distracted and didn’t drink much of it. The description from Tealux in this listing says it was harvested in 1991, so that makes it now a 33 year old shóu Pu’erh. And since this is a loose (uncompressed) máo chá, it has/had potential to age faster, although I’m not sure what that means for a ripe puer. I’ve mostly kept the first 100g in a filter paper-covered jelly jar in the dark at 55-60 %RH and ambient 70°F, as I sip along. The second 100g is unopened, in its mylar pouch. At this point, Tealyra no longer sells the stuff, instead offering a younger “1999s” successor, at almost the same price.
Today I brewed 5 g of tea in 8 oz boiling alpine spring water using a stainless steel tea strainer in a porcelain teacup for 5 successive 30-second infusions following a 10s rinse with the same water. The 6th and 7th infusions were allowed to go for 90 seconds. The resulting liquors were clear, clean, dark brown, and aromatic without any trace of fishiness, and although now a bit lighter in color, the 7th infusion is still chestnut brown in shade with a tinge of redness—quite potent in aroma and flavor. The aroma is reminiscent of my grandfathers springhouse and root cellar on his farm in winter: fresh, earthy and deeply of old wood and root vegetables. The flavor is full and satisfying, what some might describe as creamy in texture (but not taste), with a slight honey sweetness, notes of oakwood, leather, and black tea, and that indescribable taste I’ve found common to all the better shóu pu’erhs that I’ve tasted. I do like the flavor of bourbon, but unlike others, I am not getting that from this tea. There is a wholesome woodsy forest in the cup, without any rot or sourness or rancid fish. I am glad to have this, and will happily drink this on cold, lonesome, snowy weekend days to help me recall the warmth and love of long-gone relatives and the ancient farmhouse wherein they lived.
Thank you for indulging me and my drifting impressions and memories. I wish you a similar experience in your sippage!
Flavors: Forest Floor, Honey, Leather, Oak, Roots, Tea, Thick
What a lovely tea session and lovely memories to enjoy with it!