89

This story begins a year ago when I was about to throw this tea out. I smelled it – dirt. I brewed it – dirt. I tasted it – dirt. Things were not going well, and this tea and I were not seeing eye-to-eye.

Luckily, I stuffed it in with my ripe pu’erh stash and figured it deserved a second chance at some point.

Between now and then, something happened – the tea changed, I changed, we both changed… I don’t know, but I really like it. Yeah, it still has a lot of earthiness, but that earthiness has depth and dimension – sweetness, dry Irish stout-like body, notes of cherry wood and carob. There are even camphor notes that waft through your nose and make the whole thing just a fascinating experience.

You could tell me this was some really old, fairly expensive ripe pu’erh, I would believe you. In fact, I would buy this over quite a few ripe pu’erhs I have purchased.

Really glad I hung on to it. Well worth a re-purchase.
*
Dry leaf: earth, potting soil. In preheated vessel – carob, wet bark, hints of camphor.

Smell: cherry wood, potting soil, carob, camphor.

Taste: wet earth, cherry wood, carob. Irish stout-like body with a dry richness and subtle sweetness. Hints of camphor weaving throughout.

tanluwils

My guess is these liubaos need time to acclimate and settle in their new environment. I like them a lot more than ripes because there is always something unexpected. Chawangshop and EoT also have a really excellent range of liubao that are processed more like raw pu’er and have good age.

apefuzz

I’ll have to check out those two vendors. I’ve browsed through their stuff, but haven’t pulled the trigger on anything yet. Can’t seem to get away from YS’s great prices.

tanluwils

Same. Plus, Scott has way more of a selection. I always assume there’s more hidden gems to be found.

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tanluwils

My guess is these liubaos need time to acclimate and settle in their new environment. I like them a lot more than ripes because there is always something unexpected. Chawangshop and EoT also have a really excellent range of liubao that are processed more like raw pu’er and have good age.

apefuzz

I’ll have to check out those two vendors. I’ve browsed through their stuff, but haven’t pulled the trigger on anything yet. Can’t seem to get away from YS’s great prices.

tanluwils

Same. Plus, Scott has way more of a selection. I always assume there’s more hidden gems to be found.

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Rating info:
100 – I haven’t found the perfect tea yet!

92-95 – So good that I will purchase this tea again, guaranteed. Excellent flavor and value.

88-91 – A tea that I would consider purchasing again at some point. Great flavor and value.

85-87 – Tea that was worth the purchase and that I enjoyed drinking, although I probably won’t be purchasing it again any time soon. Flavor may have slight drawbacks, or the price might be a little expensive.

80-84 – A tea that has some good points, but falls a bit short on its price:quality ratio. Flavor is a bit mediocre.

No rating – I did not like this tea and would not drink it, given other options.

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Cincinnati, Ohio, USA

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