I had to try this Shu first. I may be at a loss for words but I know I’m going to ramble. The dry leaf to my German Shepard nose had little or no scent. My spider sense told me to rinse it and I am glad I did. The rinse was a dark, murky brew with sediment. The first brew was rich and complex. Not too earthy. Smooth. A few sips and I feel an incredible tea high creeping up. I am tasting the ancient library. It is by far the best Pu-ehr I have had. Perhaps the best tea period. A great tea on this dreary autumn day. As I look out my window to my backyard I see statues of The Virgin Mother, Her Son Jesus, and Buddha { A gravestone for my beloved Akita }. The leaves and Long Needle Pine cover the cold ground as they do every year. This tea is for today. It make you stop and look at the chrysanthemums and truly enjoy life. I am having a heightened awareness to my surroundings. A squirrel was burying something under the Monkey Puzzle Tree with such care. I thought of where this tea came from. The Good Earth. The people who nurtured it. Where was I ? Did I mention the second steeping ? I used less water in the Yixing. It was darker. A burnt orange brown. Flavor, you can only imagine. When I was making the third pot I noticed the leaves looked like they had 30 steepings left. Although I do not drink wine, I can only guess it’s like opening a bottle of vintage Chateau Margaux. My third steeping I used more water with a longer steeping time. A wonderful infusion. Lighter. It looks like I may not leave the house for a while. As I am drinking this I’m listening to Tom Waits " Last Leaf On The Tree". This tea has provided me with a beautiful experiance. At one point I was getting chills. A energy I have never had before. At another point I felt like crying because the tea was so great. I will cry if I cannot get more….
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It’s Heaven and Earth.
So you’ve found this… What great fortune for you, Charles. It is indeed the height and the depth of what tea can be. I myself do not have a single word to add, but here is a little something from Han Shan via Gary Snyder:
On top of Cold Mountain the lone round moon
Lights the whole clear cloudless sky.
Honor this priceless natural treasure
Concealed in five shadows, sunk deep in the flesh.
Geoffrey, it’s that good….
I just got that Tom Waits album yesterday and haven’t gotten to that track yet.
I’m supposed to be saving money to cover landscaping costs and holiday traveling but you guys are making me want to buy lots of tea.
Is this the oldest vintage you’ve had?
I will have to try this on my next Verdant order.
@Jim, yes this is the oldest vintage. And I too am buying a ton of tea. And loving it all. I bought the 1998 after the first steep. @Amy, I think I would recommend it….
I’ve purchased this one twice: http://camellia-sinensis.com/tea/fiche/?id=Pu+Er+1996+Chung+Cha and that’s the oldest one I’ve had at home to steep correctly, but I actually enjoyed this one quite a bit more: http://camellia-sinensis.com/tea/fiche/?id=Pu+Er+2002+Naka+%28Lahu%29 really unique and fascinating flavors.
I had a 1978 in a restaurant, but it was wasted because nothing that gave me to make it was remotely correct and it just tasted like nothing.
Thank you Jim. I bookmarked the page. Now for further adventures….
@ Jim, both teas that you suggested were sold out. I must admit they have some very interesting selections….
Sorry, those weren’t intended as recommendations, just discussion of old vintages.
Would you recommend buying from them?
The vendor is fantastic, yes.
thanks
Definitely a deep psychoactive experience with this one. Something in the vaporous quality of it. Its like a fossil fuel with deep condensed energy
I love this tea. I was lucky to purchase some while it was still available, & it is the best Shu I’ve ever had, an amazing experience, definitely reserved for days when I have nowhere to go & nothing to do but relax & enjoy being present.
Terri I bought a whole tin of it and then some….
I would have bought a tin if they’d had any left, but the tins were gone, so I bought the last of what they had :)
This is my best experience thus far also. I fear that I’m on the edge of becoming Gollum with his “Precious”. No other tea has been as curiously mystical.
Good to see you here Bonnie! :)
Funny you should mention Gollum, LOL, because I’ve been re-reading the Hobbit (again) & just read that chapter a few nights ago!
This is definitely the best Shu I’ve ever had, oops, I already said that, but it bears repeating!
Maybe the best Shu. Sheng are a whole other world….
Yes they are!
It’s Heaven and Earth.
So you’ve found this… What great fortune for you, Charles. It is indeed the height and the depth of what tea can be. I myself do not have a single word to add, but here is a little something from Han Shan via Gary Snyder:
On top of Cold Mountain the lone round moon
Lights the whole clear cloudless sky.
Honor this priceless natural treasure
Concealed in five shadows, sunk deep in the flesh.
Geoffrey, it’s that good….
I just got that Tom Waits album yesterday and haven’t gotten to that track yet.
I’m supposed to be saving money to cover landscaping costs and holiday traveling but you guys are making me want to buy lots of tea.
Is this the oldest vintage you’ve had?
I will have to try this on my next Verdant order.
@Jim, yes this is the oldest vintage. And I too am buying a ton of tea. And loving it all. I bought the 1998 after the first steep. @Amy, I think I would recommend it….
I’ve purchased this one twice: http://camellia-sinensis.com/tea/fiche/?id=Pu+Er+1996+Chung+Cha and that’s the oldest one I’ve had at home to steep correctly, but I actually enjoyed this one quite a bit more: http://camellia-sinensis.com/tea/fiche/?id=Pu+Er+2002+Naka+%28Lahu%29 really unique and fascinating flavors.
I had a 1978 in a restaurant, but it was wasted because nothing that gave me to make it was remotely correct and it just tasted like nothing.
Thank you Jim. I bookmarked the page. Now for further adventures….
@ Jim, both teas that you suggested were sold out. I must admit they have some very interesting selections….
Sorry, those weren’t intended as recommendations, just discussion of old vintages.
Would you recommend buying from them?
The vendor is fantastic, yes.
thanks
Definitely a deep psychoactive experience with this one. Something in the vaporous quality of it. Its like a fossil fuel with deep condensed energy
I love this tea. I was lucky to purchase some while it was still available, & it is the best Shu I’ve ever had, an amazing experience, definitely reserved for days when I have nowhere to go & nothing to do but relax & enjoy being present.
Terri I bought a whole tin of it and then some….
I would have bought a tin if they’d had any left, but the tins were gone, so I bought the last of what they had :)
This is my best experience thus far also. I fear that I’m on the edge of becoming Gollum with his “Precious”. No other tea has been as curiously mystical.
Good to see you here Bonnie! :)
Funny you should mention Gollum, LOL, because I’ve been re-reading the Hobbit (again) & just read that chapter a few nights ago!
This is definitely the best Shu I’ve ever had, oops, I already said that, but it bears repeating!
Maybe the best Shu. Sheng are a whole other world….
Yes they are!