Courtesy of a exceptionally kind Steepster friend, my wife & I were able to experience this 8-yr old shou.

Leaf Color – Chocolate brown with gold tips throughout.
Fragrance – mild, sweet
Aroma rinsed leaves – winey, keemun-like
Aroma 20 min post rest – keemun, sweet fine pipe tobacco
Brewed aroma – faint keemun
Liqueur – Dark chocolate brown, thick, viscous with a sheen.

Taste – Full-bodied, thick, rich, round, and ultra-smooth. As one would expect with a 8-yr old premium cake, there wasn’t any bitterness, acidity, fishiness or funk. There was mild astringency that didn’t increase with additional cups of this shou. Perhaps, the quantity of leaves (16.8 g) may have been the cause of it? Perhaps, a slightly lower temperature?

Flavor profile – I was in keemun heaven! This shou reminded me of the best crop-year of Teavivre’s Premium Keemun that I’ve tasted. I was quite surprised and pleased!

Impression – This shou is a bold robust invigorating morning cup that tastes like a full-bodied keemun rather than pu-erh. Keemun lovers rejoyce! “You can have your Pu-erh & Keemun too!” :-) This is an excellent shou.

16.8g / 6 oz / 205° / 60s preheat / 60s warm leaves / 10s rinse / 20 min rest / 5s / 5 / 5 / 5 / 10 / 20 / 40 /80

Preparation
17 g 6 OZ / 177 ML
Sqt

I’m a bit upset I read this tasting note. The mention of keemun flavors means this is yet another shou I need to get it and my spending is getting out of control.

looseTman

I’m sorry my review has caused you some distress. Have you seen this discusdion thread?
https://steepster.com/discuss/5244-tea-buying-hiatus-support-group?post_id=147904#forum_post_147904
We’re all a bunch of enablers here!

Sqt

Ahahha yes that thread might be needed at some point but I am not willing to admit that just yet! At least with puerh we don’t have to worry about degradation over time, that’s my current excuse to keep buying :)

I may have to find some steepsters over in Europe that are interested in group buys and/or trades so I’m not always buying an entire cake of everything.

looseTman

Berylleb offers quantities as small as 50g.

Sqt

I’ll have a look, thanks. Last time I wanted a sample for a specific tea they were all out so I hadn’t considered it again.

looseTman

For those who may be interested, the price of this 2009 cake was just reduced:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/322138808078

Sqt

oh, thanks!

looseTman

I hope you found it in time. It was briefly reduced to $35.

looseTman

Very unfortunately, this vendor has currently raised the price to $80!! Perhaps because its just before Christmas or because of this positive review?

looseTman

At $80 (> 2x the prior sale price) for a single 357g cake (= $0.224/g), this shou is clearly no longer a good value.

Evol Ving Ness

Too bad. I have removed it from my shopping list.

TeaLife.HK

$40 was a very good price considering wholesale prices right now. I am talking to a wholesaler about picking up a case!

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Sqt

I’m a bit upset I read this tasting note. The mention of keemun flavors means this is yet another shou I need to get it and my spending is getting out of control.

looseTman

I’m sorry my review has caused you some distress. Have you seen this discusdion thread?
https://steepster.com/discuss/5244-tea-buying-hiatus-support-group?post_id=147904#forum_post_147904
We’re all a bunch of enablers here!

Sqt

Ahahha yes that thread might be needed at some point but I am not willing to admit that just yet! At least with puerh we don’t have to worry about degradation over time, that’s my current excuse to keep buying :)

I may have to find some steepsters over in Europe that are interested in group buys and/or trades so I’m not always buying an entire cake of everything.

looseTman

Berylleb offers quantities as small as 50g.

Sqt

I’ll have a look, thanks. Last time I wanted a sample for a specific tea they were all out so I hadn’t considered it again.

looseTman

For those who may be interested, the price of this 2009 cake was just reduced:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/322138808078

Sqt

oh, thanks!

looseTman

I hope you found it in time. It was briefly reduced to $35.

looseTman

Very unfortunately, this vendor has currently raised the price to $80!! Perhaps because its just before Christmas or because of this positive review?

looseTman

At $80 (> 2x the prior sale price) for a single 357g cake (= $0.224/g), this shou is clearly no longer a good value.

Evol Ving Ness

Too bad. I have removed it from my shopping list.

TeaLife.HK

$40 was a very good price considering wholesale prices right now. I am talking to a wholesaler about picking up a case!

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

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Bio

My wife and I enjoy shou that:
- is Full-bodied, thick, rich, creamy smooth
- produces a full-mouth feeling with a long pleasing finish
- w/o obvious acidity, astringency, or bitterness
- Retains this profile & is complex enough to enjoy for multiple steeps

Notes of interest:
- natural rich chocolate (as opposed to too bittersweet cocoa)
- honey, caramel, stone fruits, sweet potato, barley, fresh baked bread

Notes not of interest: Floral, vegetal, woody.

Cost-effective organic teas or teas that meet the EU Food Safety Commission Pesticide Maximum Residue Limit EUROFINS are greatly appreciated. Many people drink tea for the anti-oxidant health benefits. So why would health conscious tea lovers drink tea that contains pesticide residues?

Complete steeping instructions on the bag are greatly appreciated:
tsp. (g) / oz. / temp. / rinse? / min. for both Western & Gongfu brewing.

Our recent orders have been from: Yunnan Sourcing, King Tea Mall, Whispering Pines, & Arbor Teas. Kudos to them as they have all been extremely helpful.

Our cupboard doesn’t include the many greatly appreciated samples generously provided by Steepsters’s favorite tea suppliers and by several very kind Steepster members.

Current Gogng Fu Brewing Method:
20g / 6 oz / 205° / 60s preheat / 60s warm leaves / 5s rinse / 5 min rest / 5s / 5 / 7 / 10 / 15 / 20 / 25 /30 / 45 / 60. Every two steeps combined in a sharing pitcher.

High quality water is essential for excellent tasting tea.
Our 450’ well provides hard water. For details see: http://steepster.com/looseTman/posts/176233#comments.

Solutions:
#1. Rainsoft water softener with
Q2 computerized control valve

#2. Abundant Flow Water
Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water System with an Impact Alkaline re-mineralization filter
Model: Zeta RO: https://www.afwfilters.com/drinking-ro-systems/6-stage-alkaline-zoi-zeta-reverse-osmosis-system-16.html
Includes:
- Dow Filmtec TFC R.O. membrane
- Omnipure Inline Post filter
- Impact Alkaline Filter
All filters made in USA & NSF-Certified.
-———————————
Options:
- Aquatec ERP-500 & ASV 2000
- 3/8" Output
- HM Digital DM-2 TDS meter

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