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
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Comments
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.
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!
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.
Berylleb offers quantities as small as 50g.
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.
For those who may be interested, the price of this 2009 cake was just reduced:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/322138808078
oh, thanks!
I hope you found it in time. It was briefly reduced to $35.
Very unfortunately, this vendor has currently raised the price to $80!! Perhaps because its just before Christmas or because of this positive review?
At $80 (> 2x the prior sale price) for a single 357g cake (= $0.224/g), this shou is clearly no longer a good value.
Too bad. I have removed it from my shopping list.
$40 was a very good price considering wholesale prices right now. I am talking to a wholesaler about picking up a case!
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.
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!
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.
Berylleb offers quantities as small as 50g.
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.
For those who may be interested, the price of this 2009 cake was just reduced:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/322138808078
oh, thanks!
I hope you found it in time. It was briefly reduced to $35.
Very unfortunately, this vendor has currently raised the price to $80!! Perhaps because its just before Christmas or because of this positive review?
At $80 (> 2x the prior sale price) for a single 357g cake (= $0.224/g), this shou is clearly no longer a good value.
Too bad. I have removed it from my shopping list.
$40 was a very good price considering wholesale prices right now. I am talking to a wholesaler about picking up a case!