Noble Mark Ripe Pu'er Blend 2011 from Mandala Tea

Noble Mark Ripe Pu'er Blend 2011

Tea type
Pu'erh Tea
Ingredients
Not available
Flavors
Creamy, Earth, Malt, Sweet, Smooth, Apricot, Dried Fruit, Leather, Chocolate, Fruity, Bread, Cream, Mushrooms, Nuts, Wet Earth, Wood, Bamboo
Sold in
Not available
Caffeine
Not available
Certification
Not available
Edit tea info Last updated by Jason
Average preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 0 min, 30 sec 6 g 5 oz / 147 ml

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57 Tasting Notes View all

From Mandala Tea

We are so happy to offer this Mandala Tea exclusive ripe-style pu’er tea to our fine customers everywhere!

This blend of ripe pu’er leaves come from spring-picked old plantation trees that are between 60 and 80 years old. Grown without pesticides or sprays, this is just pure, clean tea from one of the most pristine growing areas in southwest China.

We carefully selected 4 sizes of expertly-crafted ripened leaf from this plantation and blended them to make a very well-balanced tea. The majority of the blend (around 70%) are smaller leaves which will give up more flavor in earlier infusions with the remaining 30% coming into play in later infusions.

The result is an incredibly well-balanced tea. Rich and creamy in flavor and aroma without overbearing earthiness, this tea hits the mark and is now one of our most favorite ripe teas. And judging by our customer response, others think so too!

We are impressed with the clarity of the tea liquor produced from this leaf as normally, ripe leaf this young makes for a cloudier brew.

Brew it up short and sweet or loud and proud, this tea will not disappoint. In fact, it will tickle all your ripe tea drinking fancies!

About Mandala Tea View company

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57 Tasting Notes

50
2291 tasting notes

This one was also from Dexter. Unfortunately it’s one I don’t like nearly so much as the Special Dark.

The flavour was just too… something. A little honey improved it, but I ended up dumping the cup. My mom will probably like this one as its a stronger, smoother puerh with a similar flavour profile to one she has and likes.

I’ll probably try this one again, but… I won’t be too fussed if I don’t like it. There are other teas I love. :)

(I did a rinse and tried 2 1 minute steeps. Didn’t care for either.)
2 comments
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Dexter
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I’m sad that you don’t really like it. This is my favorite Mandala pu’erh.
I’m happy that you got to try it and find out for yourself which YOU prefer so that when/if you decide to order some you can choose the ones you love. :))

OMGsrsly
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Something about it just didn’t work, but I can’t describe it. I think my mom would like it a lot more so that’s where it’s going. :) I might still end up ordering some for her.

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284 tasting notes

Maybe one day Dexter3657 will come and make me pu’erh and I will at once understand everyone’s awe at this and I, too, will marvel at its deliciousness. Until then, dexter3657 should stop sending me pu’erh samples for they are wasted. Wasted.

Dry leaves smelled fishy to this novice. I rinsed longer than I should have probably, just to get rid of as much as I could. Then I steeped, multiple times. Now I have to caution you that in this case tea tasting does not equal tea drinking. First steep, wood. Second steep some sort of sea water. Third steep much of the same. And on it went.

Where is this cream, chocolate and berries?!? Where’s the caramel?

The moral is this. I shall no longer try to drink pu’erh until I have detailed steeping instructions, and maybe someone who knows what they’re doing next to me. Cause, like with most recipes, just reading the instructions doesn’t always mean everyone can have yummy results.

Dexter3657 thank you so much for showing me I am not ready for pu’erh, much less for Mandala.
4 comments
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Sil
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Haha at least you tried!

Garret
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Sorry to hear that you did not enjoy your experience with this tea. But we at Mandala have way more teas than just ripe style pu’er. I am wondering if you have had the opportunity to try raw style pu’er tea. It is an entirely different tea. Many raw style pu’er purists do not care for ripe at all. Raw teas are alot of fun and they are the type of pu’er that really ages (if stored well) – 10, 20 years is far from unheard of. A completely different experience with aroma and taste (and energy, too) than that of black style pu’ers.

I’d recommend giving raw tea a shot. My biz partner, Jamie, is all about the raw style pu’ers.

I’m also curious about what you are using for water when you make your tea. This can have a HUGE impact on aroma, flavor and overall experience.

Thanks for the write-up!!

Garret

Nxtdoor
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Garret, thank you for your comment and advice. I have only tried your silver buds raw pu’erh, again courtesy of the generous Dexter3657. You’re right, that one did not taste so frightening as the ripe one, but I would in the future like to get to a place where I am able to enjoy both. Unless the taste for one means you don’t care for the other. I don’t know.

As for water, since you asked, i know you will cringe but I use tap water. The water where I live, north of toronto, is quite good when compared to other regions. I use spring water at the cottage and while I can taste the difference, I have to say it is not always for the better. For the financial bracket I’m in and the amount of tea I drink, purchasing bottled spring or filtered water is crazy talk.

Dexter
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How in the world did I miss this tasting note? I’m really happy that you tried it, you don’t have to love it – but this is AMAZING Pu’erh – IMHO If you don’t like this, you just aren’t going to like ripe pu’erh. Yes the raw is different – and yes you can love both. Wow fishy – me thinks that if you find this fishy you should just be happy with the experience – and don’t go playing with the cheap icky stuff (now that’s fishy).
I don’t think you can do this one wrong, that’s why I sent it to you. I’ve steeped this at temps and lengths that would probably make lots of people cringe – it always works for me. Shrug, dunno I love you don’t have to.

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95
Recommended
134 tasting notes

Warm and rainy afternoon today, so I have been having a nice session with a sample of 2011 Noble Mark Ripe Blend send by Garret with my last order from Mandala Tea. A very smooth and silky pu’erh with none of the harsh edges. Very much what one reviewer here on Steepster called a “gentleman shu” — with a tad of elegance and only a hint of earthiness below the surface.
Rich, balanced flavor with hints of cedar coming into later steepings. A really exceptional blend to introduce newcomers to pu’erh without scaring them away.
Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 0 min, 15 sec
2 comments
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Garret
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Brother, I am so glad that you tried and liked this tea! This has been my first tea of the day, every day, for over 6 months. I just don’t want to stop drinking it! And I guess I don’t have to! We had 320 250gram cakes pressed and 150 pounds of it in loose leaf. Just secured the same ratio of the various leaves from the same processor of this years ripened tea, too. It’ll be interesting to see how it differs. Thanks for writing it up!!

E Alexander Gerster
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Hi Garret. Such a great tea! I will be putting together a new order soon, and this one is on the list… Shared a few of your teas with Alex Zorach who runs RateTea.com, and we have discussed several through Google+. He might be contacting you for samples since he really has been loving those I shared. One day I am going to have to come drink tea with you, :)

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93
301 tasting notes

This has been a lovely Mandala Tea weekend for me- Black Pearls (one of my new favorites) on Saturday and Noble Mark on Sunday. Doesn’t get much better than that when it comes to enjoying fine tea.

The dry leaf has an earthy aroma just as one would expect from a pu’er. One large tablespoon (after two very quick rinses) in 8oz boiling water for 30sec for round one; round 2 for 45sec; then combined in my 16 oz Zojirushi travel mug. Infusions 3 and 4 (1 min each) were just as enjoyable a few hours later. The tea has an appealing combination of flavors – chocolate, fruit and a little cream yet a bit earthy as a pu’er usually is.

This pu’er is delightful – silky, smooth and solid texture with slightly sweet aftertaste; a dark reddish brown color; and good for multiple enjoyable steeps. It left me wanting more so what could be better in a pu experience?
Preparation
Boiling 0 min, 30 sec
2 comments
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Terri HarpLady
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Love me some Mandala teas!

DigniTea
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I definitely agree and his new three cake special is on the way to me right now with my requested sample of the Wild Monk.

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77
7 tasting notes

Well I guess it would be unfair to claim I don’t like ripe pu’erh anymore.

I’m sluggishly preparing myself for my closing shift tonight and figured I’d give this one a try, now I’m on my third steeping.

I really enjoyed this one, thanks to Dexter for putting it in the tea box!
2 comments
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Sil
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yay! i enjoyed this one a bunch

Garret
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Believe it or not, since I made created this blend last year, this has been my first tea of the day everyday. Srsly going on a year of being obsessed with it. The cakes that I had pressed on 10/25/2012 are really opening up now, too. Gettin’ good.

Thanks for writing about it! I appreciate it. Tea ya later!

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100
18 tasting notes

This is my favorite tea right now. I have tried puh’ers in the past, but I have often been overwhelmed by the hay like aromas of many ripe puh’ers. I realize that ripe pu’ers are an acquired taste, but Noble Mark is really a smoother and more mellow version of this type of tea. I do prepare it a bit differently than most would, as I do one ten second rinse followed by steepings of 30 seconds, 1 minute, 2 minutes and finally five minutes at 208 degrees. This was the result of experimenting with the tea a bit. I really like the results that I got! The longer steepings give me a dark cup of tea that is not too overwhelming, but at the same time the flavors are much more complex than pu’ers that I have tried in the past!
Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C
2 comments
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Garret
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This is wonderful to hear! Noble Mark has been my first tea of the day for almost 8 months now! When I created this blend I was so happy with it. Still am… moreso as it gains some age. The cakes that I had pressed of it are also aging nicely and beginning to really open up flavor/complexity-wise. Over the next one to two years, the cakes will overtake the loose leaf insofar as the complexity. Amazing the changes that occur from the steaming and pressing. You may want to try the cake sometime, too!

Thanks so much for taking the time to write your thoughts down on this tea.

Gracias,
Garret

Stw83
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I actually have the cake version! I didn’t realize Noble Mark was loose leaf. I will have to pay more attention next time I review a tea!

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85
353 tasting notes

This is a very mellow pu’erh tea that I quite enjoyed for several infusions. It’s soothing. I haven’t really been a fan of ripe pu’erh teas but I quite liked this one. It has a very smoky and heavy flavor that was absolutely delicious.
Preparation
0 min, 30 sec
1 comments
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Garret
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Thank you so much for taking the time to write up your thoughts on this tea. I am really happy you are enjoying it. I just secured all the leaves to make this same blend for this year. It’ll be interesting to see how they differ.

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92
Recommended
104 tasting notes

I feel very awkward submitting my first tea tasting note. I do not have the ability to tell what sort of taste undertones that a tea may or may not have. All I can tell you is if I like a tea or not. Nor am I a great writer who can write flowing reviews (I am an engineer). Now with that disclaimer, here we go. As you can read in my bio, I love pu’er tea. I got hooked on pu’er when I visited Shanghai with my wife in 2008. When I first tasted this tea I was right back in Shanghai at a very nice dinner that we had in the French Concession. The flavor is bold with multiple, yet unknown to me, undertones. This is the tea I fell in love with and will be buying more.
Preparation
200 °F / 93 °C 0 min, 30 sec 1 tsp 8 OZ / 236 ML
1 comments
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Garret
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Excellent! I am so happy that you are enjoying this tea! When I made the blend, I knew it was going to be a fave. I’ve been drinking this as my first tea of the day for many many months. My fiance’ is equally hooked on it :) A match made in heaven.

Don’t worry about putting it into words as far as flavors and all of that. I am much the same way. I know if I love something or don’t. I don’t need fancy words to describe aromas or flavors. More often for me, it is the feeling that a tea evokes in me that is important. The 6th sense, if you will.

Thanks for writing your thoughts and for reviewing this tea, my friend!

Grateful,
Garret

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39 tasting notes

I had this last night…I actually didn’t like this nearly as much as some of the other ripe offerings mandala offers…tonight I’ll try the year of dragon and see how that one is…
0 comments
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91
Recommended
359 tasting notes

I took a trip to India, Sri Lanka, Morocco, and Spain, all in one afternoon…went to the spice boutique and smelled some of the most tantalizing and unusual blends. I’m almost as addicted to spices as I am to tea!

Among a bunch of stuff I just couldn’t say no to, I bought my favourite cinnamon sticks, highest grade available from Sri Lanka.

The first time I tried it, I felt like I’d never really tasted cinnamon before. It has nothing to do with the stuff you find in grocery stores. It’s sweeter, more refined and sophisticated.

Every now and then, I like to add a stick in shou pu’erh.

This is how I’ve been drinking Noble Mark this afternoon. I stir the stick in my cup and leave it in as I drink. The flavours are just phenomenal.

Cinnamon is like a pu’erh enhancer. It pairs so nicely with its earthiness and its natural cocoa feel.

Having said that, Noble Mark is absolutely fabulous on its own, and doesn’t need anything added to it. It is smooth, with brothy and savoury mushroom notes, chocolaty and silky. It has non of those leathery or marine notes sometimes found in shou.

I just love it, another big Mandala winner!
21 comments
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Stephanie
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Noble Mark is superb

Dexter
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I too love cinnamon with shu pu’erh – I haven’t tried it with Noble Mark – I normally reserve this treatment for my “just ok” pu’erh – will have to try it with some of my favorite ones…
Glad you had a good time at the spice market.

MzPriss
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Loooove Noble Mark

TheTeaFairy
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Stephanie, it totally is!!!

Thanks dexter, it was fun :-)
Cinnamon and pu’erh are fabulous together. But I normally don’t do that, I was just too excited about my new spices!! Lol, Maybe some curry oolong on the menu tonight?

MzPriss, i think I equally loved Temple Stairs last night, as a matter of fact, I’m craving again tonight!

Terri HarpLady
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This sounds wonderful :)

MzPriss
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I love the idea of the cinnamon stick. I have to try that. I think the Temple Stairs is a sample I got from Garret that didn’t have a name for yet when he sent it. But yeah, Mandala makes my life a wee bit better every day because I always have a big fat long steeped cup of Special Dark in my baby-sloth-doing-yoga mug to start off my day – it’s yin-yoga in a cup. I have all the love for Mandala.

MzPriss
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OK, so after going back and forth trying to decide what to have for my middle of the night tea between this and Golden Orchid – I chose this. I did the cinnamon stick thing. TeaFairy – you’re a freaking genius! Cinnamon Noble Mark is full of win. This is just so perfect. And you’re right – it doesn’t need anything else – it’s so so good on its own, but dang it’s good this way. Thanks for this idea.

TheTeaFairy
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Lol, MzPriss, you are so funny :-)
Our “middle of the night” tea choices are crucial, they MUST be worthy, I’m really glad this works for you!!

MzPriss
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Yes ma’am – they are crucial and this was just so good. After this cup, I saved my cinnamon stick for later and put a big ole heaper of Mandala’s Back Beauty in with the Noble Mark leaves and steeped for 5 minutes and it was equally worthy. I <3 Mandala so much.

TheTeaFairy
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I’m so glad you are liking this. Now you know I will try the Black Beauty thing right? Creativity of the night ;-)

Terri HarpLady
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I need more black beauty!

Garret
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Heads-up! Saw this thread and wanted to let you know that I am going to announce the loose-leaf ripe pu’er sale Jamie just made. All our loose-leaf ripe pu’ers are going to be 50% off through 7/2. Thought you all should know first. Jamie is crazy to do this, but he’s the online guy!

TheTeaFairy
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Huh, what??? Hmmm, me think it’s a good time to stuck up…but, but, I JUST ordered!! Oh well, i’ll be ordering again, lol, that’s the story of my life!

TheTeaFairy
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And Thanks for the heads up Garret :-)

Garret
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I’m hoping the sale goes well. It gives people a chance to get some great ripe pu’er at a steal and we can gather some cash to keep more teas coming out of China. It’s one big wheel, isnt’ it? :)

TheTeaFairy
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Garret, I’ve sent you an email with my order. Woot, woot!!! What a great deal!!!!

TheTeaFairy
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Good luck, Hope your sale sky rocks, you guys are the best :-)

Garret
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TF! I just checked my email and no message from you, my dear! Did you send it to garret@mandalatea.com? Will you resend it and I can get your order ready to rock for your sweet self!

TheTeaFairy
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Yes, that’s the email I’ve used, it’s in my sent box. I just sent it again using my gmail account instead, maybe they go to your junk mail?

MzPriss
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@TeaFairy – YES try it with the Black Beauty, it is well, a thing of Beauty

And Garret – a lot of people have sampled some of your loose pu-ers recently in the unflavored TTB I started – so I bet your sale will do great.

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