1990s Rare Wild Arbor Ripe Pu'erh

We’ve not had a review of this in 9-10 years, so here’s mine! I bought 100g of this “1990s Rare Wild Arbor Ripe Puerh” tea way back in May of 2017, shortly after Tealux became Tealyra. And three months later I bought another 100g of it, so I must have liked it—but got distracted and didn’t drink much of it. The description from Tealux in this listing says it was harvested in 1991, so that makes it now a 33 year old shóu Pu’erh. And since this is a loose (uncompressed) máo chá, it has/had potential to age faster, although I’m not sure what that means for a ripe puer. I’ve mostly kept the first 100g in a filter paper-covered jelly jar in the dark at 55-60 %RH and ambient 70°F, as I sip along. The second 100g is unopened, in its mylar pouch. At this point, Tealyra no longer sells the stuff, instead offering a younger “1999s” successor, at almost the same price.

Today I brewed 5 g of tea in 8 oz boiling alpine spring water using a stainless steel tea strainer in a porcelain teacup for 5 successive 30-second infusions following a 10s rinse with the same water. The 6th and 7th infusions were allowed to go for 90 seconds. The resulting liquors were clear, clean, dark brown, and aromatic without any trace of fishiness, and although now a bit lighter in color, the 7th infusion is still chestnut brown in shade with a tinge of redness—quite potent in aroma and flavor. The aroma is reminiscent of my grandfathers springhouse and root cellar on his farm in winter: fresh, earthy and deeply of old wood and root vegetables. The flavor is full and satisfying, what some might describe as creamy in texture (but not taste), with a slight honey sweetness, notes of oakwood, leather, and black tea, and that indescribable taste I’ve found common to all the better shóu pu’erhs that I’ve tasted. I do like the flavor of bourbon, but unlike others, I am not getting that from this tea. There is a wholesome woodsy forest in the cup, without any rot or sourness or rancid fish. I am glad to have this, and will happily drink this on cold, lonesome, snowy weekend days to help me recall the warmth and love of long-gone relatives and the ancient farmhouse wherein they lived.

Thank you for indulging me and my drifting impressions and memories. I wish you a similar experience in your sippage!

Great tea! I bought this from Tealux via Amazon. When I opened the bag the smell was a little… Off putting to say the least! It smells like a leaf pile and trees, like the smell when you walk up to an Oak tree and smell it, not cut wood but living tree wood. I brewed this in a Yixing clay pot after rinsing once. At first the flavour surprised me, still pretty leaf pile, grassy, but smooth! A nice creamy aftertaste and not astringent at all. I infused one more time, and this time the flavours were much more subdued but the aftertaste was still quite astringent. Would definitely reccomend you to try!

dexter sent this to me and uh it was what i managed to sip on most of the afternoon. this was a really tasty one….and something likely to end up on my list again when i order from tealux again. Dexter keeps finding little happy spots with them that i like. This might be one for you to try out cavo!

I was drinking this at work yesterday. This is really good – unusual, for me anyway.
I’m not even sure how to describe it. WOW smooth is where I want to start. Mellow, gentle, barely pu’erh. It’s just a touch earthy – and I don’t know what the rest of the flavor is, but I like it. It’s not really a black, it’s barely pu’erh, but it still has lots of flavor – just different from anything else I’ve tried.
If I ever get my cupboard under control, I would consider getting more of this so that I can play with it some more.