Special Offer for the Holidays - Puerh Sale

A special treat for the holidays. My best wishes to all for the New Year in 2020. 

I have been thinking about offering something special in commemoration of my 20th Anniversary as well as for the end of year holidays. As I selected one old tea after another, this became the ultimate deep dive into the world of age tea. The Zen Collection is a truly unique opportunity to explore the category of age tea like never before. I have included historic teas from each decade starting from the 1950s to 2000s with tea samples representing a wide range of categories.

Photo Set - 1970s Fuzhuan Brick (People’s Unification Tea)

 

The rise of Chairman Mao Zedong and the early rule of the Communist Party in China is a monumental part of Chinese history. The 1970s forms part of a chaotic and transitional period in China that has always moved me. For me the rough and broken leaves aptly represent the hardship and struggles of the people facing poverty, famine, violence and internal strife within a changing society. The fact that these humble tea leaves have evolved and elevated their status and quality is a message of perseverance and hope. These old leaves impart a feeling of serenity, the beauty of the tea shines brightly through.

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1970s Fuzhuan Brick (People’s Unification Tea)
Tea Session - 1970s Fuzhuan Brick (People’s Unification Tea)

20th Anniversary Celebration & Giveaways

 

Full teacakes and bricks giveaway with your purchases.

20 years is a long time but looking back time really does fly when you are doing something you love. In 2000 I became immersed in the world of puerh and age tea. It became a single-minded pursuit that opened up a new world, taking me on the path of a deeply fulfilling journey that created amazing memories, opportunities and experiences. As I approach my 20th year as an avid tea collector and trader I am celebrating this landmark by making further additions to the FREE TEA SAMPLES CATALOG.  To mark this momentous occasion I am giving away full teacakes and bricks from famous brands and regions such as Menghai Tea Factory, Douji, Wisteria Tea House, Essence of Tea, Yiwu, Gua Feng Zhai, and (+-) 20yo age teas. Each item can be identified and assessed by their respective photos. For those with a sharp eye for age and quality, this is a great opportunity to seek out your tea treasures.

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Photo Set - 1950s Liu An Sun Yishun

Capturing the grandeur of old tea. Presenting a close up look at the beauty of the 1950s Liu An Sun Yishun and the historic pursuit for excellence. Premium leaf material combined with meticulous care in production and over half a century of maturation. This dark, heavy, sweet, viscous brew unfolds with layers of complexity that makes for a delectable experience.

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1950s Liu An Sun Yishun read more
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Through the Lens - Photo Collection 1

Appreciating the visual beauty of the tea leaf. A close up look at the beauty and transformation of various type/category of tea from different regions, at varying maturity of age, induced fermentation under the process of production and subsequent storage.

Tea Session - 1960s Liubao (HK Storage)

The age appearance of the 1960s Liubao tea

The history of Liubao can be traced back to China’s Qing Dynasty. Many sources credit the production of liubao tea as being the origin for the practice of “wet pile fermentation”. This process would transform the tea’s astringent character through warmth and humidity, inducing a unique course of fermentation that would result in a soft and mellow tea. The process of wet fermentation would later be carried over to puerh tea and altered leading to the production and emergence of ripe puerh tea in the early 1970s.

1990s CNNP 7581 Brick

“7581” classic ripe puerh tea from Kunming Tea Factory.

The different batches of 7581 produced can be hit and miss when it comes to quality. I find this particular batch to be one of the better ones. The age is noticeable making for a considerably more refined and pleasant experience. I enjoyed the touch of sweetness and creaminess in the brew. This is enhanced by a pleasing soft mouth feel and clean characteristics. Notes of talcum, Chinese medicine, soft wood a hint of minerality and earthy tones make up this well balanced brew. Drinking this tea feels pleasantly soothing and comforting on the body.

Educational Series - Comparative Tasting of Old & New Ripe Puerh Tea

Gong Ting (aka Golden Needle) is a special grade of RIPE that contains a high content of buds. Only select batches of ripe puerh tea is made in this way. The light brown shimmering on the teacake represents small buds that give a unique appearance to this special grade of ripe puerh tea. LEFT: 2010 Golden Needle White Lotus Menghai TF RIGHT: 1990s CNNP Private Production Gong Ting

Tea Session – 1980s Menghai Tea Factory (No Cover)

 

This 1980s teacake was obtained from Taiwan. The period touches on the trade friction between China and Taiwan following the historical conflict that saw both embroiled in a Civil War. Traders in Taiwan resorted to sneaking in Chinese goods by removing any obvious labels that could be traced back to the mainland. This puerh teacake and many others during the period would as a result have their outside cover removed as they were transported.

1980s Menghai Tea Factory productions are rare and the top batches command a small fortune at tea auctions. Whilst this teacake does not represent the best from the period it is a very decent example of an old Menghai tea and is still very expensive. I decided to add this tea to the - Free Tea Samples Catalog - to celebrate the start of 2019 and the launch of the new catalog. The teacake is not overly wet stored and retain sparks of liveliness amidst a dominant dark and age character. Despite its age the tea remains potent, possessing a certain vigor. It is these traits and the proven age worthiness from the lineage that makes the old production under Menghai Tea Factory (before the 2004 takeover) popular amongst tea collectors invested in long term storage.

2019 New Section - FREE TEA SAMPLES

GET MORE TEAS WITH YOUR ORDER

I am excited to introduce the Tea Samples Catalog to the blog. As a tea lover I have always enjoyed having access to new teas and collecting new experiences to cultivate and improve my understanding of tea. I hope to deliver both under this section and add greater value to tea enthusiasts who make their purchases here. The highlights include tea from Menghai Tea Factory, Wisteria Tea House, Yang Qing Hao, Douji, Essence of Tea and many more.

Starting 2019 I am making available these teas that come from a part of my collection. The list below is an assembly of various teas from my many trips to China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Malaysia and Singapore in addition to online ventures spanning almost 20 years. There is a wide and diverse range of teas to be found. As I bring more out from storage new installments will appear. There are some real gems in the mix. If you have a sharp eye combine with a good sense for spotting good teas you can add considerably more to your tea order. Have fun discovering new teas!

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