Tuition Tea

Tuition tea

 

Photo Set – 1980s Menghai Tea Factory (Old Ripe)

 

A different level of ripe puerh tea.

 

Tea Session - 1997 Loose Leaf (Dry Storage)

Close up of a heavily kneaded tea leaf showing traces of dried sappy residue and micro-activity.

A Comparative Pictorial of Menghai Tea Factory (2003, 2011) – Part 2

 L: 2003 Purple Dayi Menghai Tea Factory R: 2011 Menghai Tea Factory 7542

A Comparative Pictorial of Menghai Tea Factory (2003, 2011) – Part 1

 L: 2003 Purple Dayi Menghai Tea Factory R: 2011 Menghai Tea Factory 7542

 

Tea Session - 1980s 1990s OLDIE Collection

 

 

Happy Holidays and my best wishes to all for the upcoming New Year 2021. I could not think of a better way to close out the year than with a tea session and on this fine occasion I am delving into the 1980s-1990s OLDIE Collection. 

Photo Set - 2001 Simplified Character Cloud (Menghai Tea Factory)

 

The 2001 Simplified Character Cloud represents one of the last great productions under Menghai Tea Factory from the old era. This special batch is well known amongst experience drinkers and much sought after by puerh enthusiasts who value the proven lineage of older Menghai productions. The traditional style of processing does not try to beautify the characteristics of tea in the way of the modern production and this can be clearly seen in the retention of the raw and elemental nature. The 2001 Simplified Cloud was not made for easy access. It is a hardy tea with strength and an uncompromising ruggedness that lends itself favorably towards long term ageing. At this stage the tea presents a rich malty profile accented by musky and savory notes. It is a boldly engaging experience that exhibits a dark elemental appeal.

 

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2001 Simplified Character Cloud (Menghai Tea Factory)

 

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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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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2010 Golden Needle White Lotus Ripe (Menghai Tea Factory)

The Golden Needle White Lotus (GNWL) series represent a line of premium ripe puerh produced by Menghai Tea Factory. The production can be traced back to the 1990s when GNWL was initially sold as loose leaf tea. This would later change in 2005 when the leaves were compressed into 200g mini teacakes. Subsequent years have seen the GNWL retain its compressed form with the size of the teacake being increased to the more standard 357g weight as represented by this 2010 version.

A Tea Session w/ the 1996 Purple Dayi (Menghai Tea Factory)

The Menghai TF recipe teacake consists primary of plantation leaves that are chopped, rolled and blended together. It is a category of raw puerh tea that has a proven history of successful long term storage.

The Changing Landscape of Tea and the 1996 Purple Dayi (Menghai Tea Factory)

 

The first production of the Purple Dayi series

The Influence of Weather on Tea – A Hot Summer

A blue sky that provides little shade from the sweltering sun means that rising temperatures are close to 40C in high humidity.

This year’s hot and humid summer in Bangkok has been stifling and things will only become more heated as we enter the peak months of April and May. As a result I can feel myself becoming more and more drawn to bitter and astringent teas as a means to help dispel the buildup of heat from inside the body. Over the years I have noticed this craving for bitter and astringent tea to come more regularly as the thermometer starts rocketing up. Despite tea being a hot beverage I find that brewing and drinking bitter tea is deeply satisfying to my body at this time.

Roasting the 2010 Menghai Hong Yun Puerh Teacake

 

The 2010 Menghai Hong Yun is a ripe tea that is compressed into100g mini teacakes. Inset: Roasting requires constant motion of tossing and turning to keep the little chunks of tea from burning.

1997 Loose Leaf (Dry Storage)

This 1997 loose leaf is an intriguing puerh tea. What caught my attention was that this tea represents one of the few very clean dry stored puerh teas of the 1990s going against the trend of traditional (wet) storage which was the general norm at the time. The character of this tea reminds me of the famous Menghai 88 Qingbing dry stored teacake. It is my belief that the combination of dry storage and leaf material made to the standard of Menghai Tea Factory are key contributing factors to this resemblance.

 Earthenware containers are slightly porous and make great containers for storing and aging puerh tea.

1990s Menghai Green Label

For a long time I drank tea rather indiscriminately without understanding how to optimize the benefits of this wonderful drink to match the lifestyle and constitution of my body. After encountering my own health challenges and improving my lifestyle I became very interested in health and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), often testing ideas by conducting experiments on myself. By being mindful of my body’s reaction throughout the day I have learnt to become more in tune with my body. The changes become very noticable during times when I am consuming food and drinking tea especially the after effects when the body is reacting to what has come in. As a tea enthusiast I enjoy drinking tea on a daily basis and I am always keen to observe how my body reacts to a certain tea under different conditions and environments. As someone who has a Yin constitution I find warming food more suitable towards maintaining my sense of well being.

The 1990s Menghai Green Label was stored under mild wet storage conditions. The tea is warming and grounding in nature.

1990s Menghai Orange Label (HK Private Commission)

These dark tea leaves possess both potency and stamina. A tea session can last upwards of 10 steeps delivering a deep and full bodied brew that is rich in taste and revealing soft layers of nuances and complexity.

2003 Chienyun Red Dayi Ripe (Menghai Tea Factory) - NA

The Menghai Tea Factory is the standard bearer for ripe puerh tea. Menghai is one of two factories that pioneered the production of ripe puerh and first introduced the tea to the market in the early 1970s. Over the decades Menghai Tea Factory have established a reputation for producing reliable to exceptional aged vintages of quality ripe puerh. Since the start of their operations Menghai remains the biggest and most reputable factory in China and internationally for ripe puerh tea.

2003 Purple Dayi (Menghai Tea Factory)

The 2003 Purple Dayi is one of a series of reproductions from 2001 to 2004 by Menghai Tea Factory to replicate the iconic 1996 Purple Dayi. The tea is old style Menghai production consisting of plantation raw material that is brutal in character. The tea is made for long term aging. The estimated time for storage is perhaps revealed by a story that tells of a tea farmer who produces puerh tea for his grandchildren to enjoy.