AGEING INSIGHT: The Green Banana (Heat)

The effects of heat on the ripening process.

 

AGEING INSIGHT: The Green Banana

The Green Banana

Tips for the Serious Puerh Enthusiast

Tuition Tea

Tuition tea

 

The Resting Period

Seasoned clay pitcher used for resting the brew.

 

"Good things come to those who wait"

Violet Fane (Mary M. Singleton) 1892

 

Charting the Evolution of Age Puerh Tea

Have you ever considered how an age puerh tea evolves over time? What would constitute as a benchmark in the drinkability of puerh tea at different stages of its maturity? As a puerh tea enthusiast and collector, how you see this playing out will greatly influence how you approach the selection of puerh tea for enjoyment and storage.

The charts below capture 4 general scenarios in the most basic form. What is true, false … possible or unrealistic? These are some of the beliefs and perceptions from puerh enthusiasts that I have come across.

 

Tips for the Serious Puerh Enthusiast

Tips for the Serious Puerh Enthusiast

 

A Reflection on the Transformation of Taste & Perception

  

The spectrum that exists within puerh tea is amazingly vast, flowing with complexity, subtle layers and nuances. Fine-tuning your senses to this unique spectrum and sensation opens your perception to a deeper appreciation and insight of puerh tea.

The Journey - An Evolution in Taste

 

An Observation of the Ageing Process Beyond Tea

I found this to be an interesting video and wanted to share it with those interested in the ageing process. The ageing and maturity of fine wine holds many similarities to puerh tea. The 2 categories are recognized and highly appreciated for the resulting maturity of their products however what is less discussed is that the capacity to improve over time does not apply across the board. Furthermore it is only a limited quantity of the overall production under each category that has the potential to stand up to long term ageing from which the most sought after and prized transformation takes place.

 

The Nature of a Takeover

The world of fine tea, wine and whisky holds many similarities from connoisseurship and appreciation, to the challenges in retaining the identity of a specialty product under the pressure of growth and expansion from within the business. I firmly believe that we should not limit ourselves to only our respective field, much can be learnt and new perspectives gained by broadening our horizons. For those who are interested in the pros and cons of a takeover (or simply the hard commercialization of a business) and the impact on product quality under the push towards mass market appeal, this insightful recollection of the Glendronach whisky company will bring a sense of deja vu to many veteran puerh tea drinkers. For those who are starting out on their tea journey it will shed light on why it is so very important to empower ourselves as educated consumers.

TOP TIPS: Starting a Puerh Tea Collection

 
A collection of old teas

TOP TIPS: Comparative Tea Tasting

Comparative tea tasting is an excellent practice for learning about tea. It can greatly enhance your perception and appreciation of tea.

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!

ENTER

Reflections on the Future of Modern Style Puerh Tea

 

Beautifully packaged and engineered by design to be compliant to a wider audience ... but are we seeing signs that the modern style of puerh tea is fraying at the edges. Has the intent to satisfy commercial interests compromised the traditional values of puerh tea?

My first encounter with the modern style of puerh tea came in 2005 at a Chinese tea market in Kunming. During that time such teas were not taken seriously and were treated as a gimmick which often resulted in them being offered to new tea drinkers. The market sentiment was very different during those times. It was a speculative market with fast money and investing in puerh tea provided a roller coaster ride of emotions. The vast majority of buyers were Chinese and there was strong demand for puerh tea that could potentially make future profits. Buyers wanted puerh tea that was age worthy and that would give them a return on their investment. The modern style of puerh tea was an unknown quantity and its docile qualities were so different to the standard puerh tea at the time that some even questioned whether it was genuine puerh tea. The hardcore Chinese buyers were dismissive of the modern style of puerh tea and as a result the more competitive buying revolved around traditional and renowned production batches by established factories like Menghai TF, Xia Guan TF and Kunming TF.

Old Tea – Beyond Taste, Aroma, Flavor

Photo credit goes to www.splendidtable.org

Tea enthusiasts who take the time to appreciate and respect their experience with old tea will find the experience can be deeply spiritual and profound. By paying our respect to the memories and meaning that the tea represents we open ourselves to another dimension of appreciation and enjoyment. Old tea is a representation of their respective era, the state of society from olden times shaped by key historical events and ideology. Furthermore an old tea can also represent something deeply personal and in the instance below a beautiful reflection of a life.

I greatly enjoyed the following podcast/article and wanted to share it with my fellow tea enthusiasts. The account reminisces beautiful memories of a unique life lived by Francis Lam’s grandfather through drinking an old puerh tea that was left to him as an inheritance. Tim Hsu kindly prepares the tea and provides guidance during the course of the tea session.

Podcast (from 15.30 - 30.30min)
Article

Brewing Tip – The Benefits of Double Steeping

 

To “Double Steep” is to consecutively steep the tea twice, combine the results before subsequently serving the tea. It is a simple practice that has many benefits when utilized in the right way. Here I share a few common situations that can benefit from double steeping and thus enhance our enjoyment of tea.

Understanding and Appreciating the Qualities of Age Tea

Very old Guang Yun Gong teacake, 40+ years old

An increasing number of tea enthusiasts are interested in age tea and have started collections with the hope of nurturing and aging their own tea. Being a tea collector myself of almost 20 years I can attest that it is a wonderful and fulfilling hobby. In this article I would like to share my experience through what I have encountered with the process of aging and the qualities that are enjoyed in age tea.

Tea Auctions – The Value of Antique Tea

L: 1910s Song Pin Hao, M: 1950s Red Label, R: 1950s Liu An Tea Basket – Understanding the Chinese market and the human element allows us to see the value of antique tea. (Source of photos from L & H Auction Hong Kong)