1990s Guang Yun Gong

Done! Glad to see the end of this 1990s Guang Yun Gong teacake

The End of Hong Kong Traditional (Wet) Storage?

Hong Kong Traditional (Wet) Storage fundamentally is a process for conditioning young puerh tea under heat and humidity to age more quickly. This nurturing of microbial activity under the process can induce a white coating to form on the tea leaves. The resulting tea takes on a dark profile becoming soft and mellow, and developing a distinct age character that is unique to this tea category. - Photo 1990s Menghai Orange Label (HK Private Commission)

1990s Private Production

 

Old style heavy kneaded tea leaves and stone compression

Antique Puerh (Loose Leaf)

Old petrified tea leaves

The Journey - An Evolution in Taste

 

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.

The Beauty of Hong Kong Traditional (Wet) Storage

VIDEO: Capturing the splendor of age puerh tea nurtured under HK traditional (wet) storage

Hong Kong traditional (wet) storage is an often misunderstood category of tea. A lot can go wrong during the process and different batches vary greatly in quality. Finding traditional stored puerh tea done well offers a beautiful soft and mellow brew that is rich and deep in taste whilst retaining a level of complexity. The 1990s Menghai Orange Label (HK Private Commission) ranks amongst the best traditionally stored puerh tea that I have had the pleasure to drink. Placed under wet storage conditions for several years, the development of the teacake was not rushed ensuring that an even transformation occurred throughout the teacake. Awakening the leaves with boiling hot water releases fragrant aromas of talcum powder, age florals and wood accompanied by a heavier concentration of dark and age expression. The brew is rich and opulent, offering a thick mouthfeel with a pleasant sweetness and layers of age nuances. As the tea opens up, dark TCM emerges, dates, red wood, resins, vanillin, minerals within an array of dark organic herbs and root. The tea is warm and comforting, and as I focus on the full cup in front of me I am very content.

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1990s Menghai Orange Label (HK Private Commission)
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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.

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

1990s Private Production (Light Wet Stored)

This is a tea drinker's tea. Possessing a charming aged character and vivid flavors.

Brewing Tips: Opening Up the Characteristics of a 20 y/o Toucha

The remnants of a 20 year old petrified looking toucha I picked up from Hong Kong. The tightly compressed tea leaves have rigid and unyielding characteristics. Brewing this tea under normal circumstances gives a muted and lack luster brew. However once the leaves are sufficiently rested the tightness in the tea dissipates and the characteristics open up to reveal decent qualities.

The Influence of Weather on Tea – Dark Sky and Heavy Rain

A dark sky with clouds and the onset of a thunderstorm does not necessary have to be all doom and gloom. It can provide a perfect setting to enjoy aged and wet stored puerh tea.

1980s Bamboo Wrapped Melon - NA

This well aged puerh melon is estimated to be from the 1980s. The tea comes in a simple bamboo tube consisting of 5 pieces, bare and unadorned by labels. For an unlabeled puerh tea there is no hype, no marketing and no brand premium. As a result such a tea can be good value, adding a little excitement and mystery to our tea sessions. However at the same time unlabeled puerh can be a risky proposition for buyers as the quality of the tea greatly varies and is an easy way to pass off fake tea by dishonest merchants. With no written information to clearly reveal the production and origins of the tea an unlabeled tea is judged solely on the quality of the tea leaves and our experience from drinking them.

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.