Highlights:
- Dry storage (with pleasant aromas)
- Strong old taste and aftertaste
- Good patience
- Clean, steady, pleasant Qi
I got exactly 10 bricks from Mr Chen of this unassuming naked brick and promptly forgot them at the back of a cupboard. When I tried it a week ago I was actually very impressed by the quality. The leaves seems to be quite big and old (as in not an early spring picking) but there’s a lot of strength and patience in this, makes me think a fair amount of big/old tree is in there. Hard to say, as I don’t know almost anything about its origin. Taste (and Qi) are stronger (closer to a normal 80s cake) compared to Mr Chen old da ye “cultural revolution” brick.
Out of the 10 brick, one’s for us and 9 are for our 9 best customers as a thank you for supporting us. The price is nominal given the quality. You can drink it guilt-free often, it’s a great way to acquire the knowledge of orthodox dry storage old puerh taste, which will come in very handy when trying to buy old puerh.
Mr Chen thinks it’s from the 1980s, I think that’s about right (early 1990s at the very latest), but a part of me suspects it could be even older, it’s hard to tell with this leaves older/bigger than usual because tea with big leaves can feel older than it actually is. It certainly drinks like I’d wish a well aged tea to do: it’s dark but not dank, even somewhat fresh, very easy drinker, near a fully aged profile (without storage flavours).
250g bricks, weight loss over the years for aging. One brick per person, please.
Nick M. –
Immediately sweet and aromatic. Woody incense and a creamy note from the pot preface savoury, hazel-nutty flavours. Delicious and tacky-textured. From the get-go there’s a vein of residual acidity that’s palate-cleansing and provides a cooling sensation. Perfume lightly scents the bowl as the soup darkens, before the fresher, cooling character comes to the fore without losing any of its textural interest. I like the way this tea combines the savoury-sweet flavours of very old tea with the cooling and calming character of much younger teas. It’s fun, with a lot of the tea’s evolution happening within the first few brews, yet then keeps going and remains enjoyable into double digits.