First Pu-erh

A tale of my first Pu-erh.

I had discussed with a colleague of mine who is a doctor of chinese medicine (with many actual years of experience) some health issues and after a lengthy discussion about the basics (where he mentioned several symptoms which surely exist) I decided that life is too short to not be open to new ideas...

Part of the "prescription" was Pu-erh tea for digestion.. and surprise.. this site included the instructions... (first shaving... now... grrrr)

I dropped by the chinese medicine store in chinatown and picked up a frisbee of what the nice lady behind the counter drinks several times a day. I figure I may as well differ to her experience.

I put some in a cup (lady at the shop said for drinking by myself I shouldn't bother with a pot) and three re-infusions later I am in love...

So dark and red.. but not bitter like most teas.. WOW!

Granaura said:

A tale of my first Pu-erh.

I had discussed with a colleague of mine who is a doctor of chinese medicine (with many actual years of experience) some health issues and after a lengthy discussion about the basics (where he mentioned several symptoms which surely exist) I decided that life is too short to not be open to new ideas...

Part of the "prescription" was Pu-erh tea for digestion.. and surprise.. this site included the instructions... (first shaving... now... grrrr)

I dropped by the chinese medicine store in chinatown and picked up a frisbee of what the nice lady behind the counter drinks several times a day. I figure I may as well differ to her experience.

I put some in a cup (lady at the shop said for drinking by myself I shouldn't bother with a pot) and three re-infusions later I am in love...

So dark and red.. but not bitter like most teas.. WOW!

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Sounds like you had a taste of a decent shu! Luckily for you, shu is dirt cheap! (pun not intended!)

I'm also a big fan of shu, but you won't find as much love for shu on the forums as there is for sheng. Both are excellent in their own ways, and are both more than worthy of giving a shot. My favorite shu is the 7262 recipe from the Dayi Menghai factory. Here's a link from Steve's amazing website; http://www.jas-etea.com/products/20...62-Ripe"-Pu%2derh-Tea-cake-%2d-357-grams.html

Steve is a regular poster here, and you can shoot him an e-mail or a pm for recommendations, help with your first purchase, and just answers to any questions you might have. I personally recommend getting his starter gaiwan and tea set; http://www.jas-etea.com/products/Starter-Gaiwan--and-Tea-Set.html
There's really no better package available to newbies on the internet.

Anyway, drink up, have fun, ask questions, and most importantly, hide your wallet, because this AD is far worse than any shaving AD!

thanks said:

Anyway, drink up, have fun, ask questions, and most importantly, hide your wallet, because this AD is far worse than any shaving AD!

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Here, here (clinking of teacups all around)!
Half of the reason for me starting a tea business was to support my new tea addiction disorder.
Seriously, I believe that the discovery of fine tea and particularly pu-erh is going to be a life-long learning experience for me. Not a day goes by that I do not learn something new. The Chinese call this Cha Dao (the way or path of tea); it is a wonderful journey that you will not regret having started. It occurs to me that this may be the definition of "addiction disorder." If I go back in the above text and replace all the areas where I talked about tea with straight razors, the paragraph still makes sense. Watch:
Seriously, I believe that the discovery of fine straight razors is going to be a life-long learning experience for me. Not a day goes by that I do not learn something new. The Chinese call this Straight Razor Dao (the way or path of straight razors); it is a wonderful journey that you will not regret having started.

netsurfr said:

I believe that the discovery of fine tea and particularly pu-erh is going to be a life-long learning experience for me. Not a day goes by that I do not learn something new.

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I loved tea for a long time, but I sort of stumbled into pu'er, mostly based on the recommendations of Scotto and as a result of reading Hobbes's wonderful blog. Very quickly it became apparent that what Steve says is true- it's a lifelong quest of infinite possibilities.

netsurfr said:

Seriously, I believe that the discovery of fine straight razors is going to be a life-long learning experience for me. Not a day goes by that I do not learn something new. The Chinese call this Straight Razor Dao (the way or path of straight razors); it is a wonderful journey that you will not regret having started.

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You should ask Steve about his special Bao Zhang house tea blend that mixes puerh & oolong !!!

Good grief Charlie Brown. I suppose I will never live that one down. hehe

netsurfr said:

Good grief Charlie Brown. I suppose I will never live that one down. hehe

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Nope !!! The idea of blending LBZ puerh with Bao Zhong oolong is so out there, it just might work - just kidding ! Btw, were you tea drunk when you typed Bao Zhang the first time ?

tieguanyin said:

Btw, were you tea drunk when you typed Bao Zhang the first time ?

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Had to be tea drunk! Or, from now on that is going to be my story at least.

netsurfr said:

Had to be tea drunk! Or, from now on that is going to be my story at least.

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Note to self: avoid posting on B&B when teadrunk !

I finally got around to taking a pic of the package?

The final line of the card says "China Yunnan Kunming Tongrun Tea Co., Ltd.

After 2 weeks I am enjoying tea more than I ever have before!

Any info on what I'm enjoying?

Take a picture of the tea so that we can see if it is raw or cooked. Is there a year on the packing? Often found on the flip side.

The Year looks to be 2005 (and some more symbols I don't know how to read!)

Here is a pic!

Hmm.. Do I need a better photo?

Bump? Anyone with info? It doesn't look cooked to me as the leaves are still greenish red once used...

Granaura said:

Bump? Anyone with info? It doesn't look cooked to me as the leaves are still greenish red once used...

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If that is the case, then it would be a sheng puerh. Any chance of posting a photo of the spent leaves? Alternatively, a pic of the leaves before they went in the pot/gaiwan may help.