My first "big" order of sheng. Suggestions?

[Stinkis]

Hey there tea afficianados.

I am going to order a batch of sheng from yunnan sourcing I am thinking 2 beengs and ~8-10 samples. Beeng 1 will be a 2007 7532. For the second one I am looking for a mid range sheng (~$20-35) that is easy to brew and not too rough. (though leather and tobacco and such are still welcome)

For the samples I would like a sample of all different types of sheng.

My experiences with sheng are:

2007 Menghai 7532 Raw - Best
2006 Menghai 7582 Raw - Good
2008 Menghai 7542 Raw - Good
2008 Menghai "Peacock of Menghai" - Decent

I also tried the 2008 Xiaguan FT "Happy Tuo". It was different yet good when I was in the mood. So far I have liked almost all kinds of sheng flavors except the "pruny" taste that I think the Peacock is tasting of.

Anyway, any recommendations what so ever are greatly appritiated.

Cheers

 

[ouch]

Uh oh. There won't be any turning back now.

 

[Stinkis]

Uh oh. There won't be any turning back now.

I think the point of no return was my first successful infusion of sheng.

 

[Stinkis]

So, after reading 10pages of SOTD I came up with this order. What do you guys think?

Beeng
2007 Menghai Tea Factory * 7532 * Raw Pu-erh Tea
2007 * Xiaguan "FT" #4 Premium Raw Pu-erh tea
2008 Menghai Tea Factory 8582 801 Raw Pu-erh Tea cake


Tuo 100g
2008 Xiaguan FT Nan Zhao tuo 100g
2008 Xiaguan "Dali Tuo" Raw Pu-erh tea tuo

samples
2009 Hai Lang Hao "Lao Man'E Wild Arbor" Pu-erh
2008 Xiaguan XY "8853" Recipe Raw Pu-erh tea cake
2007 Mengku * Mu Ye Chun * 002
2009 Guan Zi Zai * Jing Mai Wild Arbor Pu-erh tea

Cheers

 

[ambrose]

hey nice line up of teas!

 

[P_K]

Looks like a good lot. I think most people would add an 08 Xiaguan FT Mushroom tuo. You also might consider the 08 Xiaguan FT Exquisite Elegance.

 

[Scotto]

Personal preference and all that, but I thought the FT#4 was nasty, and I am not a fan of the Nan Zhao offerings either. Big thumbs up for the mushroom tuo, and I love the Exquisite Elegance as well.

 

[tea goober]

I,m enjoying the FT#4 as I,m writing this. To me it,s a really good tea.

 

[Hobbesoxon]

That's a nice order! I'm comparing it to my first order, and wincing in shame.


Toodlepip,

Hobbes

P.s. A vote from me in favour of the FT#4, but it's not stellar and you wouldn't miss it if you didn't order it.

 

[Maitre_Tea]

Another vote for FT #4!

In the same vein as the Instant Sensation, but with a little more body and sourness (but in a good way).

 

[ouch]

That's a nice order! I'm comparing it to my first order, and wincing in shame.

I'm guessing that when you placed your first order you didn't have the huge body of knowledge to draw upon that is now available to pu'er newbies thanks to guys like, well, you.

Now whether this information has saved me a fortune or cost me a fortune is subject to debate.

 

[Stinkis]

Thanks guys, nice to know I'm on the right track here. And as ouch said it's all because of all the great information available here on the forum. I noticed that after 2 kilograms of shipping they just added $5 per additional kilo so I realized that I should go more with the ouch philosphy of "a beeng is a sample".

Here is my new order, what do you guys think?

Beeng
2007 Menghai Tea Factory * 7532 * Raw Pu-erh Tea
2007 * Xiaguan "FT" #4 Premium Raw Pu-erh tea
2007 Mengku * Mu Ye Chun * 002
2008 Menghai Tea Factory 8582 801 Raw Pu-erh Tea cake
2008 * Xiaguan "Golden 8100" Raw Pu-erh tea cake * 357g
2008 Xiaguan FT "Exquisite Elegance" Pu-erh Tea


Tuo 100g
2008 Xiaguan FT Nan Zhao tuo 100g
2008 Xiaguan "Dali Tuo" Raw Pu-erh tea tuo
2008 Menghai V93 Premium Ripe Pu-erh tea tuo - Final try at shu (for a while atleast)

Are there some of these who are very similar?

Thanks for your feedback

Cheers

 

[silvertip beard]

You will be downright pleased with that order.

Welcome to the "Hook, Line, and Sinker" club!

They got me too...

The wealth of information here (and where the web leads) is outstanding. Thanks to the tea veterans here and elsewhere who show the way!

Cheers!

 

[netsurfr]

Thanks guys, nice to know I'm on the right track here. And as ouch said it's all because of all the great information available here on the forum. I noticed that after 2 kilograms of shipping they just added $5 per additional kilo so I realized that I should go more with the ouch philosphy of "a beeng is a sample".

Here is my new order, what do you guys think?

Beeng
2007 Menghai Tea Factory * 7532 * Raw Pu-erh Tea
2007 * Xiaguan "FT" #4 Premium Raw Pu-erh tea
2007 Mengku * Mu Ye Chun * 002
2008 Menghai Tea Factory 8582 801 Raw Pu-erh Tea cake
2008 * Xiaguan "Golden 8100" Raw Pu-erh tea cake * 357g
2008 Xiaguan FT "Exquisite Elegance" Pu-erh Tea


Tuo 100g
2008 Xiaguan FT Nan Zhao tuo 100g
2008 Xiaguan "Dali Tuo" Raw Pu-erh tea tuo
2008 Menghai V93 Premium Ripe Pu-erh tea tuo - Final try at shu (for a while atleast)

Are there some of these who are very similar?

Thanks for your feedback

Cheers

Nice order! The V93 shu is certainly a classic and worth trying if you have not had it before. It is a staple in the tea that I routinely drink. Here is another Menghai that is very nice: 2009 Menghai "Da Yi Gong Tuo" Ripe Pu-erh tea - 100g. This tea has no detectable fermented taste (at least to my palate) which is pretty amazing for a 2009 vintage tea. The Menghai tea factory must have done a very light fermentation on this one.

 

[Stinkis]

Nice order! The V93 shu is certainly a classic and worth trying if you have not had it before. It is a staple in the tea that I routinely drink. Here is another Menghai that is very nice: 2009 Menghai "Da Yi Gong Tuo" Ripe Pu-erh tea - 100g. This tea has no detectable fermented taste (at least to my palate) which is pretty amazing for a 2009 vintage tea. The Menghai tea factory must have done a very light fermentation on this one.

Sounds too good to ignore, I will add this one too.

I am thinking that I am a bit heavy on the Xiaguan brand. I am thinking of trading one on the beengs for a Menghai or something else, any recommendations?

Thanks for all the tips so far.

 

[P_K]

You just can't go wrong with the 09 Menghai 7542.

 

[Stinkis]

Beeng
2007 Menghai Tea Factory * 7532 * Raw Pu-erh Tea
2007 * Xiaguan "FT" #4 Premium Raw Pu-erh tea
2007 Mengku * Mu Ye Chun * 002
2008 Menghai Tea Factory 8582 801 Raw Pu-erh Tea cake
2009 Menghai Tea Factory * 7542 901 * Raw Pu-erh Tea
2008 Xiaguan FT "Exquisite Elegance" Pu-erh Tea


Tuo 100g
2008 Xiaguan FT Nan Zhao tuo 100g
2008 Xiaguan "Dali Tuo" Raw Pu-erh tea tuo
2008 Menghai V93 Premium Ripe Pu-erh tea tuo
2009 Menghai "Da Yi Gong Tuo" Ripe Pu-erh tea * 100g

This is it! This will be my order.

And I started out thinking my order would be 2 beengs and 8-10 samples

 

[ouch]

It always starts out that way.

 

[Stinkis]

So, when I told a college of mine that I was ordering tea from china he was interested too. He seemed to be mostly interested in oolongs but he wanted to try puerh so I put together a mix of different teas for him, what do you guys think?


Da Yi Brand Kamjove Portable Gong Fu Brewing Mug 300ml

Sheng:
2009 Menghai Tea Factory * 7542 901 *

Shu
2008 Menghai V93 Premium Ripe Pu-erh tea * 100 gram tuo
2009 Menghai "Da Yi Gong Tuo" Ripe Pu-erh tea * 100g

Oolong
Premium Tie Guan Yin of Anxi * Oolong Tea * 100 grams
Big Red Robe * Wu Yi Rock Tea * Fujian Oolong * 100g
Spring 2008 Phoenix Dan Cong * Orchid Nectar Aroma 100g
Osmanthus Oolong of Anxi * Fujian Oolong Tea 100 grams

Edit: anyone know if the portable gong fu brewing vessel is any good?

 

[expatCanuck]

That's a nice order! I'm comparing it to my first order, and wincing in shame.

I'm guessing that when you placed your first order you didn't have the huge body of knowledge to draw upon that is now available to pu'er newbies thanks to guys like, well, you.

Now whether this information has saved me a fortune or cost me a fortune is subject to debate.

A short debate, methinks. It's cost you a fortune.