All-of-a-sudden, it seems every brand has a Daxueshan [Big Snow Mountain]. Many thanks to ST for kindly sending this from the Orient.
We have small leaves abound (as below), some red/orange with age, and an excellent aroma of sweet pu'er. My dear wife and I pass the chunk of tea between us, taking enthusiastic sniffs. The sample looks as if it is the corner of a brick.
A satisfying orange/brown soup (seen below) already shows signs of age. A spicy, peppery and enduring scent leads into complex peaty flavours, with a sweet note above it all. There is plenty of chunky tobacco (which regular readers will know I adore), and a good huigan. Overall, there is plenty in the mouth, coupled with a vibrant, lively texture on the tongue.
This tea is like a younger version of that style familiar to old teas. That is, all old school teas seem to be of a very similar style: this style. It causes me to wonder how the various modern styles will turn out in several decades. With modern pu'er being so varied, I am fairly sure that no-one yet knows the answer to this puzzler. I'm looking forward to finding out.
Turning out the wet leaves into the chahe (shown below), many of them look green (as one would hope), but some are red, as if all-over oxidised - in the hongcha style. I wonder if a portion of these malty hongcha-processed pu'er leaves have been blended in to provide an additional kick to the flavour, and perhaps an artificial step up the aging ladder.
The result is very pleasant. It's not going to rewrite the history books, but it's good enough to get me interested in owning a cake of this for our shelves. Mengku teas - always reliable.
We have small leaves abound (as below), some red/orange with age, and an excellent aroma of sweet pu'er. My dear wife and I pass the chunk of tea between us, taking enthusiastic sniffs. The sample looks as if it is the corner of a brick.
A satisfying orange/brown soup (seen below) already shows signs of age. A spicy, peppery and enduring scent leads into complex peaty flavours, with a sweet note above it all. There is plenty of chunky tobacco (which regular readers will know I adore), and a good huigan. Overall, there is plenty in the mouth, coupled with a vibrant, lively texture on the tongue.
This tea is like a younger version of that style familiar to old teas. That is, all old school teas seem to be of a very similar style: this style. It causes me to wonder how the various modern styles will turn out in several decades. With modern pu'er being so varied, I am fairly sure that no-one yet knows the answer to this puzzler. I'm looking forward to finding out.
Turning out the wet leaves into the chahe (shown below), many of them look green (as one would hope), but some are red, as if all-over oxidised - in the hongcha style. I wonder if a portion of these malty hongcha-processed pu'er leaves have been blended in to provide an additional kick to the flavour, and perhaps an artificial step up the aging ladder.
The result is very pleasant. It's not going to rewrite the history books, but it's good enough to get me interested in owning a cake of this for our shelves. Mengku teas - always reliable.
6 comments:
I too have had pleasant experiences with the Shuangjiang Mengku brand. Of note for me have been their 2007 Organic Lincang bing and their 2007 Wild Arbor King, both available from YS.
As you mentioned, neither of these will rewrite the history books, but they're both inexpensive, honest, good everyday teas.
I was chatting to Scott (YS) a week or two ago about this brand. It was interesting to hear that, for some unknown reason, their teas escaped much of the speculation of recent years. As a result the prices have been reasonably stable, and more in line with the actual value of the leaves.
I haven't tried any bings from the lower end of their range, I'm sure we may find one or two there which would disappoint, but in general I've got a fairly good feeling about this brand.
nada.
Ahhh, my old friend tabacco! I have enjoyed Mengku's Snow Mountain pu as well. I have the '06 vintage and I hope that it will also transform into a slight tabacco as I truly love it.
Cheers,
Bill
Dear Nada,
I rather fancy trying the Wild Arbor King - I guess that's the Qiaomuwang? "Honest" is spot on!
It is interesting to read that Shuangjiang Mengku escaped the price bubble - maybe it's because they're humble. I like humble teas. :)
Dear Bill,
Wow, I didn't realise it was generally available - ST, who kindly sent this sample, also mentioned that it was hard to find. Whence cometh thy mighty DXS?
Toodlepip both,
Hobbes
P.s. Oh wait, there it is at Yunnan Sourcing - silly me. £15/$29 looks like a decent price - how did you find that 2006 DXS, Bill?
Hello Hobbes, It was an offering from Gordon on Ebay at Dragon Tea House around a year ago. :)
Dear Bill,
Thanks for the note - I should have guessed. Back then, I remember DTH were one of the few vendors selling it, if not the only one - non?
Toodlepip,
Hobbes
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