tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-753589427119541238.post5857130778311169237..comments2023-07-05T09:38:23.624+01:00Comments on The Half-Dipper: 2011 Hailanghao "Laobanzhang"Hobbeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10719619695211038389noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-753589427119541238.post-2212078203435951132011-10-11T11:37:44.493+01:002011-10-11T11:37:44.493+01:00Hi, Alan,
You know - the little white cups are ...Hi, Alan,<br /><br /> You know - the little white cups are just inexpensive examples that are available from most places. I bought them in China, but they're very plain.<br /><br /> The teapot is a little more special, for which I hunted in Maliandao for ages. My wife ended up buying it on a trip to Beijing while I wasn't there. I'm not sure about buying teapots via the Internet,Hobbeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10719619695211038389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-753589427119541238.post-33505396412361791912011-10-10T15:32:46.341+01:002011-10-10T15:32:46.341+01:00I am quite envious of your tea-ware. Do you know w...I am quite envious of your tea-ware. Do you know where I can find something similar, and not break my wallet? <br />Thank youAlanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16324976784408999421noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-753589427119541238.post-20896610019105222312011-10-08T19:54:49.220+01:002011-10-08T19:54:49.220+01:00Ah yes, I'm being thick! You "follow&quo...Ah yes, I'm being thick! You "follow" his blog, and don't write it - I should read more carefully. :)<br /><br />Pregnancy is a great time. As long as you can avoid being punched in the face, as a husband, you're winning. -__-<br /><br />One of our collaborators lives and works within the "erhuan" of Beijing, in the Xichang financial district, and recently Hobbeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10719619695211038389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-753589427119541238.post-54921381677965000732011-10-08T19:15:42.904+01:002011-10-08T19:15:42.904+01:00Eh... I have a link? LOL... I am not the teaurchin...Eh... I have a link? LOL... I am not the teaurchin though. He is Asian Autralian and I am not. I follow his blog as he is one of my good friends here in Shanghai and you can actually see me in a couple of pics on his blog from the Spring Yunnan trip. He's actually in Yunnan again now... been there a few weeks. I missed going on the trip this time as I am stuck home in Shanghai with a pregnantShangershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10685822518875371875noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-753589427119541238.post-11163223051616518482011-10-08T18:57:06.666+01:002011-10-08T18:57:06.666+01:00Dear DP,
I just followed your link and realised...Dear DP,<br /><br /> I just followed your link and realised that you are the author of "The Tea Urchin" which I have been enjoying reading lately - keep up the great work! It's not often we get to read about trips to Yunnan.<br /><br /> The price inflation is a pain, and leads to bubbles as we've seen in everything from housing to (heh) the price of garlic. However, it Hobbeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10719619695211038389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-753589427119541238.post-18566295491243088962011-10-08T18:43:11.748+01:002011-10-08T18:43:11.748+01:00Hey Hobbes,
Thanks for the reply. Interesting abou...Hey Hobbes,<br />Thanks for the reply. Interesting about the Maliandao LBZ. Too bad they weren't selling it. I wonder what the price would have been. If you are in contact with whomever you tasted the cake with, please ask them when they bought the maocha. I would be interested to see if it was earlier or later in the season. <br />-DPShangershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10685822518875371875noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-753589427119541238.post-87679352450453748802011-10-08T18:37:20.545+01:002011-10-08T18:37:20.545+01:00Hey Hobbes,
One thing I wanted to get your opinion...Hey Hobbes,<br />One thing I wanted to get your opinion on as it relates to LBZ prices and prices in general.<br /><br />I have been talking to a couple friends that are producers here and they are all lamenting the fact that prices are going up like crazy for certain villages' maocha... We aren't the only ones complaining about prices... <br /><br />I made the comment that perhaps they Shangershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10685822518875371875noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-753589427119541238.post-60220680218963704492011-10-08T18:14:37.334+01:002011-10-08T18:14:37.334+01:00(The $80 is my estimation of how much I'd pay ...(The $80 is my estimation of how much I'd pay for something of this HLH's approximate quality, in relation to the 100% laoshu tried in Beijing.)Hobbeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10719619695211038389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-753589427119541238.post-75270446383724449232011-10-08T18:13:22.051+01:002011-10-08T18:13:22.051+01:00Dear DP,
I had a great laoshu 2011 LBZ in Malia...Dear DP,<br /><br /> I had a great laoshu 2011 LBZ in Maliandao this year, which was markedly nicer than this Hailanghao version. Although the Beijing version wasn't for sale, it indicates that better LBZ is at least possible this year, and that this Hailanghao cake is not it (for whatever reason). <br /><br /><br /> Toodlepip,<br /><br /> HobbesHobbeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10719619695211038389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-753589427119541238.post-57693944888989594532011-10-08T17:47:45.200+01:002011-10-08T17:47:45.200+01:00meant to say... I really hope HLH is NOT cutting t...meant to say... I really hope HLH is NOT cutting the cake at that price.<br /><br />...still haven't figured out how to edit my comments.<br /><br />-DPShangershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10685822518875371875noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-753589427119541238.post-74736033483226331612011-10-08T17:45:11.162+01:002011-10-08T17:45:11.162+01:00Hey Hobbes,
Thanks for the reply. Again, I agree t...Hey Hobbes,<br />Thanks for the reply. Again, I agree the price is too high for the cake. <br /><br />That said, it would be more like 720rmb per bing if you count the fact they are 400g bings. Additionally, when you buy a kg of maocha, not all of it goes in a cake as they will remove some in the process. There are also fees associated with going to pick the out the maocha (travel and such) Shangershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10685822518875371875noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-753589427119541238.post-82876108022906406962011-10-08T14:39:49.347+01:002011-10-08T14:39:49.347+01:00Dear DP,
1,800 RMB/kg translates into (very) ap...Dear DP,<br /><br /> 1,800 RMB/kg translates into (very) approximately 600 RMB/cake, or around $95. The Hailanghao price of $295 is therefore a mark-up to 300% of the cost of its materials, which is bordering on the unethical, in my opinion. That minimum of 300% assumes, perhaps generously, that the cake is entirely made of laoshu leaves. If it is "cut" with other leaves, the Hobbeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10719619695211038389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-753589427119541238.post-18243848613442275822011-10-08T14:37:01.544+01:002011-10-08T14:37:01.544+01:00Dear Branislav,
Thanks for your comment. You k...Dear Branislav,<br /><br /> Thanks for your comment. You know, I don't know if I agree with you when you state that young Laobanzhang is usually very bitter. Certainly the laoshu Laobanzhang that I've tried from a few sources are noticeable in the absence of their bitterness. There is activity and a heavy huigan, but no real kuwei. In taidicha, I would agree with you.<br /><br /> Hobbeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10719619695211038389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-753589427119541238.post-4884035450459535342011-10-08T09:50:11.168+01:002011-10-08T09:50:11.168+01:00Hey Hobbes,
Agree the price is crazy. That said, t...Hey Hobbes,<br />Agree the price is crazy. That said, there is no way they could sell the bings for $80 this year. If it is pure LBZ gushu, the price was about 1500rmb per kg when I first went to LBZ in April. A couple days later it was 1800rmb/ kg. Needless to say we didn't buy, Lots of other great teas for fraction. But $80 LBZ cakes are unicorns of the pu'er world now.<br />-DPShangershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10685822518875371875noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-753589427119541238.post-67105352073881606872011-10-08T09:46:08.756+01:002011-10-08T09:46:08.756+01:00Hah Ill have to order a sample of this tea.. Ive h...Hah Ill have to order a sample of this tea.. Ive had a sample from 2010 HLH Lao Ban Zhang and I liked it very much. When young, Lao Ban Zhang is usualy very bitter (for some people very unpleasantly) But I like that kind of taste, reminds me of whisky :-) The thing with the price is that pure mao cha from Lao Ban Zhang(expecialy from ancient arbors) is very expensive... Even Douji tea factory Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07178245264039261304noreply@blogger.com