2006 MengHai Da-Yi "Yun Xian - Wu Tsi Den Ke" Series

The Wu Tsi Den Ke Series made quite a splash in '06. Although the hefty price tag seemed a bit excessive, many puerh fans grabbed them as soon as they came on the market leaving many DaYi fans in the dark.

The five cake Wu Tsi Den Ke Series were created to highlight the 5 different characters associated with Shengpu - and in very much a Chinese fashion. Wu Tsi Ke is a traditional Chinese blessing when roughly translated means "May your five children become great scholars". Don't you love this stuff?!

Unfortnately, not much is known about this series (or atleast I coudln't find any) other than each of the cakes were allegedly made from a very special prescription to show case the five predominant charactersisitcs in flavor and material of pu-erh: Aged, High-Mountain, Tender Tips, Honey and Rock.

I have chosen to review Chen "aged" first - after all the litmus test for pu-erh is whether or not it will have the capacity for aging - Chen will be my first of five installments.

Initial Impressions

When the leaves were compared to the other examples of the series, there seemed to be a noticeable darker hue. Whether this implies that the prescription used to make the beeng is older than the others, I guess it is difficult to say since dark leaves do not always correlate with age. In it's dry state, the leaves did not provide any scent. However, after the rinse almost in an instant my gaiwan suddenly came alive with wonderful whiffs consisting of deep pungent notes of wood, and what I tend to call the scent of "old books". Additionally, there was also a noticeable hint of smoke making the aroma quite masculine.

The leaves appeared to be of higher grade. Though this is difficult to tell with blended material since blends are generally masticated in order to provide the needed consistency throughout a blended beeng - from the leaves which were somewhat intact (in that I can determine width)they resembled 1-4 grades.

Parameters

Amount - 5g

Method - Gongfu Gaiwan 150ml

Infusion times

1-15s
2-12s
3-20s
4-35s
5-55s
6-75s
7-85s
8-95s
9-120s

Brewing Session




Aroma

The aroma was delicately floral- suprising to say the least since the initial aromas did not point this direction. There were sweet notes laced with a buttery essence; interesting. Definitely rich and pungent. Smoke though faint was also noticeable. The latter infusions were very much consistent with the first yet would vary tremendously from infusion to infusion.

Taste

I found the taste of the liquor quite rustic with its overtones of wood and spice. Generally, when I speak of wood notes, it is to denote the quintessential wood that one finds in pu-erh; however, this is different. I could actually determine an oak quality that was very much reminiscent of a scotch like palate. In the latter infusions, the notes became more earthy sweet with notes of mushroom and dark malt that became medicinal as the liquor cooled on the palate.

The chayun for was wonderfully active. The liquor tantalized the sides of my tongue and the roof of my mouth. There was also a unique sharpness which coupled well with the huigan. Definitely a viscus concoction which made the session quite satisfying.


Spent Leaves




Nothing remarkable about the spent leaves. Appears to be classic 'big factory' fare. There seems to be a good ratio of buds within this prescription.

Final Impressions

The only thing really off putting about this example is the hefty price tag. I really enjoyed it. The aromas were captivating; the clarity, color and activity of the liquor kept things moving. Best of all, the flavors did not tire the palate as some of the more assertive examples can easily do. The recipe appears to have been created with aging capacity in mind in that the aging characteristics needed for aging pu-erh were all present. Oh, a warming chaqi.

1998 MengHai Factory 8582 Sheng Beeng

Apologise to my readers for the long delay in posting. Rest assure that I do not plan on killing my blog. Please look foreword for other reviews in the VERY near future!




I was readjusting my pu closet and to my surprise had found this little nugget of gold - A sample of 8582 that I had purchased sometime back! I love it when this happens.

Well, for many of you, I am sure that 8582 needs no introduction since it certainly has become a perennial favorite for many; and rightly so. Current aged examples are quite delicious and seem to age just as well as other "higher grade" leaf. I think I need to explain what I mean by higher grade. Many tea drinkers who begin to collect too more often than not assume that higher grade of mao cha is more suitable for aging than others. Well, this is not entirely so. The grade of the leaf only corresponds to the size of the leaf and has really nothing to do with its quality. For instance, when we have a MengHai Dayi 06(2)2 recipe, we can assume that the majority of the tea will have finer and more bud like leaves since the number in the paren will always indicate leaf grade - in this case it is a 2. However as I had previously stated, this will not always translate into a cake which will age. In fact, many cakes which are considered finer grade are not showing promise at all.

Now back to the 85(8)2. As will notice, the leaf grade in this recipe is a grade of 8. This will mean that the Marjory of the beeng will be composed of 8 grade leaves - generally bigger and heartier fare. The 8582 has become a perennial classic since many of the older 8582 are showing great signs of promise. I like them in my own collection for this very reason.


Water - Generic Spring Water

Infusions

1 Rinse

1-15s
2-10s
3-15s
4-21s
5-26s
6-34s
7-41s
8-68s

Impressions




Aroma

I was surprised that there was still a hint of honey in the aroma. Albeit faint, it was still noticeable. The dominant aromas however were hay and pleasing wood aromas. Latter infusions were somewhat sweeter which with an ever so lovely musk. The aromas were long and lasting and did not dissipate easily from the aroma cup. Nice potency.

Taste

The flavors were richly brite and slightly tannic and acidic- though not obtuse, but delicate which complimented the richness of the liquor quite well. As in the aroma, the wood notes were dominant which transformed on the palate as it cooled on the tongue. The texture and viscosity were impeccable making the throat feel comfortable which the swallow.


Final Impressions

It was an orthodox puerh. It was enjoyable but was not as inviting as I had hoped. The huigan was lacking which did not correspond well with the sweetness of the aroma. On a good note, the chaqi was pleasant and comfortable.

Cha Gel Sheng Concentrate

That is right, pu-erh concentrate. A gent named Coloradopu who I chat with on occasions on Tea Chat was nice enough to send me a few nuggets of this curiosity. Frankly, I do not know much about this concoction other than it is supposedly sheng which has gone through quite a bit of processing resulting in what you see here. The pieces resemble a Jolly Rancher in consistency but considerably more brittle. They give off a faint caramelized odor which really makes it seem more like candy than something that you would infuse to imbibe.

I was warned by Coloradopu to use only a small bit as it is very concentrated. I decided on a piece the size of an eraser end to start. Not wanting to risk of contaminating my Yixing ware, I figured a Gaiwan would serve my purpose.



Well, here goes nothing!



Almost instantaneously the nugget started to infuse into the water as you can see. Actually looked quite nice.




Not wanting to over steep, I decided I would leave the Gaiwan lid off so that I may gauge the strength of the liquor. Wanting to play it safe and not wanting to over steep, I decided to decant the yellow liquor into my fair cup only after 10 seconds when it reached what I thought was the appropiate color for young sheng pu.

Decanting







Well, it looks like sheng, but unfortunately that is where the resemblance stops. I was not putting too much hope in this product, after all anything instant sux. Honestly, its not a bad tea. It almost tastes like sheng which has been overly roasted (which I have done on occasion). The liquor has no astringency or bitterness. It is not nuanced but straightforward. The liquor itself doesn't give off much of an aroma. However, there is a definite sweet, roast smell wafting up from the fair cup. It almost smells like a yan cha. There is really nothing great about this tea other than its novelty. I guess if you are traveling and do not have any time to stop for a steep or don't want customs examining your bags wondering what this green stuff is in your carry-on, I guess it may serve a purpose. :D

Nugget after first Infusion

I actually was able to steep this nugget 6 times before it completely dissolved.



Thanks ColoradoPu for being so generous! Btw, stay tuned for the Cha Gel SHUPU Concentrate which he was also kind enough to send! :D

MengHai Factory DaYi #7582 Sheng Beeng

The 7582 recipe is an older MengHai Factory recipe yet rarely produced. In fact, I haven't seen any other productions of the #7582 other than the '06, of which is also becoming quite elusive.

The recipe of the #7582 contains a 6-9 grade blend from YiWu and the Ba Da mountains however it is unknown what is the percentage of each. What is known however is that the '06 is one of the most expensive DaYi code recipes of that year.

First Impressions



The first thing grabbed my attention other than the leaf grade was that surface of the cake was quite peppered with yellow leaves. Not a big problem of course but was just unusual, at least for me, for a DaYi product. Certainly I have seen 'some' yellow leaves in DaYi but never to this extent. Interesting to say the least. The dry leaves appeared to be healthy and certainly do correspond to the leaf grade of the recipe. I can even say that they have darkened a bit since I have purchased it. They had a lovely melon and grassy sent that were quite noticeable even though the wrapper.



The maocha was not as compact as they appear at first glance. They easily pried off with my toucha pick with very little effort.

Brewing Parameters

Method - 150ml Gaiwan

Amount - 6.2gm


Infusion Times

1-15s
2-12s
3-25s
4-35s
5-55s
6-65s

Tasting Impressions





Aroma

The aroma was really not that captivating. This was not to suggest that it was not pleasant - indeed it was; however, I was expecting the lovely notes of YiWu that one receives from young sheng. For the most part, the aroma was quintessential pu-erh with hints of citrus and pine resin. I guess it wasn't all that bad. The latter infusions had become grassy which of course is not that surprising and very much consist ant with the former infusions.

Taste

From the onset, it was a powerful drink. The very first infusion woke my palate. Most of the sensations were concentrated on the sides of my tongue and the top of my mouth. Still very youthful in quality - brassy and astringent. The acidity was also exceptionally strong which was indicated by its brightness. The initial notes were subdued honey and faint hints of melon. However, the only word I could find to describe the latter infusions was, meaty. There was indeed a meaty quality to it. Not the meatiness that we at times associate the taste or sensation of Umami , but meaty in the sense that the flavors were not relenting in any way. It was like every taste bud was affected by some search and destroy misson. The huigan did not reveal itself until after the 4 round. However, a little to late in that the liquor soon after leeched out.

Spent Leaves



Final Impressions


I am not sure if my analysis was too critical. Perhaps I was judging it to other Yiwu blended products that I have. Nonetheless, it certainly has the oomph needed to age and I presume that that it will. In fact the liquor seems a bit darker than the last time I sampled it. Not that liquor color is any a good indication but at least I know that it is certainly trying to transform. Nonetheless,it will have to age because I am not touching this one again for at least another 3-4 years.

It was not that the flavors were brutal but they are much to potent to drink on a causual bases. That said, I can say with out a doubt that I can characterize this example as androgenous in that it has both female and masculine qualities - the flavors were to some extent pefume-y with a pleasing quality to them but very much an alpha. Unfortnately, I was unable to gauge any chaqi with so much going on. I am very excited to see how these beengs will develop.

2001 MengKu "Yuan Yieh Xian" of MengSa, Thick-papered 357g

I have had these beengs for sometime. There are two versions of this particular 2001 MengKu offering - the thick paper and the thin paper version. This review will be of the thick paper version that has gone through some traditional HongKong storage.

I have had the privilege of tasting and comparing both. My conclusion and possibly everyone one elses is that although they were produced by the same factory and made of the same mao cha, "Mengsa Shan", they are indeed different animals. Interestingly, the paper of course is the culprit. The thick paper allowed for more of the moisture to linger longer on the surface, and consequently causing less evaporation. Conversely, the thin paper allowed for more 'breathable' conditions lending itself to more of a dry storage condition.

I have read numerous thoughts suggesting that the thin paper version is much better than the thick paper example. I do plan on reviewing the thin paper but until then here are what the some of the experts at Teapot Magazine have to say about it.



"..elegance of its aroma with soft honey taste. Within this great tea fragrance, it is actually a plentiful and complex along its thickness. ...very good mouth feel...extremely cool and sweet after taste."

Needless to say, the description is tantalizing and I agree having tasted it first hand. However, to suggests that the thin paper is better, in my opinion, is not fair. Both both great in their own away and offer something different to the puerh world. The thin paper is a great example of the potential of a dry stored pu-erh, while the other is an excellent example of wet storage beeng. Though, perhaps, the wet storage effect may have been accidental, it does provide a good bench mark in which to judge the potential of other HK storage or wet storage beengs.

Initial Impression

I was not "wowed" when I first unwrapped the beeng. It looked like your quintessential HK storage fare. The leaves did not have any signs of mold infection, which was great considering how dark the leaves were. Although there were a couple of 'frosty' stems in the bunch the surface was very clean. The aroma was a bit dank but other than that it looked like a nice beeng.



Brewing Session


Amount - 4.5

Method - Gongfu Yixing 100ml

Infusion times

1-15s
2-12s
3-25s
4-35s
5-50s
6-75s
7-85s
8-95s
9-100s
10-125s
11-140s
12-150s


Aroma

The initial aroma was what you would expect with a wet-stored beeng. Lots of matured earthy wood notes with very little nuances. On occasion I had caught a whiff of camphor but for the most part, generic. These notes aren't bad and were quite expected, however, what was not expected was that they had become sweeter after the 5th infusion. There were slight notes of honey, fresh grass, dark currants that were enveloped in a medicinal quality. Generally, it has been my experience that wet stored fare will remain consistent throughout the session. Indeed a nice surprise.


Taste

The taste very much resembled the aroma, notes both in theme and in transition. Initially, the notes were dark and matured. Very woody, very earthy, with an almost cacao finish. The liquor was very think and had a gelatinous quality. It was far more viscus than I would have imaged. Later in the infusions, the notes had also become a bit more sweet, and in fact some of its youth gleamed through. The liquor had a pleasant feeling as it entered the throat. In the most latter infusion, the darkness very much dissipated which left only notes of fresh hay intermixed with freshly cut wood essence.

Final Impressions



First and foremost, I tried not to judge this beeng comparing to its much more revered twin. In the final analysis, the thick paper certainly has much to offer. I have had many wet stored examples which leave you uninspired. However, the thick paper MengKu certainly is a great example of the potential of wet storage fare. On the down side however is that it did take time for its huigan to come through. Yet, when it did, it certainly was decent. Another caveat is its current price.

Although it is certainly ready to drink now, I believe that given time to allow some of the maturity to diffuse may reveal something much more exciting.

My New Cup

I think this is a good time to unveil my new cup! Well, many not that new but new to me. Its an early Ming Dynasty making it roughly 600-700 years old . It's porclain, roughly 40ml in volume and very smooth. It is hand painted in a rustic pattern in blue which has certainly faded over the centuries. I love saying that :P

2003 Rui Rong Hao Da Xue Shan Sheng " Big Snow Mountain"

This 2003 is an offering from Sampan Teas . I was excited to try this tea since I have a great affinity for Big Snow Mountain puerhs. Though Da Xue Shan teas are not as sought after as other famous mountains, they always seem to agree with with me. They are not aggressive and more often than not I feel I can drink them earlier than most others.

Unfortunately, I was unable to sniff out any substantial information about Rui Rong Hao factory through my detective work. However, if you will allow me to conjecture, my assumption is that Rui Rong Hao may be a subsidiary of the Chang Tai Factory from the looks of its wrapper. Nonetheless, it looks like a quality beeng but the proof as they say is in the pudding.

Initial Impressions

The aroma from the dry leaves was very intoxicating. It had hints of dried fruit and an overture of spice. There were no notes of smoke or unpleasantness to speak of, just a genuinely refreshing odor. The leaves are slightly dark which are accented by its nice glossiness and long stems.



Instead of the quintessential Nei Fei "inner ticket", the factory decided in a more classy approach adding a personal signature mark pressing a large broad leaf which is said to have been plucked from a 2000 year old tea tree right into the beeng along with a silk red ribbon of which you can see slightly in the center of the beeng. As to whether the claim of a 2000 year old tree leaf is true, I am not sure. If memory serves me correctly, I believe the oldest tea tree is said to be roughly 1,700 years old.

Brewing Session

Parameters

Vessel - 100ml Ming Guo Zhuni Yixing

Amount - 4.5g

1-15s
2-12s
3-25s
4-40s
5-65s
6-90s
7-100s

Aroma

In the first infusions, the liquor had a wonderfully long lasting musk that I enjoyed immensely. It lingered in the aroma cup relatively a much longer time than I am accustomed to making for a very aromatic session. As the aroma cup cooled, the pleasant musk transitioned into the always welcoming honey and floral notes.

In the latter infusions the liquor started to assert itself where notes of dried fruit and melon had become the theme. However, as the potency of the liquor started to wane, these sweet notes eventually transformed more in to a peppery spice coupled with a dried hay note.



Taste

I would have assumed that the liquor would reveal sweet notes as they were apparent in the beginning infusions in the aroma, but to my amusement, the notes were quite leathery and somewhat masculine. It had a berry acidity which kept things interesting which culminated into a decent huigan. Although the liquor was not as viscus as I had hoped, the flavors nonetheless lingered on the palate.

As for the latter infusions they were very consistent with the former, although somewhere after the 5th things started change a bit. The huigan seemingly became much more apparent wjocj was coupled with a nice chayun. Interesting to say the least as it seems counter intuative.

The liquor was very clear and wonderfully bright. Although quite green for its age. Possibly as a consequence of aging in a drier than normal climate.

Spent Leaves



Although the claim is that it is made of wild arbor leaves, the leaves quite flimsy. Probably plantation. The leaves also seem to be of different harvest - a mixture of Fall and Spring. They are not the best looking leaves - mediocre at best.

Final Analysis



The tea provided a pleasant session. Although I question the claim of it being wild arbor, it still provided nice sensations. The cha qi was light and really didn't make much of a statement at all. The aroma was its high point followed by its clarity. I was not very enthused by its lack of maturity. Perhaps it needs to be stored in a much more suitable environment. Be that as it may, I do not think its a younger tea since many of the adolescence has dissipated. Its an honest tea which can be enjoyed now.

Summer Finally

Hey folks,

Just wanted to say that I am still around. Please look forward to new post very shortly! :D I'm transitioning into summer so things are getting hectic. I hope all are well.

Cheers!

Bill