Pu'erh regions

I think you will have an interesting time on your hands.

http://www.teachat.com/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=19618

Some good descriptions and discussion of tea regions in this thread

Lincang / Mengku review:

Two teas (Bang Dong and Qing Mei) isn’t exactly a representative sample size… But, I really like what I found. Both teas had quite different flavor profiles, but the nature of the flavors was similar – complex, deep, not easily described with single notes. I found myself saying things like “fruitcake” and “fruit-infused chocolate.” Also of note was their noticeable sweetness. Both teas had complex sweetness – saccharine and fruit sweetness that was accompanied by a solid base of “darker” flavors – spice cake, dark chocolate, etc.

I will be returning to this neck of the woods soon. Outstanding experiences, both of them.

Western Xishuangbanna / Menghai review:

All three Western Xishuangbanna teas (Ba Da, Pasha, Bu Lang) shared parsley/dill herbal notes in some fashion. Also present in all three teas was a vague fruitiness that I can only describe as Juicy Fruit gum – sort of light peach, orange, berry, gummy sweetness.

I would also venture to say these really do need some age on them before you get a lot of decent flavors out of them – I’m talking at least 5-7 years. Pasha was the oldest of my group (5-6 yrs), and it was also the clear winner in terms of taste.

Anyway, interesting group. The herbal notes were strong, but the age on the Pasha reveals some definite aging potential with good flavors developing.

Eastern Xishuangbanna / Yi Wu review:

I’m noticing some similar characteristics even among other Xishuangbanna (i.e. Menghai) teas. The Juicy Fruit gum and the fresh parsley notes are the most prominent. However, the Menghai teas were much more upfront and bold with their flavor. Yi Wu teas had more apparent sweetness (particularly floral sweetness, some fruit notes and hints of chocolate), but nothing like the bold sweetness of Lincang region.

In terms of price, I really can’t figure it out. What I sampled were definitely quality teas, but they were on par with the quality I have had in other regions. Yet the Yi Wu teas cost substantially more than other regions. I found the sweetness stronger and more complex in the Lincang teas, at half the price. Menghai teas also offered some similar flavors, but with more strength (again at a lower price.)

It is important to note, however, that I was definitely at the cheaper end of the price scale, so there may be a much more substantial return if you are willing to spend more.

Puer/Simao review:

Can’t really pin this one down. There are no common flavors that the three teas shared. The Wu Liang was very smoky and vegetal, the Jing Gu sweet and foresty, and the Ai Lao light and fruity. Overall, I can simply say that I feel like this region gives you some good return for your money. The Wu Liang, despite its ashiness, had the vegetal strength that the Menghai area teas had. The Jing Gu gave a great old arbor depth of experience. The Ai Lao, despite its lightness, was sweet and enjoyable. All are at a fraction of comparable teas.

It is a region worth exploring. It seems to offer something for everyone, and at a bargain.

Final thoughts:

It’s always a bit of a trap classifying things like this by region. Just because something comes from somewhere doesn’t mean it will taste a certain way. Nevertheless, there are some similarities, and knowing the general character of teas from one region can help you decide where to explore and how to narrow your samplings.

My little adventure was very narrow, however. I only bought from one company (Yunnan Sourcing), stayed within 2-5 years old, and stayed within a $40-60/cake price range. I’m sure some cakes will age much better than others. I’m sure some regions have different characteristics when you buy more premium products. I’m sure different companies have varying profiles from these offerings.

In any event, the tour through Yunnan was as fun as it was educational. Next time I may tour Lincang a little more in-depth, or perhaps run through the offerings of the big boys like Menghai or Xiaguan.

TL;DR:
Menghai – vegetal, strong herbal. Aging potential seems high.
Yiwu – light floral sweetness. I don’t really get the hype.
Lincang – thick, complex sweetness. Awesome. Will return soon.
Simao – a little bit of everything. Seem more budget-friendly.