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“Saved this from a TTB in the summer, for my pu-erh tasting adventures. Honestly I can’t really recall any difference between this and any other. I’m quite sure though that I prefer the Mandala ones...” Read full tasting note
“Time to bust out my Yezi pu’erh samples! I’m working from home today, so I figured I could try the 3 pu’erhs they included as samples in my prior orders. Method: The Yezi site says to use 30 sec...” Read full tasting note
“5/21/14 Origin: Yunnan Province, China Vintage 2005 Dry Leaf- scents of pears and dried apples, tiny bit of wood 203F 2 tsp – 4 oz h2o Gong FU 30” – rinse 30” liquor smells woody, sweet,...” Read full tasting note
“TTB&C #14 I have been wanting to try Pu-erh, but havne’t been brave enough to purchase much. This is my first. I brewed this per the recommended instructions. I enjoyed the flavor, but I...” Read full tasting note
Hailing from China’s famed tea growing Yunan province, Gu Dian is the most premium (Shaolin Master, if you will) of Puer teas. Yezi’s Gu Dian is vintage 2005—so far back that the iPhone was still an idea in Steve Jobs’s head, and you couldn’t “poke” anyone on Facebook!
Gu Dian is available in 12.3 oz. / 350-gram disks. The resulting brew is deep red, reminiscent of a glass of fine wine. Gu Dian is smoother than a Herbie Hancock song and has forward-facing caramel notes. If you visit Hong Kong, you will find that many people favor a particular tea shop not because of its location or the polite manners of its proprietor but because of the distinctive flavor of the establishment’s Puer tea. Needless to say, the shops with the best Gu Dian are the shops that get the most traffic.
How to brew Yunnan Aged Gudian Pu’erh Tea tea
Amount of tea in grams Temperature in °C Temperature in °F Number of brews First brew time
Use: 4-5 grams or 2-3 tsp. of tea
Water amount: 1 gram of tea / 50ml of water or 1 tsp. of tea / 2 oz. of water
Time of day: Anytime after meals
Temperature: 95-100 °C or 203-212 °F
Brew: 5-6 times
First brew: 30 seconds
Subsequent brews: Add 10-15 seconds
Recommended tea set: Lu Yao porcelain gaiwan or teapot
Company description not available.
Saved this from a TTB in the summer, for my pu-erh tasting adventures.
Honestly I can’t really recall any difference between this and any other. I’m quite sure though that I prefer the Mandala ones I’ve tried. Even though they still just taste like pu-erh to me, no delicious chocolate notes or anything of the sort.
This was strong, I brewed it western style for a minute or so for a few infusions, and always with milk. I’m not a SUPER puerh fan yet. But i’m trying!
Time to bust out my Yezi pu’erh samples! I’m working from home today, so I figured I could try the 3 pu’erhs they included as samples in my prior orders.
Method: The Yezi site says to use 30 sec to start, then increase by 10-15. Seemed too long, so I did – 5 g, 3 oz, rinse then 15-20-25 seconds, 205 degrees, ru kiln gaiwan. Long pu’erh steeps make me nervous!
Aroma: I’m guessing this is a ripe pu. Please correct me if I am wrong. It smells cavey and earthy. I am learning to appreciate these aromas more, but I admit that they still make me a little uncomfortable.
Flavor: I blended the first 3 steeps into one mug. The flavor is also earthy, but I do catch pleasant little hints of chocolate. I’ve had some pu’erhs with a sharp taste, but this one is very smooth. I like it, but I want to like it even more than I do. It feels very thick and substantial and the aftertaste is actually more pleasant to me than the tea itself.
Here’s pics in my brand new gaiwan:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/124304184@N02/14774513901/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/124304184@N02/14591177117
Yep you are on the way!
I just placed some orders with YS, White2tea, and Tea Urchin. I went with small cakes and sample sizes, but I am going to be in pu’erh city soon. I got mostly shengs, but I also bought some shous to try to expand my palate there.
I’m really loving TeaUrchin Sars :)
I am loving their selection and labels, Steph. I wasn’t really loving the prices, but I do hear that their teas are very high quality. I only ordered samples from them. There’s no way I am forking over $180 for a tea cake without being completely and totally in love with it. I’m so glad companies selling pricier teas have samples we can try first.
Yeah, I’ve had a ton of samples, but never a whole cake. I’d love to have one some day, especially with a pretty label :)
Nice! Try around, some people have preferences, just don’t go overboard with samples lol (I was guilty before lol).
Ha! Yeah, I do tend to go overboard on pretty much everything. I admit it. :)
I’m hoping that out of the samples, I’ll find some lower priced teas that I can get to enjoy on a daily basis as well as some teas that might be better for aging.
I added some pics of this brewing in my new gaiwan. I am going back to do the 4-5-6 steepings now!
Gorgeous.
Thats a GREAT gaiwan!!! i loves it
Thanks! I am a sucker for things with a filigree sort of look!
Oh, and I am on steeps 7-8-9 with this, and it’s still going!
You got one the of the lacy gaiwans!!!! Yay! I had real trouble deciding which one of them to pick. Don’t you just LOVE it?
I do love it!!!! I just thought yours was so pretty, so I finally caved and bought the other pattern. Now I’ve seen that they make matching cups, so those are in my wish list too! <3
Oh hell! There are cups? I love mine very very much. Just don;t let it’s little bottom sit in any shou on your tea tray. I had to soak in Garret’s mircle stuff AND scrub with a toothbrush for a long time.
How are you this morning sweetness?
Good tip, thanks honey belle. There are cups posted on the Teaware Lust thread. They match my gaiwan, but I’m assuming there must also be cups to match yours. I’ll try to find a link for you. :)
My morning is off to a slow start. Couldn’t get out of bed, so I am late to work, oops!
5/21/14
Origin: Yunnan Province, China
Vintage 2005
Dry Leaf- scents of pears and dried apples, tiny bit of wood
203F 2 tsp – 4 oz h2o
Gong FU
30” – rinse
30” liquor smells woody, sweet, vegetarian prune brownie. Taste is creamy, silky, smooth, sweet and woody notes.
45” as leaves loosen more, liquor is a darker burnt sienna color. Notes of wood but not harsh, smooth. Sweet prune bread, just prune,,no sugar.
. 30” leaves loose now,,the woodiness is turning into notes of espresso.
45” delicious and the feeling is cleansing and rejuvinating!!! Far Out!!
1 minute – I can drink no more tea but this last steeping is a light espresso note with subtle sweetness. There are some essences of dried fruit as well.
Thank u to Yezi Tea for this sample with purchase!!
Flavors: Cream, Stewed Fruits, Wood
TTB&C #14
I have been wanting to try Pu-erh, but havne’t been brave enough to purchase much. This is my first. I brewed this per the recommended instructions. I enjoyed the flavor, but I couldn’t quite get over the smell. I have some pu-erh from Verdant that I will be trying next. I am not to sure what to say about this. It didn’t jump out at me as crazy delicious, but it definitely peaked my interest into the world of pu-erh. Thank-you to whoever included the small sample pouch in the TTB. I have left enough for hopefully one other person to give it a whirl.
Did you rinse it?
no….
rinse with boiling water?
You should always rinse, just cover w/boil water 5 sec. Sometimes I rinse twice. Then let rest for couple min. I do in gaiwan short steeps 5/10/15 sec progressing and adding time. You can even do it in steeping basket just lift it. And ratio is important. For 150 ml gaiwan I add 1tbs of leaves or 5-7 g tea. It’s diff if you brew western style. I prefer gongfu for puerh
Thank you for the tips for pu-erh. I will have to play around with the pu-erh from Verdant that I have!
;)
I love the distinctive pu’erh flavors of loam and sun-warmed wood and this tea certainly delivers. The flavor is a bit more delicate than I would have expected though that is not necessarily a bad thing. A good mid-morning or afternoon tea.
Flavors: Loam, Wood
