2005 CNNP 1938 Anniversary Premium Ripe Pu-erh

This is a rich tasting sweet ripe puerh. There was almost no earthy flavor left at all. This tea may have been only lightly fermented because it has nearly fully cleared. In fact the only tea I have drank with less fermentation flavor is the 2008 Song of Chi Tse. I added a very small amount of sugar to this tea and was rewarded with an intense dates flavor. I think the flavor was there underneath but just needed some sugar to bring it out. Perhaps plums would be just as accurate a description. In any case this tea is so good I am tempted to buy another bing if it is still available the next time Yunnan Sourcing runs a sale.

I steeped this tea eight times in a 120ml gaiwan with 9g leaf and boiling water. I gave it a 10 second rinse and a 10 minute rest. I steeped it for 5 sec, 5 sec, 7 sec, 10 sec, 15 sec, 20 sec, 25 sec, and 30 sec. If I didn’t want to stop to make something iced I’d say I could have gotten another four or five steeps out of this at least.

This tea is very different from your average ripe. It tastes strongly like bread dough. And I mean that in a good way. The fermentation is kind of on the light side, but the flavor is good, earthy and sweet, and packs a pretty good caffeine punch. A very interesting one to sample, though I’m not sure I’d want to drink it regularly myself.

A dark & beautiful dense cake whose appearance reminds me of those dense & dark fruit cakes my mom used to make during the HoliDaze. Sweet & mellow, the flavor is very balanced & makes me smile. Dark fruits, a touch of blackstrap molasses, & a whole wheat kind of breadiness, making me think of the Boston Brown Bread I used to bake.

A really lovely ripe pu-erh. Nothing is out of place, the flavors are deep and clean, and the impression for me is of a cake that was well made from good materials. Very pleasant tea.

This cake has a deeply satisfying quality about it. I can see it becoming a favourite among those who like a rich-tasting pu’er with lots of sweetness, without the off-tastes. Sometimes, it takes a while for a ripe cake to air out before being ready for consumption. This is hardly the case with this 1938, though just to be on the safe side, you may want – See more at: http://universotea.com/content/2005-cnnp-lucky-brand-1938-prime-grade?ovr=1#sthash.BDTd6KB0.dpuf

Quite pleased with this tea. The leaf brews a smooth soup and returns a thick mouth-feel with a quick sweet, earthy aftertaste. Overall, this tea offers a tasty, sweet, dark brew with a little spiciness and is a solid choice for everyday enjoyment.

I first tried this tea as a sample on the summit of a mountain after a nice hike with a friend. I was very impressed! Soft earthy flavor, but not overpowering, with a similar scent that fills the nose as you drink, hints of chocolate with smooth finish and delightful cooling sensation left behind in the aftertaste. I liked it enough I bought a cake from a private dealer when I got home and have been enjoying it every week or two since.