Ah these are puerh tea! That means they are fermented. So like other fermented products (wine for example) they change with age.
If you ever want to buy some you should know there are two different types:
Raw (sheng): This came first. This tea is slow aged, and anything younger than 10 years is like a really unique green tea or light oolong. I’ve not had sheng older than 10 years because it gets really expensive.
Ripe (shu/shou): This was made to imitate what 20-30 years aged sheng taste by doing a hot humid quicker fermentation (wet pile). I’d still wait a year or so after these are made because that quick fermentation can leave a funky taste that fades with time.
2021 Camphornought is a ripe. It being 4 years old means it has like no wet pile taste.
2016 Fade is a raw. It taste like a green oolong with a bit of woodyness I love and seem to only find in puerh.
I was today years old when I learned about the existence of the complexities of tea.
I would love to love tea (and coffee) but for whatever reason, warm things make me super tired. If this is ever NOT an issue, I’ll keep these in mind. Thank you!
2021 Camphornought from white2tea. Its like chocolate, wood, and leather.
I’ve been on a big puerh binge.
Honorable mention: 2016 Fade (also from white2tea).
What’s important about year with tea? I find this super intriguing.
Ah these are puerh tea! That means they are fermented. So like other fermented products (wine for example) they change with age.
If you ever want to buy some you should know there are two different types:
Raw (sheng): This came first. This tea is slow aged, and anything younger than 10 years is like a really unique green tea or light oolong. I’ve not had sheng older than 10 years because it gets really expensive.
Ripe (shu/shou): This was made to imitate what 20-30 years aged sheng taste by doing a hot humid quicker fermentation (wet pile). I’d still wait a year or so after these are made because that quick fermentation can leave a funky taste that fades with time.
2021 Camphornought is a ripe. It being 4 years old means it has like no wet pile taste.
2016 Fade is a raw. It taste like a green oolong with a bit of woodyness I love and seem to only find in puerh.
I was today years old when I learned about the existence of the complexities of tea.
I would love to love tea (and coffee) but for whatever reason, warm things make me super tired. If this is ever NOT an issue, I’ll keep these in mind. Thank you!
Totally! I love info dumping about tea, so thanks for giving me a reason to!