Yala, quite amazing taste... The owner assure me is not 'tangan kaki' punya tea

Well, the founder of Guoyan Tea Factory was originally the vice director of Menghai Tea Factory. With her experience, Guoyan is one of the best among small factories. I've also collected some raw cakes from this brand.

Someone told me (not to quote him), but the problem with Guoyan, you pay them X amount, they will do X quality even with same wrapping.

Eg. This tea below, for the particular batch it was completely bought by someone.



But then in the market there are still the same batch out there. Not sure the fake is from the same factory or made elsewhere. Quality differs.

Wife complains not liking to see my tea all over the place. So I got this cupboard yesterday.



Here are some of my stocks (exclude some in the living room and at office) - 5 months of tea collecting...

Not sure about the above product u mentioned. But a tea merchant from China also told me this -- Whenever a brand becomes famous, imitation products (they refer it as "B product") will appear in the market in no time. Of course, storage condition also influences its flavor. As for the case above, it's possible all of them are from the original factory, but they taste differently because of their storage condition.

To share my tea collections to fellow tea lovers:

Bought 8 pcs (1pc + 1 roll) of Yi Wu (易武）ripe tea during tea exhibition back in July 2008 which was held in Berjaya Time Square; tried one pc, personally I like the its taste, so as my family members who seldom drink tea, they also like the taste. I bought additional 2 rolls (14 pcs) the following year at one of the renowned tea shops. Early this year, I opened another pc of Yi Wu (2008), it tasted slightly different and towards aged raw, from the color and taste it tells, I believe it will taste even better as the time goes, I keep them in clay pot (紫砂).



Also during Oct 2009, I bought additional roll of Pu-er tea (7 pc) from Wild Plant (2008) from the same tea shop as photo shown below, tasted it at the tea shop, it suits my taste well too. But haven't tasted it at home yet, will consume it soon after I finish the Yi Wu and other teas (very soon).

One cupboard definitely not enough. You need one room

I stored mine in a stainless steel cabinet and sometimes I just slightly open the door to let the 'air' to circulate inside.

---

Added on October 19, 2010, 12:38 amI think it the same with Dayi. If you got the raw material, they will pressed it for you. There is a batch of Dayi ripe tea uses LBZ material many years ago ordered by a private tea vendor. For China company, as long there is money to be make, they do what you wants

This post has been edited by cuebiz: Oct 19 2010, 12:38 AM

Hmm, I think u should store ripe ones and raw ones using separate cupboards...

U mean this one? Though using LBZ for ripe tea is kinda waste imo, but still it's one of the most expensive dayi product in the 21st century.

That cupboard is temporary till my new house is ready end of next year. Already told my wife that the room downstairs is going to be my tea/personal room

Come show us your tea collection. Show us what the stainless steel cabinet has inside...

Having factories pressing the raw material is fine, but they should not use the exact same packing and batch info. This is non ethical... but then from a country that can fake nearly everything... no comments la.

Wanted to store in separate cupboard, but no space at the moment

I am also worry buying fake tea, that's why, after observing for long time, I only visit two or three local tea shops regularly.

As my post earlier, I knew one of the local tea shops since 14 years ago, two years ago, they started their joint-venture with china tea factory on Pu-er tea such as Yi Wu, Qiao Mu, etc. According to the local tea shop owner, they shared their technical advise such as good and hygiene packing, etc. with chinese tea factory. At least, I rest assured their teas are not fake and their price also reasonable.

Fake is 1 worry. Lesser quality minum tak apa... but another bigger worry, this year pesticides seems out of control, so meaning 2010 tea 'may' have problem.

Not to buy tea for a year or two. Our worries are few unethical tea factories or tea seller may keep the 2010 teas and wrap with 2011 or 2012 labels then how to tell and differentiate ? Probably have to look for with quality control label and regular tea sellers which are trustable.

I came across this 7 pieces at a tea shop here,
2006: 中茶-昆明 -印級餅 -5861 ZhongCha Kunming - 5861 Raw


More photos: http://www.dengzhenghai168.cn/athena/offer...-608803487.html

It compresses of 7 difference types of kunming cake as a remembrance of past productions.

The best part, some people/web site sell it @ about USD35 and some at about USD175 for the same set, same box, same batch. Eg: http://search.taobao.com/search?commend=al...&source=search1

95 Spring Xia Guan (Limited Edition)
Roughly translated from: 1995年 下关阿诗玛“春尖”散普







Though this puerh is from 1995, it does not show any aged taste/colour at all but It has a strong fragrance. First taste was bitterness follows by sweetness and aftertaste.

The owner told me that the reason of why it hardly aged was it is stored in China in a wooden box unopened. And in every small box the loose tea is stored in plastic. This according to him maybe the reason of the slow aging.

More info and photos of the unboxing of the big wooden box:-
http://tea-li.com/goods.php?id=221

http://www.ynpuretea.com.cn/bbs/viewthread...page%3D1&page=1

This post has been edited by auhckw: Oct 19 2010, 05:41 PM

I did bought this from the vendor. At first I am quite excited but when I brew it, I am slightly disappointed. The water is very murky. Not clear at all. They also have the Menghai batch and it is also the same.

Lead extraction with green tea: AAS reveals efficacious lead detox
http://www.spectroscopynow.com/coi/cda/det...e&chId=1&page=1

[October 15, 2010]

Brewing up lead treatment

Atomic absorption spectroscopy and other techniques have been used to study the effects of green tea extract on reducing lead toxicity in laboratory rats. Green tea is tea brewed with the unprocessed leaves of Camellia sinensis. Green tea originates from China and has become associated with many cultures in Asia from Japan and South Korea to the Middle East. Black tea by contrast is more familiar in the West and is made from the "oxidised" leaves, which gives it a stronger flavour.

There have been various medical claims made for all forms of tea, but green tea extract has come to the fore as having unproven health benefits, such as helping with weight control, lowering the risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer. The presence of antioxidants including polyphenols and the presence of the stimulant caffeine are all considered in the general assessment of tea's physiological effects. Green tea extracts are herbal derivatives from green tea leaves that contain antioxidants, mainly green tea catechin polyphenols (GTC).

Green tea extract has been linked to lower cholesterol levels in animal studies and in humans GTE apparently increases the rate of fat oxidation in the body while modulating insulin activity. Obtaining proof of such benefits is fraught with epidemiological hazards. However, atomic absorption spectroscopy can demonstrate quantitative changes in levels of metal contaminants in a sample that would indicate benefits in some contexts. For instance, if GTE were able to chelate toxic lead ions in the body and allow them to be flushed out by the kidneys then that health effect could be demonstrated in a relatively straightforward way.

Lead toxicity

Green tea is tea made solely with the leaves of Camellia sinensis that have undergone minimal oxidation during processing. Green tea originates from China and has become associated with many cultures in Asia from Japan and South Korea to the Middle East.

Now, writing in the journal Atomic Experimental and Toxicologic Pathology, an international team based in Egypt and India, report on a study into lead toxicity amelerioration with GTE in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Lead is a common cause of chronic health problems in humans and poisoning of domestic animals throughout the world. The early stages of inorganic lead exposure are manifested by loss of appetite, weight loss, constipation, irritability, fatigue, occasional vomiting, lead line of gums and anaemia. Health risks associated with lead exposure from industrial and environmental sources are now well recognized and it is known that the metal interferes with many biochemical and physiological functions.

E.E. Mehana of the Department of Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Alexandria University, M.A. Meki of the Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, Assiut University, in Egypt, and Khalid Majid Fazili of the Department of Biotechnology, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, J&K, in India, studied four groups of rats. They gave the animals lead and GTE orally with drinking water for 8 weeks. "Lead concentration in the digested tissues of liver was detected using atomic absorption spectroscopy," the team explains, and "the activities of glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were used as markers to evaluate the antioxidant status of tissues."

They found that exposure to lead alone reduced the antioxidant capacity of the liver. However, this was reversed to some degree by ingestion of green tea extract. The team explains that the levels of liver enzymes ALT, AST and ALP and serum protein determinations showed that GTE has a protective effect on liver function in the face of lead. "Histopathological studies of liver revealed that supplementation of green tea extract resulted in mild degeneration and congestion of the blood vessels and an enhanced regenerative capacity," the team adds."

Tea growers see profits nearly double as quality improves
http://focustaiwan.tw/ShowNews/WebNews_Det...ID=201010130033

2010/10/13 22:17:41

Taipei, Oct. 13 (CNA) Tea growers in Taiwan have seen profits nearly double since last year thanks to a government-sponsored program that promotes the growth of high-quality leaves, a Council of Agriculture (COA) official said Wednesday.

Since late 2009, the council has provided consulting and advanced techniques for applying fertilizer or medicine, helping high-end tea growers obtain certifications including ISO 22000 and HACCP, Tsai Hsien-tsung, director of the COA's Tea Research and Extention Station's Wenshan Branch, said.

Taiwanese tea has become more competitive against foreign teas, Tsai said, noting that Starbucks Beijing and European tea merchants have placed orders.

Tea growers in areas such as Taipei County's Pinglin and Sansia townships, Taoyuan County, Hsinchu County, and Nantou County's Mingjian Jhushan townships have seen profits rise, he said.

Tsai said that as tea grown in the Taipei Sansia area has no pesticide residue, its price has risen from NT$70 (US$2) for 600 grams last year to NT$120 for now.

Well, if u're not sure about something, then it's wise to just avoid it. Plus Yunnan was hit by severe drought early this year. As a result, the quality of raw material for tea will be lesser than usual (because of rain shortage) and the price will definitely go up (because of limited production). For cultivated tea bushes, chemical fertilizers will be utilized to the max. For me I'll just avoid tea produced in 2011.

The Sixth South East Asia Puer Tea Trade Fair 2010



Date: 19/11/10 to 28/11/10
Time: 11am to 10pm
Venue: Mines - Malaysia International Exhibiton & Convention Centre

Info: http://www.teaculturalexpo.com/

Though it is as cheap as RM28 each for all these, some of it sure looks good.

My only concern is what kind of clay is it...



This post has been edited by auhckw: Oct 21 2010, 06:02 PM