[Ozzy]
>> I recently tried this cake, "2004 Mengku Wu Chi Dao Wild Large Leaf",
>>
>> <http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4428079052>
>>
>> and was just a bit disappointed. I'd be interested if anyone else,
>> especially one of the Pu-erh people, has tried it as well, and what their
>> reactions were. My tastes are still developing. However, it wouldn't
>> come as a terrific shock to learn, for example, that the reason the tea
>> is described as "affordable" (is it really a good value for wild large
>> leaf?) is because the factory isn't the best, or that 2004 was an
>> off-year there, or it really wasn't aged enough, or what have you. (Of
>> course, could be that I just prefer cooked...)
>>
>> My ignorance is formidable, and a knowledgeable response would be helpful in
>> reducing it. :-) Thank you.

[Mike]
> Hi Ozzy,
>
> What I need to ask at this point is if you have tried any other green
> puerhs? Green puerh is quite a different animal if Black puerh is what
> you are accustomed to. Almost any young green will be bitter and
> astringent, especially if it was not properly brewed.
>
> How did you brew it? Try water around 195f and short, very short
> infusions. Green puerh does not really become smooth until it has
> 20-30 years under it's belt.

[Michael]
Good points on brewing.

Mike, a note on your last sentence here. I beg to differ, but it might be a
simple matter of semantics. A green Pu'erh can be perfectly smooth from its
outset, but that smoothness will more than likely lack the subtle
camphor/mint/leather/plum notes -- never all together, I know -- of an old
Pu'erh. The young Pu'erh of good family will present among other things
flower/fruit/smoke/must/astringency/bitterness, sometimes in such balance as
to make it delightful. I'm a big fan of bitter, by the way; as long as it
lives happily with sweetness and other qualities I crave. See what I mean?

> I have tried this tea and it wasn't bad. While they are not my
> favorite, Mengku teas are not substandard by any means as far as I
> know.

As I mentioned to Ozzy, the pictures certainly make it look enticing.

Michael
Drinking a 1970's 7542. Mint mint yum yum and lives long and prospers.