Dear Friends,

I have learned from this estimated group, among others from Mike Petro's
excellent postings, that there have not been any black/shu puerhs prior to
1973, when the Kunming Tea Factory made the first test production of black
puerh.

Therefore I got very surprised when a friend of mine arrived from China with
a quite expensive ($500) brick of black/shu puerh. The seller of the brick,
a native Chinese and a long-time business partner of her stated that this
shu puerh was from 1970. She said that he even showed her some kind of
certificate of authenticity (which she anyway could not verify as she does
not know any Chinese).

I am wondering what kind of puerh did she buy. Did she get screwed, or is it
some kind of real rarity? Is it a cooked/shu puerh at all? Please take a
look of these pictures, and if you have any clues about the age, type and
factory of this brick, please share it with me! You can see the pictures
he

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...u_brick_01.jpg
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...u_brick_02.jpg

Unfortunately this is the highest resolution Photobucket allows to upload.
If anyone would like to see the pictures in a higher resolution whith a
readable text, let me know, and I can mail it to anyone.

Thank you for your help,
Gyorgy

"Gyorgy Sajo" > writes:

> Dear Friends,
>
> I have learned from this estimated group, among others from Mike Petro's
> excellent postings, that there have not been any black/shu puerhs prior to
> 1973, when the Kunming Tea Factory made the first test production of black
> puerh.
>
> Therefore I got very surprised when a friend of mine arrived from China with
> a quite expensive ($500) brick of black/shu puerh. The seller of the brick,
> a native Chinese and a long-time business partner of her stated that this
> shu puerh was from 1970. She said that he even showed her some kind of
> certificate of authenticity (which she anyway could not verify as she does
> not know any Chinese).
>
> I am wondering what kind of puerh did she buy. Did she get screwed, or is it
> some kind of real rarity? Is it a cooked/shu puerh at all? Please take a
> look of these pictures, and if you have any clues about the age, type and
> factory of this brick, please share it with me! You can see the pictures
> he
>
> http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...u_brick_01.jpg
> http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...u_brick_02.jpg
>
> Unfortunately this is the highest resolution Photobucket allows to upload.
> If anyone would like to see the pictures in a higher resolution whith a
> readable text, let me know, and I can mail it to anyone.

The big green letters say Dian (i.e., Yunnan) Pu Cha. I'm certainly
no expert in authenticating supposedly old packaging for Pu'er, but I
was surprised to see the informality of "Pu Cha" rather than Pu'er
Cha". Sorry, but the smaller characters are too much of a struggle
for me at the moment.

/Lew
---
Lew Perin /
http://www.panix.com/~perin/babelcarp.html

1970 is 39 years ago.
go look at a newspaper from 40 years ago, it yellows and dries out.
imho, the packaging is less than 2 years old.

there is no evidence of aging, or drying of the paper.

i do not know about the cake itself, but the package is new.

the second picture clearly shows the paper is still pliable, no
wrinkles or creases but smooth curves.
still has a new shine to the paper. almost like it is waxed

The packaging and brick looks too crisp to me. At best it was sold as
a 70s meaning before Dec 31 1979 and some from Hong Kong still
around, supposedly. The resolution isnt good enough for me to
decipher the characters under the Star. Im sure a native speaker
could make more of the inscription. I posted a couple of days ago The
Strangest Factory Name where I mentioned Yun Pu. It was odd to me Pu
by itself like here.

Jim

On Feb 27, 4:27 pm, Lewis Perin > wrote:
> "Gyorgy Sajo" > writes:
> > Dear Friends,
>
> > I have learned from this estimated group, among others from Mike Petro's
> > excellent postings, that there have not been any black/shu puerhs prior to
> > 1973, when the Kunming Tea Factory made the first test production of black
> > puerh.
>
> > Therefore I got very surprised when a friend of mine arrived from China with
> > a quite expensive ($500) brick of black/shu puerh. The seller of the brick,
> > a native Chinese and a long-time business partner of her stated that this
> > shu puerh was from 1970. She said that he even showed her some kind of
> > certificate of authenticity (which she anyway could not verify as she does
> > not know any Chinese).
>
> > I am wondering what kind of puerh did she buy. Did she get screwed, or is it
> > some kind of real rarity? Is it a cooked/shu puerh at all? Please take a
> > look of these pictures, and if you have any clues about the age, type and
> > factory of this brick, please share it with me! You can see the pictures
> > he
>
> >http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...u_brick_01.jpg
> >http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...u_brick_02.jpg
>
> > Unfortunately this is the highest resolution Photobucket allows to upload.
> > If anyone would like to see the pictures in a higher resolution whith a
> > readable text, let me know, and I can mail it to anyone.
>
> The big green letters say Dian (i.e., Yunnan) Pu Cha. I'm certainly
> no expert in authenticating supposedly old packaging for Pu'er, but I
> was surprised to see the informality of "Pu Cha" rather than Pu'er
> Cha". Sorry, but the smaller characters are too much of a struggle
> for me at the moment.
>
> /Lew
> ---
> Lew Perin /

Here is the TaoBao link. Ill try to make sense this weekend unless
someone beats me to it. ~3000Y is $375.

http://tinyurl.com/cdta2w

Jim

On Feb 28, 7:53 am, wrote:
> The packaging and brick looks too crisp to me. At best it was sold as
> a 70s meaning before Dec 31 1979 and some from Hong Kong still
> around, supposedly. The resolution isnt good enough for me to
> decipher the characters under the Star. Im sure a native speaker
> could make more of the inscription. I posted a couple of days ago The
> Strangest Factory Name where I mentioned Yun Pu. It was odd to me Pu
> by itself like here.
>
> Jim
>
> On Feb 27, 4:27 pm, Lewis Perin > wrote:
>
> > "Gyorgy Sajo" > writes:
> > > Dear Friends,
>
> > > I have learned from this estimated group, among others from Mike Petro's
> > > excellent postings, that there have not been any black/shu puerhs prior to
> > > 1973, when the Kunming Tea Factory made the first test production of black
> > > puerh.
>
> > > Therefore I got very surprised when a friend of mine arrived from China with
> > > a quite expensive ($500) brick of black/shu puerh. The seller of the brick,
> > > a native Chinese and a long-time business partner of her stated that this
> > > shu puerh was from 1970. She said that he even showed her some kind of
> > > certificate of authenticity (which she anyway could not verify as she does
> > > not know any Chinese).
>
> > > I am wondering what kind of puerh did she buy. Did she get screwed, or is it
> > > some kind of real rarity? Is it a cooked/shu puerh at all? Please take a
> > > look of these pictures, and if you have any clues about the age, type and
> > > factory of this brick, please share it with me! You can see the pictures
> > > he
>
> > >http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...u_brick_01.jpg
> > >http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...u_brick_02.jpg
>
> > > Unfortunately this is the highest resolution Photobucket allows to upload.
> > > If anyone would like to see the pictures in a higher resolution whith a
> > > readable text, let me know, and I can mail it to anyone.
>
> > The big green letters say Dian (i.e., Yunnan) Pu Cha. I'm certainly
> > no expert in authenticating supposedly old packaging for Pu'er, but I
> > was surprised to see the informality of "Pu Cha" rather than Pu'er
> > Cha". Sorry, but the smaller characters are too much of a struggle
> > for me at the moment.
>
> > /Lew
> > ---
> > Lew Perin /

Sorry, pulled the trigger too soon. Some more expensive, some less.

http://tinyurl.com/brb6du

Jim

On Feb 28, 9:14 am, wrote:
> Here is the TaoBao link. Ill try to make sense this weekend unless
> someone beats me to it. ~3000Y is $375.
>
> http://tinyurl.com/cdta2w
>
> Jim

On Feb 28, 11:14*am, wrote:
> Here is the TaoBao link. *Ill try to make sense this weekend unless
> someone beats me to it. *~3000Y is $375.
>
> http://tinyurl.com/cdta2w
>
> Jim

Not to take away from the excellent legwork you've done, but I think
3000Y is more like $440 USD right now... so ~$500 seems close and not
as ripped off as it first seemed.

- Dominic

Thank you Jim, great job! Yes, this is the one, at least the package is
exactly the same. So there is no need to upload a picture in higher
resolution.

I have translated the first page that you have linked to with Babelfish. It
says that it is a ripe puerh brick that was made in the 70'es (and not in
1970 proper) by the "Courageous sea" factory, which corresponds to the Meng
Hai Tea Factory according to Mike Petro's list of "Common Factory Names". Is
it correct?

Gyorgy

> skrev i en meddelelse
...
> Sorry, pulled the trigger too soon. Some more expensive, some less.
>
> http://tinyurl.com/brb6du
>
> Jim
>
> On Feb 28, 9:14 am, wrote:
>> Here is the TaoBao link. Ill try to make sense this weekend unless
>> someone beats me to it. ~3000Y is $375.
>>
>> http://tinyurl.com/cdta2w
>>
>> Jim

Not to mention the ones that are offered for 11.440Y, which is almost $1700!
Of course one can not know if anyone is ready to pay this price for one
brick of old tea leaves, but if it is a realistic price, than $500 was a
steal. Or a proof for that the brick is a fake... :-)

Gyorgy

"dxt178" > skrev i en meddelelse
...
On Feb 28, 11:14 am, wrote:
> Here is the TaoBao link. Ill try to make sense this weekend unless
> someone beats me to it. ~3000Y is $375.
>
> http://tinyurl.com/cdta2w
>
> Jim

Not to take away from the excellent legwork you've done, but I think
3000Y is more like $440 USD right now... so ~$500 seems close and not
as ripped off as it first seemed.

- Dominic

You might be right, but then have a look at this one at Taobao:

http://tinyurl.com/d8sxop

The paper looks as fresh and pliable like the one I have posted.
Nevertheless the seller states that it is an old brick from the 70'es, and
asks for it the huge amount of 11.440Y ($1700). So who knows for sure?...

Gyorgy

> skrev i en meddelelse
...
> the second picture clearly shows the paper is still pliable, no
> wrinkles or creases but smooth curves.
> still has a new shine to the paper. almost like it is waxed
>
>

I think the key is the neifei or the little sticker in the cake.
Maybe somebody could recognize it as Menghai Tea factory from the
73-79. I dont see the modern logo for Menghai. That doesnt mean much
because it could have been a private pressing by Menghai for somebody
else. I think it should look a little more weathered ie falling apart
or the edges a little less sharp. Im wondering if the neifei bleed
through is from storing the cake in a wet climate. If authentic I
think a great deal. Youre not going to find it on this side of the
Pacific. Im less concerned about the packaging since maybe it was a
private label that someone decided to sell now. If you get a chance
to try some and your eyeballs start spinning with the Chinese
character for chi/qi Id say it is the real deal.

Jim

On Feb 28, 1:14 pm, "Gyorgy Sajo" > wrote:
> Thank you Jim, great job! Yes, this is the one, at least the package is
> exactly the same. So there is no need to upload a picture in higher
> resolution.
>
> I have translated the first page that you have linked to with Babelfish. It
> says that it is a ripe puerh brick that was made in the 70'es (and not in
> 1970 proper) by the "Courageous sea" factory, which corresponds to the Meng
> Hai Tea Factory according to Mike Petro's list of "Common Factory Names". Is
> it correct?
>
> Gyorgy
>
> > skrev i en ...
>
> > Sorry, pulled the trigger too soon. Some more expensive, some less.
>
> >http://tinyurl.com/brb6du
>
> > Jim
>
> > On Feb 28, 9:14 am, wrote:
> >> Here is the TaoBao link. Ill try to make sense this weekend unless
> >> someone beats me to it. ~3000Y is $375.
>
> >>http://tinyurl.com/cdta2w
>
> >> Jim

Jim,

Thanks again, I will let her check the neifei. I actually did taste the tea
because she has bought two bricks and has broke up one of them. I must
confess that it did not taste any special. Just another earthy and somewhat
mild shu. But then I have to confess that I can not really taste big
differences between shu and shu. I definitely could not taste the $500 deal,
neither did I experience any qi, but blame my taste buds for that. On the
other hand I do appreciate a nice sheng when I meet one and I can get quite
a kick out of it.

Gyorgy

> skrev i meddelelsen
...
>I think the key is the neifei or the little sticker in the cake.
> Maybe somebody could recognize it as Menghai Tea factory from the
> 73-79. I dont see the modern logo for Menghai. That doesnt mean much
> because it could have been a private pressing by Menghai for somebody
> else. I think it should look a little more weathered ie falling apart
> or the edges a little less sharp. Im wondering if the neifei bleed
> through is from storing the cake in a wet climate. If authentic I
> think a great deal. Youre not going to find it on this side of the
> Pacific. Im less concerned about the packaging since maybe it was a
> private label that someone decided to sell now. If you get a chance
> to try some and your eyeballs start spinning with the Chinese
> character for chi/qi Id say it is the real deal.
>
> Jim
>
> On Feb 28, 1:14 pm, "Gyorgy Sajo" > wrote:
>> Thank you Jim, great job! Yes, this is the one, at least the package is
>> exactly the same. So there is no need to upload a picture in higher
>> resolution.
>>
>> I have translated the first page that you have linked to with Babelfish.
>> It
>> says that it is a ripe puerh brick that was made in the 70'es (and not in
>> 1970 proper) by the "Courageous sea" factory, which corresponds to the
>> Meng
>> Hai Tea Factory according to Mike Petro's list of "Common Factory Names".
>> Is
>> it correct?
>>
>> Gyorgy
>>
>> > skrev i en
>> ...
>>
>> > Sorry, pulled the trigger too soon. Some more expensive, some less.
>>
>> >http://tinyurl.com/brb6du
>>
>> > Jim
>>
>> > On Feb 28, 9:14 am, wrote:
>> >> Here is the TaoBao link. Ill try to make sense this weekend unless
>> >> someone beats me to it. ~3000Y is $375.
>>
>> >>http://tinyurl.com/cdta2w
>>
>> >> Jim

That was 2005 exchange rates when I got my last shipment from China
Post. The declining dollar is never more apparent when exchanged.
Ive never been able to figure out why the dollar was always weak
against the pound. Thats another country that is bankrupt like us and
doesnt know it.

Jim

On Feb 28, 11:26 am, dxt178 > wrote:
> On Feb 28, 11:14 am, wrote:
>
> > Here is the TaoBao link. Ill try to make sense this weekend unless
> > someone beats me to it. ~3000Y is $375.
>
> >http://tinyurl.com/cdta2w
>
> > Jim
>
> Not to take away from the excellent legwork you've done, but I think
> 3000Y is more like $440 USD right now... so ~$500 seems close and not
> as ripped off as it first seemed.
>
> - Dominic

All the time I see products coming out of China that aren't what they say
they are. I was looking at some transmitting tubes at a local electronics
shop... they said MADE IN USA in big letters on the side. I asked the
dealer if that was true and he said, "No, I buy them in China, they just
put that stuff on them."

Unless you see some other outside reason to believe it, I would not believe
that any product from China is what the label claims it to be.

If you believe that just because the tea comes with a certificate saying
it's from 1970 that it actually is, I have some Rolexes to sell you.

>I am wondering what kind of puerh did she buy. Did she get screwed, or is it
>some kind of real rarity? Is it a cooked/shu puerh at all? Please take a
>look of these pictures, and if you have any clues about the age, type and
>factory of this brick, please share it with me! You can see the pictures
>he

Break it up and drink it. If it tastes good, it's good. How much is good
tasting tea worth to you?
--scott


--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."