I bought some pu-erh, and, just out of curiosity, decided to crack the
cheapest cake in two halves. To my surprise, a little beetle-like
insect emerged and then retreated back to the cake.

Before contacting the vendor, I was wondering if this ever happened
with any of you, and if it is likely that the insect somehow got into
the cake in my house, since the steaming (it is a Shu cake) should have
killed anything like this.

Thanks,

--k

wrote:
> I bought some pu-erh, and, just out of curiosity, decided to crack the
> cheapest cake in two halves. To my surprise, a little beetle-like
> insect emerged and then retreated back to the cake.
>
> Before contacting the vendor, I was wondering if this ever happened
> with any of you, and if it is likely that the insect somehow got into
> the cake in my house, since the steaming (it is a Shu cake) should have
> killed anything like this.
>
> Thanks,
>
> --k

Actually, many people see this as a good thing on the mainland. They
say that the bugs get in and make the cake better and that it can
account for the pu's age. We had a thread about this a long time ago;
you should search it.

Mike Petro also has something on his site about it.

>Mike Petro also has something on his site about it.

See http://www.pu-erh.net/static.php?StaticID=13


As with any agricultural product, insect infestation is not uncommon.
Puerh is often warehoused for years which dramatically increases the
probability that a few critters will set up shop in there.

Quite frankly, in all likelihood the infestation occurred long before
your particular vendor acquired the Puerh. While the vendor certainly
should give you full credit for the cake if you find all of this
distasteful, it is probably not the vendors fault.

As Mydnight alluded to, in Asia the presence of insects is not seen
with the same repulsion as it is in the western world. Many Asians see
it as a good thing. A "rope" of insect droppings is sometimes found in
between the cakes and the leaf wrapping on tongs of really old cakes.
This "rope" is highly valued, the longer the rope the more it is
prized.

So take all of this into consideration before you beat up your vendor
too badly.....

--
Mike Petro
http://www.pu-erh.net

You proably could get a visit from your local agricultural inspector.
I haven't noticed anything crawling out of or around any of my bamboo
bundles yet. I do notice some flaking from my exposed cakes but no
bugs.

Jim

Mike Petro wrote:
> So take all of this into consideration before you beat up your vendor
> too badly.....
>
> --
> Mike Petro
> http://www.pu-erh.net

Thanks for the answers!

I've checked all my cakes, and found the source of the infection: It
was a stack from the six famous montains. The wrapping of all of them
is damaged, three of them have lots of insects, and they are little
beetles, not moths like the the poopoo puerh, which makes me suspect it
is a bad infection. Or are all insects beneficial to the cakes?

If so, do you think it is a good idea to put the infected cakes aside
and wait for them to become something like Poo Poo Puer? The vendor is
really nice, and I wouldn't like to ask replacement for half of my
order :P

--k

Konrad Scorciapino wrote:
> Thanks for the answers!
>
> I've checked all my cakes, and found the source of the infection: It
> was a stack from the six famous montains. The wrapping of all of them
> is damaged, three of them have lots of insects, and they are little
> beetles, not moths like the the poopoo puerh, which makes me suspect it
> is a bad infection. Or are all insects beneficial to the cakes?
>
> If so, do you think it is a good idea to put the infected cakes aside
> and wait for them to become something like Poo Poo Puer? The vendor is
> really nice, and I wouldn't like to ask replacement for half of my
> order :P

I would get them as far from the rest of your collection as possible.
The moth thing is legit, I have multiple references on that; however
beetles sounds like some sort of undesirable infestation. Dont let them
destroy your other teas.

In any event, does it really matter what the Asians prize? If you
don't care for it then get rid of it. Your perception is the only
that really counts.

This reminds of eating shrimp in Spain and Greece. The first time I
ordered shrimp over there they brought out these humongous fantastic
looking prawns that had been cooked whole, each of them easily several
ounces at least. I was in heaven and proceeded to take the heads off
and peel them before eating them. Everybody in the restaurant looked at
me like I was an alien from Mars or something. It turns out that they
consider the shrimp heads to be a delicacy over there and I was sitting
there throwing away the BEST part! Guess what, even after finding out
all of that, I never did eat a shrimp head......

Mike
http://www.pu-erh.net

> wrote:
>I bought some pu-erh, and, just out of curiosity, decided to crack the
>cheapest cake in two halves. To my surprise, a little beetle-like
>insect emerged and then retreated back to the cake.

I once got a box of Mumtaz black tea that had a huge and very dessicated
dead roach packed firmly in it.

>Before contacting the vendor, I was wondering if this ever happened
>with any of you, and if it is likely that the insect somehow got into
>the cake in my house, since the steaming (it is a Shu cake) should have
>killed anything like this.

They will charge you extra for the bug. It is a very rare bug, sir.
--scott

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

Scott Dorsey wrote:
> > wrote:
> >I bought some pu-erh, and, just out of curiosity, decided to crack the
> >cheapest cake in two halves. To my surprise, a little beetle-like
> >insect emerged and then retreated back to the cake.
>
> I once got a box of Mumtaz black tea that had a huge and very dessicated
> dead roach packed firmly in it.
>
> >Before contacting the vendor, I was wondering if this ever happened
> >with any of you, and if it is likely that the insect somehow got into
> >the cake in my house, since the steaming (it is a Shu cake) should have
> >killed anything like this.
>
> They will charge you extra for the bug. It is a very rare bug, sir.
> --scott
>
> --
> "C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

Insects are certainly not part of my tea enjoyment, and the discussion
of "ropes" made me a touch ill. The worst part is to find out what
actually "passes" for inspections, how many roaches or insect parts per
pound, or feces per pound, or how many < 1inch pieces of fur/mice, or
bile, etc. It is pretty disgusting stuff, and that is what passes! So
on items like these that most likely see no inspection at all or very
limited if any it is even scarier.

I guess some may be down with the bugs, but not for me. Personally, I
would not be able to enjoy one cup of that tea without thinking of the
bugs so it would either be a refund or into the garbage.

- Dominic

Amen to that. Get rid of it: exchange it for something else unlikely to
be infected, and have your vendor inspect it themselves.

If indeed the bugs are good (whatever!) your vendor should be happy to
have it back...

But really...beetles...ick

~j
Dominic T. wrote:
> Scott Dorsey wrote:
> > > wrote:
> > >I bought some pu-erh, and, just out of curiosity, decided to crack the
> > >cheapest cake in two halves. To my surprise, a little beetle-like
> > >insect emerged and then retreated back to the cake.
> >
> > I once got a box of Mumtaz black tea that had a huge and very dessicated
> > dead roach packed firmly in it.
> >
> > >Before contacting the vendor, I was wondering if this ever happened
> > >with any of you, and if it is likely that the insect somehow got into
> > >the cake in my house, since the steaming (it is a Shu cake) should have
> > >killed anything like this.
> >
> > They will charge you extra for the bug. It is a very rare bug, sir.
> > --scott
> >
> > --
> > "C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."
>
> Insects are certainly not part of my tea enjoyment, and the discussion
> of "ropes" made me a touch ill. The worst part is to find out what
> actually "passes" for inspections, how many roaches or insect parts per
> pound, or feces per pound, or how many < 1inch pieces of fur/mice, or
> bile, etc. It is pretty disgusting stuff, and that is what passes! So
> on items like these that most likely see no inspection at all or very
> limited if any it is even scarier.
>
> I guess some may be down with the bugs, but not for me. Personally, I
> would not be able to enjoy one cup of that tea without thinking of the
> bugs so it would either be a refund or into the garbage.
>
> - Dominic

If I got any tea sent to me that had a bug crawling out of it customs would
promptly impound my tea if they saw it. Makes me shudder to think it - I
have enough trouble getting this "organic" stuff through as it is with all
the funny chinese script on it nobody in customs can read..

Kat

Fast or slow SAL shipments from China are simply if the slow boat from
China is docked not customs.

Jim

KM wrote:
> If I got any tea sent to me that had a bug crawling out of it customs would
> promptly impound my tea if they saw it. Makes me shudder to think it - I
> have enough trouble getting this "organic" stuff through as it is with all
> the funny chinese script on it nobody in customs can read..
>
> Kat

wow, food bonus with your pu-erh; I'm jealous, all I ever get is nails
or straw

Kevin


wrote:
> I bought some pu-erh, and, just out of curiosity, decided to crack the
> cheapest cake in two halves. To my surprise, a little beetle-like
> insect emerged and then retreated back to the cake.
>
> Before contacting the vendor, I was wondering if this ever happened
> with any of you, and if it is likely that the insect somehow got into
> the cake in my house, since the steaming (it is a Shu cake) should have
> killed anything like this.
>
> Thanks,
>
> --k

So how much did your bug consume?
wrote:
> I bought some pu-erh, and, just out of curiosity, decided to crack the
> cheapest cake in two halves. To my surprise, a little beetle-like
> insect emerged and then retreated back to the cake.
>
> Before contacting the vendor, I was wondering if this ever happened
> with any of you, and if it is likely that the insect somehow got into
> the cake in my house, since the steaming (it is a Shu cake) should have
> killed anything like this.
>
> Thanks,
>
> --k