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“Smell: This tea smells very doughy. It is like a raw tube of puff biscuit right after it is popped. It has a slightly salty and peppery scent but the thick doughy scent is the most...” Read full tasting note
“★★★★★ Wow… Another hit! I’ll return later to review this tea in detail after I’ve spent more time with it. But as far as quality vs. price goes… It doesn’t get much better than this. This could...” Read full tasting note
“I’ll admit that going into this that I had a slight bias against the cake as my experience with Rongzhen has been mixed. Sure their ripe puerh cakes were not bad but they were not really that good...” Read full tasting note
“Well, this is a different ripe pu-erh story than yesterday! Thank you Michelle and Rich! I have used 6 grams this time. I wasn’t paying again too much attention to it, so it won’t be...” Read full tasting note
2010 Rongzhen Reserve Ripen Pu-erh Tea Cake (荣珍特级熟饼)
Every year I paid a few visits to Rongzhen teas for their no frills, yet above average teas. In 2010 Fall I found this cake hidden behind the counter as their reserve. They had selected the best ripen materials they had made so far, made them into this superb Pu-erh tea cake, as a reserve for a closed circle, not for open market.
The proprietor confirmed that the materials were from Menghai area, and fermented at Menghai with its ‘white sand water’, less than 300 cakes were made.
Pu-erh tea cake
Typical weight: 357gram
Vintage: 2010
Cooked or fermented
Loose tea leaves
Caffeine: Moderate
Company description not available.
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PuerhShop.comSmell: This tea smells very doughy. It is like a raw tube of puff biscuit right after it is popped. It has a slightly salty and peppery scent but the thick doughy scent is the most noticeable.
Taste: This tea is a lot fruitier than I expected. The doughy scent is a lot lighter than it smelled. The flavor is like fresh baked wheat bread.
★★★★★
Wow… Another hit!
I’ll return later to review this tea in detail after I’ve spent more time with it.
But as far as quality vs. price goes… It doesn’t get much better than this. This could easily be in a much higher price bracket. Way to go Rongzhen :)
According to the PuerhShop.com, only 300 of these puerh cakes were made. So I guess I need to grab a few more of these eh?
My Ratings…
★ = Didn’t Hate It.
★★ = Not Bad.
★★★ = Me Likey.
★★★★ = Impressive!
★★★★★ = AwesomeSauce!
I’ll admit that going into this that I had a slight bias against the cake as my experience with Rongzhen has been mixed. Sure their ripe puerh cakes were not bad but they were not really that good compared to others that I had either, just a safe midrange cake. The brew of this one was different as it is the best Rongzhen puerh that I’ve had yet. It has a sweet mellow taste as one would expect from a Menghai area ripe puerh. Yet what impresses me the most with this sample is that despite being under a year old for a ripe puerh there is not even a trace of any off factory odors or flavors. I just looked up the price for a whole cake and it was $12.98 which makes it a rare gem among the cheaper ripe puerh cakes in my opinion.
Well, this is a different ripe pu-erh story than yesterday! Thank you Michelle and Rich!
I have used 6 grams this time. I wasn’t paying again too much attention to it, so it won’t be super-descriptive steep by steep note.
First of all, it is much easier to pry than yesterday. It was almost loose leaf!
Secondly, it steeps quickly, so I started with 5 seconds rinse and fast steeps afterwards.
Thirdly, it has got so good flavour and aroma! I noticed notes of (not in particular order): toast, bread, dark chocolate, bitter, coffee, fruity, dough, caramel, creamy vanilla, smooth.
Brew is usually clear, though oily dark; with interesting viscosity — I believe it was thickier than usual teas are.
I have searched for Rongzhen puerhs, but nothing found, If you got some source… let me know!
I can send some more of this one when I get home from my travels :)
This sounds delightful. The only puerh I have in my cabinet now right kind of grossed me out… you give me hope for the future of exploration, haha!
I will certainly consider it Michelle.
beerandbeancurd honestly, shus were always hit or miss for me. Some are very heavy, alkaline, but some were delightful, creamy and with chocolate notes. It’s so hard to get one that suits well the taste and it is very unexplored style for me.
beerandbeancurd: if you’re shu is fishy or just way too strong, try setting a session’s worth out in a bowl with the wrapper undone (if tuo) or just loose. Let it breathe and then try it. I have done this for anywhere from two hours to two days, depending on how unruly the tea was!
Thank you for the tip, ashmanra! I’ll try this for sure!
This tea is one of my very favorites. I’ve owned it for over a year and it’s changed considerably. When I first got it, it had a more “roasted” flavor – very delicious. Now it’s very, very sweet, creamy, vanilla, caramel and with a lot more character than any tea in this price range. Will have to amend this review while I’m actually drinking it to provide a more accurate taste profile
A nice smooth shu, tastes noticeably different than others I’ve tried. A bit musty, in a good way, no off flavors, medium richness and somewhat deep. Tasty.
I like wheat bread pu-erh especially in the morning!
Suddenly I’m craving Pillsbury crescent rolls :)
Mmhmm. Pilsbury is the exact brand I was thinking I just couldn’t remember :) It was a very bready tea, and the fruit made it seem like toast and jam.
You make it sound amazing!
It was really good. I especially liked it because It was very different from many other shu’s I’ve tried
got this one for Christmas!
Hope you enjoy, it’s a really unique tea :)