Need advice in re: '05 Keemuns

I'm just about out of my Keemun Mao Feng (only 5.3g left, enough for 3 cups) and Keemun Hao Ya (somewhat more) which have really nice chocolate and wine flavors. I *gotta* have more, but with all this talk about the spring teas, wouldn't it be better for me to wait until the '05 Keemuns are out? When will that be?

I'm so addicted that I'm not sure that I can wait very long and am wondering if I should go ahead and get more of the same then order the '05 in the fall/end of this year when my reorder is gone?

Something else I'm concerned about is what if the '05s don't taste as chocolaty or as winey? This is the first Mao Feng and Hao Ya I've ever had so, I'm not familiar with changes that may result from year to year.

Reply to
Bluesea
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I'm in the exact same boat only I have no Hao Ya left only Mao Feng and only enough for about 2 cups.

Mike

Reply to
Mike Boucher

Bluesea and Mike:

You can still enjoy your Keemun Mao Feng and Keemun Hao Ya A or B-2004 with full flavor if your vendor store the tea properly. Usually, black tea can be stored 1-2 years if it properly sealed.

Don't worry about Keemun. The reason, we are talking seriously about Long Jing Spring flush because it is green tea. Even for green tea- 1 full year is fine. Of course there is nothing like fresh harvested tea but for black tea 2004 production is fine.

Bluesea, You might see some changes year by year production. If you are totally stick with strong Keemun chocolaty, winy flavor then it will be difficult for you to enjoy tea for a long run. After all tea production depends on weather and the tea producers have no hand on it. Thick chocolaty Keemun were not widely available around 2004 compare to 2003 production. Upton's Keemun Hao Ya A-2003 was very nice with strong chocolaty flavor but not 2004 production. Harney & Sons offered a good Keemun Hao Ya A last year but it was very pricy. They are still selling that tea. If I remember correct, it was $22 or $25 for 100g. I love Keemun because of her dimensional taste such as- chocolaty, winey, floral, slight orchid-vanilla flavor, creamy finish, smoky, sweet etc, etc. You will never get any Keemun which can have all this taste, different grade Keemun release different taste, aroma and flavor. Imperial tea court is offering a wide range of Keemun and so far their Keemun Hao Ya A and Mao Feng is one of the best in the market right now.

The bottom line is- don't worry so much about Keemun as Long Jing-2005 production.

Ripon Maputo, Mozambique

Reply to
Ripon

Your stock is in worse shape than mine!

Reply to
Bluesea

Much thanks. I'll reorder the Mao Feng (the chocolate) and wait on the Hao Ya (the wine). I was thinking that I should enjoy the chocolate as long as I can get it since conditions might change where it's not available later.

I'm also addicted to my long jing but I've got enough left that I'm watchful but not yet feeling desperate.

Reply to
Bluesea

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Actually, Keemun is one of those teas that benefits from aging, albeit not quite so long as Pu'erh. So, I wouldn't wait for the newest arrivals.

Yup. If you're happy with what you've got, you'll be just as happy with a reorder now.

There could be changes of course, but they wouldn't necessarily be as dramatic as the changes in other teas. But, as I said, age will not hurt them at all, and will help them, so go for last year's.

Michael

Reply to
Michael Plant

Wow. I didn't know that age benefits Keemun. Many thanks.

Reply to
Bluesea

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