Puerh the tea that ages like wine- 2006 vintage in store now-tastings tomorrow

Just arrived 2006 vintage Puerh origin ; Yunnan Pu-erh - The Tea that Ages Like Wine High in the mountains of Yunnan, China, in an area believed to be the birthplace of tea some 4700 years ago, there are groves of ancient tea trees. These trees, some as old as 1200 years of age, flourish naturally under pristine temperate conditions. They are primarily tended and harvested by two Chinese minority ethnic groups, the Dai and the Aini. The Dai and the Aini harvest a large leaf version of the tea tree, Camellia sinensis. According to historical accounts, sometime during the Tang dynasty (AD 618-907), merchants began packing these large tea leaves into compressed bricks (see our video on pressing tea cakes). These bricks of tea were easier to transport by pack animal than cumbersome loose leaf tea. Because of the long distances and difficult terrain, it would be months and sometimes years before the tea would reach its destination, whether that would be Tibet or faraway Peking. But something miraculous occurred during these extended delivery periods. The tea changed. Not only did the color of the tea transform from green to amber and eventually to dark teak, but also the taste of the tea became livelier, richer, fruitier and smoother. During its months of travel, the tea underwent an aging and fermentation process whereby microbes acted on the tea, causing biological and enzymatic changes. The resulting tea, known to the Chinese as Pu-erh, became highly sought-after, first by royalty, high officials and the literati, and later by tea connoisseurs, not only for its unique taste, but also for its medicinal qualities. Green tea and red tea, the teas popular in the West, are best enjoyed when the leaves are still fresh. But, like wine, Pu-erh tea leaves improve with age. A 357 gram 1950's Red Chop Pu-erh tea disc now sells for over $10,000. It is perhaps because of this singular feature, the capacity to improve with age, that quality Pu-erh is in short supply and is coveted and hoarded by tea connoisseurs in China, Taiwan and Hong Kong, so much so that relatively little is left for shipment to tea lovers in the West. Indeed, Pu-erh is a secret treasure yet to be discovered for many.