Liu Bao recommendations

[StoneLadle]

Shipping small quantities from Malaysia has gotten significantly more expensive the last few years (at least to Europe). I think the bulk buying suggestion is a good one.

2kg via DHL is about Euro50

[wave_code]

maybe for those of us here in Schengen land its worth putting together a group buy at some point.

[faj]

The 15 year LB from KG isn't out of stock as far as I know. Let me check with them when I see them tomorrow.

Even after decades of using the Internet, it is still funny to see that although we share the Forum as a virtual space, what for me would be a trip to the other end of the world is just a daily errand for you.

As for LOT the "other" tea is much more refined than the 031 in terms of flavour and body... It's got the benefit of more age and better quality raw material ...

Ok, makes sense. One seemingly stupid question : in LOT's case, I have not been able to determine how much tea is in the boxes they sell. It does not seem listed on the website, and maybe it is prominently displayed in the pictures, but that is not a language I can read...

As for shipping man, that's a tricky one.. it may be an idea to purchase a whole bunch of stuff and just maximise the weight/volume price of shipping ... I'll do a check from my side on parcels to Canada from Malaysia, standby ...

I do not want to make it more of an issue than it really is. Buying a lot makes sense when you know what you really like. But given how inexperienced I am, it might turn out to be worse for me to buy tea I end up not liking that much in bigger quantities rather than accept that exploring costs money. What would make the most sense for me would probably be to buy samples of a whole bunch of stuff to narrow down my tastes and then purchase in bigger quantities, but these two shops do not seem to offer that. I guess one can sample their stuff when visiting in person, but that is obviously not an option for me.

[StoneLadle]

@faj

It's cool yo, my boxes from Ipoh are 1kg each... And re samples etc, I'll see what I can do when I see KG tomorrow,but his tea is already super value for 300g/ half Jin when you think about it but in any case I'm happy to put together a care box for you pandas out there given you're happy to fork for postage or send me some maple syrup or some such

[OCTO]

ooooooo... care package!!...... now it's getting exciting....

[faj]

or send me some maple syrup or some such

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You mean that stuff?

I was tempted to joke in a previous message that sourcing Liu Bao here is like sourcing maple syrup in your corner of the world, but was not sure you would know what I was talking about... Well, I stand corrected.

I get mine from a colleague at work, it is really good. Many people in my area have small-scale syrup-making operations.

[StoneLadle]

So what's the LB of Maple Syrup? The earthiness darkest yummiest example there is!...

Gosh this is another gonna be another rabbit hole...

[StoneLadle]

Geez can't type write, I mean, right

[faj]

So what's the LB of Maple Syrup? The earthiness darkest yummiest example there is!...

Gosh this is another gonna be another rabbit hole...

I would not say that maple syrup is as deep a rabbit hole as tea. On the other hand, it is not as widespread either, I guess. Probably expensive too at retail in remote locations? From what I have heard in a distant past, the stuff that tends to be exported often is the palest grade, but it can be lacking a bit in terms of aromas. Here people would probably prefer stuff that has a robust maple aroma without being burnt or "off". Syrup produced later in the season is of lesser quality, people here calling it "sap syrup", which makes no sense as a pejorative term, since all syrup is made from sap, but that is what people say.

Maple syrup is also made into maple sugar, a fully crystallized product that is sold in bricks that you cut with a knife (or in bite-sized candy form, if you must). Probably less well known abroad is maple "butter", which contains no fat but is actually something in between syrup and sugar, and is typically used as a spread. It is hard to get it right, but well done is really great. Locally, maple syrup is prepared as maple taffy, which is heated, thicker syrup solidified on snow, as a seasonal treat in the spring. You can get taffy at retail, but it is just not the same thing, being way too stiff.

[StoneLadle]

@faj

The stocks look intact...

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They're not doing online sales but as we'd discussed we can just organise a swap of some barter items ... And yes, maple syrup obviously is a rabbit hole!!

[faj]

As for LOT the "other" tea is much more refined than the 031 in terms of flavour and body... It's got the benefit of more age and better quality raw material ...

I have made contact with the seller, and though their website does not allow international shipment, they offer the service over email.

They have a Bing Lang Xiang 025 (2006) and San He Da Shi (age not specified, seems new) at the same price as the 031. Do you know these teas?

The only Liu Bao teas I have tasted up until now were from Essence of Tea. Starting from that (very limited) reference, I wonder what to expect from LoT's products, though in the end I will probably have to make a blind purchase and hope for the best...

[StoneLadle]

@faj

I'd recommend the 031 and the Bing Lang Xiang, which means Betel Nut Aroma... It's a classic Ipoh style Liu Bao. Rich, chewy and tasty with good calming energy.

Am glad that they do shipping over email!

[faj]

I'd recommend the 031 and the Bing Lang Xiang, which means Betel Nut Aroma... It's a classic Ipoh style Liu Bao. Rich, chewy and tasty with good calming energy.

Thanks for the tip.

Am glad that they do shipping over email!

Not as much as I am!

[klepto]

Per the advice of @Baisao and @teaadventuresdotnet I picked up some Liu Bao.
One is Four Gold Coins and I forget the other. They haven't arrived yet but they shall soon.

[Baisao]

Per the advice of Baisao and @teaadventuresdotnet I picked up some Liu Bao.
One is Four Gold Coins and I forget the other. They haven't arrived yet but they shall soon.

The Steeping Room has a nice Liu Bao: https://www.thesteepingroom.com/product ... le-liu-bao

Cheers!