This weekend I went, as I often do, to Harrod's department store (founded in 1849 in Knightsbridge, London). Several of the departments are world famous, including their Food Hall, which is where I took this pic. It's not a very good photo, as it was taken through a glass case in a crowded spot, but the subject is interesting: Yunnan Puerh tea.
I wasn't familiar with the stuff, so I looked it up. Yunnan's a mountainous province in southwest China, and Pu-erh is the name of an old tea trading town there. Instead of pretending I know much about it, here's the text from the sign in the photo:
Puerh tea is the only tea whose processing involves maturation, similar to fine wine. Authentic Puerh is semi fermented tea grown exclusively in Yunnan, with the best coming from ancient wild tea trees.
Compressed tea ages more slowly than loose tea, but compressing the tea ensures that the flavour and essential life of the tea is preserved. After 10 years, puerh is considered worthy of drinking, but it is only once they hit around 50 years that they are at their optimum.
This tea was produced during the 1950s, and is considered exceptional due to its age of more than 50 years and the quality of the tea blend. This 'cake' offers outstanding ageing potential and arguably the best puerh flavour around today.
The tea produces a rich, deep ruby liquor, which is smooth and highly complex, believed by some experts to offer over 400 different flavours.
Brew 5-8g of this vintage tea in a tea pot of 200ml water and infuse for only around 15-20 seconds. The tea can be infused for up to 20 times.
This tea, exclusive to Harrod's, is being sold for a limited period only.
£15,000 per 357g Cake
Harrod's motto is "Omnia Omnibus Ubique — All Things for All People, Everywhere," but with a price tag of £15,000 (over $25,000), this item is definitely not for all. I am intrigued, however, by any tea that can produce a 'rich ruby liquor' within 20 seconds - and that's why it's my Pic Of The Week.
I wasn't familiar with the stuff, so I looked it up. Yunnan's a mountainous province in southwest China, and Pu-erh is the name of an old tea trading town there. Instead of pretending I know much about it, here's the text from the sign in the photo:
Puerh tea is the only tea whose processing involves maturation, similar to fine wine. Authentic Puerh is semi fermented tea grown exclusively in Yunnan, with the best coming from ancient wild tea trees.
Compressed tea ages more slowly than loose tea, but compressing the tea ensures that the flavour and essential life of the tea is preserved. After 10 years, puerh is considered worthy of drinking, but it is only once they hit around 50 years that they are at their optimum.
This tea was produced during the 1950s, and is considered exceptional due to its age of more than 50 years and the quality of the tea blend. This 'cake' offers outstanding ageing potential and arguably the best puerh flavour around today.
The tea produces a rich, deep ruby liquor, which is smooth and highly complex, believed by some experts to offer over 400 different flavours.
Brew 5-8g of this vintage tea in a tea pot of 200ml water and infuse for only around 15-20 seconds. The tea can be infused for up to 20 times.
This tea, exclusive to Harrod's, is being sold for a limited period only.
£15,000 per 357g Cake
Harrod's motto is "Omnia Omnibus Ubique — All Things for All People, Everywhere," but with a price tag of £15,000 (over $25,000), this item is definitely not for all. I am intrigued, however, by any tea that can produce a 'rich ruby liquor' within 20 seconds - and that's why it's my Pic Of The Week.
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