It doesn't make any economic sense for free tastings of 'aged' puer.
If it did then everyone would be tasting and not buying just because of
the price. I see the new 2005 Menghai 300g+ on TaoBao for 20 yuan.
I've also seen some reports of 2003 factory productions sold out such
as White Dragon. I think you could buy a five year old Menghai for
$10. Easily ten year old around $20. I think a green or silver bud
beeng could be described as 'floral'. Have you seen any indications of
the reports for new prices going through the roof because of demand?

Jim

Mydnight wrote:
> You did buy real pu'er, but it is impossible that it is 7 years old if
> you only paid 70RMB for it. No matter what shop/factory you go to,
> unless you know the people there, they will always lie and say that
> their pu'er is old. I frequent the Fangcun tea market in Guangzhou,
> basically to drink tea for free and see if I can find a good deal, and
> I very often drink "20 year old" pu'er...you can easily find such "20
> year old" pu'er by going to a new shop. Chances are that you bought a
> 2004 or 2005 bing that's probably worth 5-15 yuan for 70; not that big
> of a deal. If it is really Menghai, it would be a little more
> expensive. Hell, at least you didn't pay like 100 bucks for it.
>
> Or, the other old trick in the book is to have the sample that's good
> quality or a little old and then the sell the buyer a different tea.
> It has been said that even many shop bosses themselves have never drank
> real aged pu'er before or wouldn't know the difference if they did.
> It's hard to find real aged pu'er.
>
> As for your description of the pu'er being "floral," I'm not sure what
> to make of that. Most pu'er is rather earthy; some describe it as a
> dirty flavor. Regardless of age, grade, or whatever else denotation
> tea is classified by, if you think the taste is good, consider it a
> good buy for 70 kuai.