It was a surprising phone call from Mr. Chen of Xi-Zhi Hao on the Friday evening that urged me to revisit the first ever 2005 Xi-Zhi Hao “Lao Ban Zhan” in my own collection. Our conversation started with the discussion of XZH 2007 offerings and the general trend or gossip in the current pu-erh market. But soon the topic changed to his intention to buy back whatever 2005 XZH Lao Ban Zhan I can be apart with!

The Lao Ban Zhan mao cha price of 2007 Spring was so incredibly high and pursued that even a famed producer such as Xi-Zhi Hao could not afford to make pure, non-blended Lao Ban Zhan cakes. So that makes the 2005 and 2006 XZH Lao Ban Zhan even more like a distant dream and rare treasure.

The first 2005 Lao Ban Zhan cake I received was actually a gift Mr. Chen sent to my father. The wrapper had Mr. Chen’s own calligraphy, as shown in the picture. By that time, it happened that I was searching for only the best pu-erhs as gifts to my daughter, Yuan, who was born in 2005. Yan-Ching Hao was the first name that popped up in my brain. Honestly, I only had heard of Xi-Zhi Hao once or twice before. My father sent this cake to me. And you all know the story that followed

Even stored in my mostly air-conditioned room in the second floor, I can see the 2005 gem starts to develop a healthy and bright amber color from the more greenish appearance when we first met. The liquor was surprisingly mature and amber as well. But it was the so hegemonic and vibrantly penetrating taste that confirmed the worthiness of the market hype around this cake! It easily outperforms most 2003 cakes I’ve tried, not to mention those of the same vintage. Few can come close to the vibrancy and energy it possesses.

If you want to sell your 2005 XZH Lao Ban Zhan, please contact me by email. Terms and conditions: (1) cakes have to be intact and unopened, and (2) have to be from Hou De. As for the those 2005 in the second floor … err.. I will ask my daughter when she is 18!

Guang