I've tried a lot of Puerhs the last four months, some of which I bet if I tried now I would have totally different experiences of since my palate has now been introduced to Puerhs. I will retry many of them soon.
In any case my purchase choices for my first cake/brick are as follows:
Smacha Tea's 2011 Jung Mai 'Old Tree' Ripe Puerh 200 gram cake at a cost of $32
Crimson Lotus' 2008 Bulang Imperial Grade Shou/ Ripe Puerh 250 gram brick at a cost of $30.
I like the Old Tree from Smacha somewhat more than the Bulang but I feel like I am meant to have that Bulang and I do not dislike it, I just don't savor it in the same way at this moment. I do think we have a future together nonetheless, it takes me places, and I want to go!
I like both these companies, both are run by people who have been super helpful and communicative with me, and I am certain I come off as a mind-addled nutjob, so kudos to the dude-os* for putting up with me so far!
(*That means, YOU, Glen and Andrew!)