China: Ge Mian Qiao Mu 2018 Sheng Puerh

Ge Mian 2018 Ancient Wild Arbor Tree  (Alt. 2000m)

One hundred-year-old tea trees grown in a natural preserve where wild arbor trees grow scattered about on a mountain with rich mineral deposits, engulfed in clouds and fog throughout the year. The cakes are traditionally hand-pressed into 400g cakes that can be broken apart by hand without a pick.  This helps prevent the tea leaves from being broken easily and creates a very smooth brew in the cup.  The leaves will brew quickly, and you don’t need excess heat to draw out flavors until much later brewing.  It is very easy to identify that this comes from older trees due to the dried leaves’ sweet, pungent aroma and the tea soup’s thickness.  It is a modern style where the mao cha has been dried at lower temperatures to preserve its natural fruity character without any smokiness.  There is no astringency or musty taste, just a smooth, sweet brew with almost infinite layers.  Still very young and has a lot of aging potential.    

Origin:

Shang Gang Village, Mengla County, Xishuangbanna, Yunnan, China

Cultivar:

Ge Mian Wild Arbor

Flavor Profile:

Bittersweet plum, nectar

Servings:

Sampler: 4 x 5g 

Cake: 80 x 5g

Net weight:

20g sampler / 400g cake