{"title":"Pu'erh Raw","description":"\u003cp\u003ePu'erh Raw is fresh, energy circulating and uplifting. It ferments slowly and naturally over time, and continues to change as it ages.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"ancientspring","title":"Ancient Spring","description":"\u003cp\u003eMr. Tang left his corporate job in the city, Kunming, in 2006. He had rented a small place in rural Yunnan where his only intentions were to read, reflect, and drink tea with friends. In one of these conversations an old friend, Li, suggested that Tang grow tea in Li's hometown, Yangta Village. That July the two of them traveled to Jinggu in Yangta and leased 11 acres of forested area from Li's niece.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe area they leased was wild growth, at about 6500 ft elevation. This is where they would eventually plant 70,000 Jinggu Big White tea trees. However, Tang found out, somewhat far into the process of planting, that one cannot harvest newly planted tea trees until they have stood in the ground for 3 years. Confronted with this, he leased another tea garden in the mountain; a highly regarded area that was home to ancient pu'erh trees. And so, while he waited for his Jinggu Big Whites, Tang began making pu'erh from these very old trees.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAncient Spring comes from an abandoned tea garden made up of less than 200 arbor trees of the Mengku varietal. The garden is located deep in the woods on the North facing side of the mountain and is only accessible by a steep trek through the dense pine forest. This is a protected area that has never been inhabited, as it is where the water source for the village is located. These Mengku trees, planted by the great-grandfather of a local villager, are now between 100 to 150 years old.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTo make Ancient Spring Mr. Tang blends the Mengku tea leaves with leaves from the ancient Jinggu Dabai varietal. The result is a very clear and approachable pu'erh for everyday drinking, and at a very good value for containing leaves from such old trees.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe drink Ancient Spring when we wish to connect with the balance of forests that remain undisturbed by accelerated human activities. The tea tastes very pure and has a distinct, lingering honeyed quality. The age of the trees and the energy of the forest come through clearly, and to no surprise --- it is crafted with great care, by honest people.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cultivate Tea","offers":[{"title":"25g","offer_id":39555601039465,"sku":"","price":25.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"50g","offer_id":45750368207128,"sku":"","price":50.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"100g cake","offer_id":45750368239896,"sku":"","price":95.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/5737\/8153\/products\/IMG_5415.jpg?v=1626206055"},{"product_id":"taste-of-the-mountain","title":"Taste of the Mountain","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis pu'erh comes from the old-growth forests 8 kms away from Mr. Tang's tea farm in Jinggu, Yunnan. The forest here is vibrant and intact, and its trees grow strong and healthy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe trees for this pu erh are between 200 to 400 years old. They are wild arbor tea trees that grow in the forest unattended. Their leaves are only harvested once a year, meaning that the energy of the trees and their roots remains concentrated in their spring leaves.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWild arbor trees, especially of this age, yield complex, deep and refined teas. Taste of the Mountain has a particularly penetrating strength: it carries the vibrant energy of its forest with it, asking us to imagine how deep into the ground the roots of these trees must go as we follow this pu'erh's complexity through infusions. It is enduring in both its lingering taste, and in the energy it transmits.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe would drink this pu'erh when we want to journey into the wisdom of ancient trees, knowing that every time we revisit it, we will be shown something different. Experiencing tea like this is always an event to be savoured.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cultivate Tea","offers":[{"title":"25g","offer_id":32877469433961,"sku":"","price":40.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"100g","offer_id":32877469466729,"sku":"","price":145.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/5737\/8153\/products\/IMG_3663.jpg?v=1613012966"},{"product_id":"mountain-orchid","title":"Ancient Spring \"Orchid\"","description":"\u003cp\u003eMr. Tang left his corporate job in the city, Kunming, in 2006. He had rented a small place in rural Yunnan where his only intentions were to read, reflect, and drink tea with friends. In one of these conversations an old friend, Li, suggested that Tang grow tea in Li's hometown, Yangta Village. That July the two of them traveled to Jinggu in Yangta and leased 11 acres of forested area from Li's niece.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe area they leased was wild growth, at about 6500 ft elevation. This is where they would eventually plant 70,000 Jinggu Big White tea trees. However, Tang found out, somewhat far into the process of planting, that one cannot harvest newly planted tea trees until they have stood in the ground for 3 years. Confronted with this, he leased another tea garden in the mountain; a highly regarded area that was home to ancient pu'erh trees. And so, while he waited for his Jinggu Big Whites, Tang began making pu'erh from these very old trees.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAncient Spring Orchid is from a very old tea garden, made up of trees that were planted by the great-grandfather of a local villager and are now between 100 and 150 years old. Fewer than 200 trees of the Mengku varietal grow together here, in a garden that sits at 6,000 ft elevation, (slightly above the grove where Tang harvests his tea for Ancient Spring). It is deep in the woods on the West facing side of the mountain, and is only accessible by a steep trek through a dense pine forest.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTang crafts Ancient Spring Orchid exclusively from first harvest leaves. These trees are only harvested once a year, in the spring, so that all their energy concentrates in their first flush. The leaves of the Mengku trees are blended with leaves from the local, indigenous Jinggu Dabai varietal. The result is an outstanding pu'erh that expresses the strength and character of the trees it was made from.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe would say that this tea has a strong \u003cem\u003echa qi\u003c\/em\u003e or \"tea energy.\" It is full-bodied, and the energy from the deep-rooted trees builds in you as you drink it. It has distinct floral notes, referenced in its name, and their complexity increases through infusions. We drink this tea to feel enlivened, to move energy within ourselves, and to encounter the orchid-like characteristics of old grove Mengku.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cultivate Tea","offers":[{"title":"25g","offer_id":39638640754793,"sku":"","price":30.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"50g","offer_id":52415779012888,"sku":null,"price":60.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"100g cake","offer_id":52415779045656,"sku":null,"price":116.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/5737\/8153\/files\/615A1335.jpg?v=1688017696"},{"product_id":"infinite-mountains","title":"Mountains and Beyond","description":"\u003cp\u003eMountains and Beyond comes from old growth forests 8 kms away from Mr. Tang's tea farm in Jinggu, Yunnan. The forest here is vibrant and intact, and its ancient trees grow strong and healthy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese wild arbor pu'erh trees are between 150 to 200 years old. Aside from one harvest in the spring, they grow unattended. Out of respect for their longevity, their leaves are only harvested once a year, by Mr. Tang. As such, it is understood that the energy of the tree and its root system will be extra concentrated in the leaves of this single harvest.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe can detect this concentrated energy on the palate: the tea is direct and clear, with a sweet and extended aftertaste. The integrity of both the environment it comes from, and the way it was handled, result in a very smooth and intriguing tea in which we find the energy of the old growth forest evolving through many infusions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis pu'erh raw lifts us up and places us amongst the mountains: it is a transportive tea, that seems to offer a panoramic view of the mountain peaks, and all of the perspective that accompanies such vistas. We feel that it is aptly named.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cultivate Tea","offers":[{"title":"25g","offer_id":32877453475945,"sku":"","price":30.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"100g","offer_id":32877453508713,"sku":"","price":115.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/5737\/8153\/products\/IMG_4276.jpg?v=1613012924"},{"product_id":"pu-erh-raw-wuliangshan-2013","title":"Wuliangshan 2013","description":"\u003cp\u003eWuliangshan has been with us for some time now; we acquired this pu'erh back in 2013, when we were still living in Beijing. It comes from a vast mountain range near the city of Pu'er in Yunnan. This village, called Wuliangshan, has a long history of pu'erh tea cultivation, however it remains a lesser known area amongst tea collectors.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhen we tasted it back in 2013 there was a certain charm to this tea. It was bright, floral, sweet -- an uncomplicated, easy drinking pu'erh, and directly expressed the soil, elevation, and climate of the mountain it came from. The basic quality it demonstrated encouraged us to age it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhat surprised us over the last 9 years, as we checked in with Wuliangshan, was how beautifully its fundamental characteristics continued to develop over time. With age the tea has developed its own very distinct fragrance. Its once very sweet and bright flavour has grown broader and deeper, and its \"greenness\" has transformed into complex fruit notes: think poached apples and pears, or prunes. Its taste still tells us very direct stories of the trees, mountain, and environment this tea comes from, but now they seem to be spoken by a low, patient voice, emerging from deep within the mountain of Wuliangshan.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf there was tea to greet you at the gates of drinking pu'erh, this could be it: it demonstrates all of the classic characteristics of pu'erh, in a soft and approachable way. We drink this tea when we are seeking moments of simplicity, directness, and lightheartedness. It invites us to experience a mountain, and listen to its stories.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cultivate Tea","offers":[{"title":"25g","offer_id":32955910029417,"sku":"","price":20.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"50g","offer_id":32955910062185,"sku":"","price":40.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"100g","offer_id":32955910094953,"sku":"","price":80.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"357g cake","offer_id":32955910127721,"sku":"","price":275.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/5737\/8153\/files\/wuliangshan_2012_e33c3d10-a200-476d-a3c6-ce7c345aff70.jpg?v=1782428381"},{"product_id":"puerh-raw-bulangshan-2018","title":"Bulangshan 2018","description":"\u003cp\u003eBulangshan is a vast and remote mountainous region approximately 2 hours from the city of Mehngai in the southernmost part of Yunnan, bordering Myanmar. As an enduring environment for ancient rainforests, rare species of plants, and the remaining few Asian elephants, it is where we may still appreciate the biodiversity of Yunnan.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBulangshan translates as \"Bulang Mountain,\" Bulang being the name of the indigenous people who have inhabited Southern Yunnan for thousands of years. Bulang people are the earliest known people in the world to cultivate, craft, and drink tea! Thus, this incredible place we call Bulangshan, is also the oldest tea mountain in Yunnan. It is home to two of the oldest and most prestigious villages for pu'erh: Laobanzhang and Laomane, whose history spans 1400 years. The remoteness of this region, and the efforts of its indigenous people, has meant that many tea gardens with old arbor pu'erh  tea trees were saved from being cut down.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis pu'erh raw is from tea maker Huang Rong, whose family has been inhabitants of a small village in the Bulangshan called Weidong for generations.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWeidong village is situated on the other side of the mountain from the famous Laobanzhang village. The people of Weidong originated from Laobanzhang, moving across the mountain approximately 180 year ago to form what became known as Weidong. The seeds of pu'erh tea trees planted in Weidong were brought over from Laobanzhang, and therefore the teas from these villages resemble one another, and speak to the shared origin of their people.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHuang Rong started a small pu'erh co-op with 6 other villagers in Weidong. The co-op's objective is to demonstrate a commitment to natural, biodynamic farming and to preserve the land and ecosystem where they live for future generations. They do not use any pesticides, sprays or artificial fertilizers, and they do not over-harvest or exploit the pu'erh trees in response to demand: their trees are only harvested twice a year, in spring and in autumn.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe trees for this ripe pu erh are around 100 years old, and sit in a tea garden at 6000 ft elevation. They carry the wide-spanning time scale of their region with them, as the tea seems suited to ancient palates; mouths that have never known Doritos or confection. The earthiness of this tea –  its tobacco and funk, or ferment –  is very satisfying.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe would drink this tea to ease the change of seasons, particularly the transition from summer to fall, when we benefit from something fortifying, uncomplicated, and grounded.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cultivate Tea","offers":[{"title":"25g","offer_id":33094673137769,"sku":"","price":30.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"50g","offer_id":33096588525673,"sku":"","price":60.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":false},{"title":"100g","offer_id":33096588558441,"sku":"","price":114.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/5737\/8153\/products\/IMG_9378.jpg?v=1613012755"},{"product_id":"kokang","title":"Kokang 2017","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis pu'erh comes from an unusual place for tea cultivation, which is why we consider it experimental. Kokang is a remote and mountainous region in Northeastern Myanmar, sharing a border with Yunnan Province. The entire region is surrounded by the magnificent Tibetan Plateaus.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOn account of its remote location and lack of modern transportation, much of Kokang remains undeveloped. It is characterized by great expanses of ancient forests, where an abundance of wild growing arbor tea trees continue to grow undisturbed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis pu'erh is crafted from the leaves of 200 year old trees, situated at around 6000 ft above sea level. The tea is made by a young craftsman, Li Jiakuan. Li's ancestry is Dai-Chinese, however he lives with his family in Kokang. To learn the traditional craftsmanship of pu'erh tea he traveled to Menghai in Yunnan and studied intensively with a master there for 6 months.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eApplying what he learned in Yunnan to a varietal of pu'erh trees native to Kokang has yielded something very interesting to us. The unique terroir of the Tibetan Plateaus gives this pu'erh soft and gentle notes, to the extent that the first couple infusions of it remind us of a white tea. The depth of this tea's character comes out gradually, and yet it still behaves very uniquely: the lingering floral impressions captivate the attention of our mouths in a way we wouldn't expect in a pu'erh from Yunnan, which is usually more about sensation than flavour.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe would enjoy this tea on a sunny morning, when there is a want to be refreshed, and brought into the day gently. It will simultaneously answer a desire for nuanced, sensory experiences on one's palate, and a desire for the groundedness that comes from an ancient tree.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cultivate Tea","offers":[{"title":"25g","offer_id":39678511317097,"sku":"","price":25.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"50g","offer_id":39678511349865,"sku":"","price":50.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"100g cake","offer_id":39678511382633,"sku":"","price":98.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/5737\/8153\/files\/kokang_188e41c3-687a-4b31-bec6-9e6501213977.jpg?v=1782428381"},{"product_id":"xigui","title":"Xigui 2019","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis pu'erh raw comes from the remote, historic mountain village, Xigui, of Lincang Prefecture. When we visited this village, at the foothill of Daxueshan 大雪山 (Big Snow Mountain), we drove for many hours, winding upwards between the peaks of this dense mountain range. The blue sky was reflected in the water of the Lancang River below and, as we gained elevation, we could catch its shimmer coming through the banana and bamboo trees that lined the muddy roads. The mud of these narrow, tired roads was the same dark yellow colour it would have been one thousand years ago, when it was Tea Horse Road -- the ancient route used to transport tea to Tibet, Mongolia, and the emperor.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eArriving in the village of Xigui, at 3200 ft above sea level, is like having unfolded the mountains to discover a secret they've been conspiring with the clouds to keep. The name of the village, Xigui 昔归, is worth noting for how poetic it is. The first character, xi (昔) loosely translates to former times, or 'the past'. The second character, gui (归), loosely translates to \"go back to,\" \"belong to,\" or \"return to.\" The movement in this name is \u003cem\u003ebackwards\u003c\/em\u003e, and also, \u003cem\u003ein-to.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis tea comes from the family of Zhang Tianwen, who have been inhabitants of these mountains for generations. The tea trees are roughly 200 years old. They grow on the steep hills overlooking the valley and rivers beneath them. They are surprisingly small and delicate looking, with mottled bark and curling branches. But their age and vitality is evident in the moss and the fungi covering their trunks, the width of their branches, and the abundance of dark, shiny green leaves they produce.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWet, in a gaiwan, the leaves are dark, with a slight sheen, and very fragrant. The vividness of the leaves as they progress through infusions invite us to consider how lived experience carries forward: memories that remain generous and vibrant, and which we are nourished by recalling.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe drink this tea when we would like time to reflect, and the stabilizing sensation of reflection. It gently encourages us to integrate experiences. In this way Xigui is both a fortifying tea and a transportive one, moving us \u003cem\u003ebackwards\u003c\/em\u003e, and \u003cem\u003einto\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cultivate Tea","offers":[{"title":"25g","offer_id":33121903935593,"sku":"","price":40.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"50g","offer_id":33121903968361,"sku":"","price":80.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"100g","offer_id":33121904001129,"sku":"","price":155.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"200g cake","offer_id":33121904033897,"sku":"","price":280.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/5737\/8153\/products\/IMG_1342.jpg?v=1613013648"},{"product_id":"the-phantom-valley","title":"The Phantom Valley","description":"\u003cp\u003eWithin the already rare varietal of pu'erh, Dabai \"Big White,\" there is an even less common tree called Yellow Bud. It is a revered and seldom seen varietal, the leaves of which were traditionally reserved as Tribute Teas for emperors.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMr. Tang, who crafted this incredible pu'erh, did so with the intention of honouring the thousands year old tradition of pu'erh making. It is appropriate that he used this ancient, yellow leaf varietal, to do so, as it is commonly believed that Yellow Bud was the first tree ever used to make pu'erh. He has crafted this tea using the traditional shai qing 晒青 process, in which the leaves are dried by the sun rather than roasted or oven-dried.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe cake itself is something to behold. Its soft, mottled surface is notably different from other pu'erh cakes. The thick, long leaves are textured with yellow fur, and in the light their colour looks like variegated gold. Even pressed into a cake the leaves still look wild and alive, an indication of the vitality of the trees they grew on.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis tea awakens us to the ancient tradition of pu'erh making, satisfying an interest in time travel. It has the power to draw you into a place of deep contemplation and expanded awareness.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere is less funk and ferment than we normally find in old tree pu'erh here. The depth of flavour, like caramel mixed with cigar, grounds the perspective-expanding and stimulating energy it delivers.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cultivate Tea","offers":[{"title":"25g","offer_id":39625348481129,"sku":"","price":30.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"50g","offer_id":39625348513897,"sku":"","price":60.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"100g cake","offer_id":39625348546665,"sku":"","price":116.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/5737\/8153\/products\/IMG_8579.jpg?v=1631821623"},{"product_id":"zi-ya-purple-bud-puerh-raw","title":"Zi Ya \"Purple Bud\"","description":"\u003cp\u003eA unique pu'erh raw from one of our favorite tea craftsmen, Mr. Tang, in Jinggu, Yunnan who planted these Zi Ya trees 25 years ago in his personal tea garden.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eZi Ya 紫芽 (purple bud) is a Yunnan Big Leaf varietal of pu'erh tree that has significantly higher anthocyanin in the developing buds than other pu'erh trees. The young leaves emerge purple, and then turn green as they mature. This varietal is usually used to make black tea, so we consider this an experimental gesture from Mr. Tang.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHe made his first batch of pu'erh with the Zi ya leaves in 2016 and has repeated it frequently ever since. To craft this tea he hand picks one-bud-two-leaves in early spring and allows them to wither naturally on bamboo mats under the morning sun. The leaves are pan-fried in charcoal-fired steel wok, then rolled and air-dried following the traditional shai qing 晒青 (sun wilted) process. The tea is aged for one month, then steamed to be pressed into individual cakes. Lastly, the tea cakes are dried naturally.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe resulting tea cake is stunning: the leaves are plump, defined, and have a beautiful dark blue sheen. Brewed, the tea has very unique, almost purple smelling, floral aromatics. On the palate it is gentle and smooth, with depth and a slight smokiness. This is a particularly nice pu'erh raw for gentle mornings in the fall and winter months as it brings clarity without being too stimulating.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cultivate Tea","offers":[{"title":"25g","offer_id":39625349955689,"sku":"","price":25.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"50g","offer_id":39625349988457,"sku":"","price":50.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"100g","offer_id":39625350021225,"sku":"","price":98.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"250g cake","offer_id":39625350053993,"sku":"","price":220.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/5737\/8153\/products\/IMG_8554.jpg?v=1631820020"},{"product_id":"sacred-mountains","title":"Sacred Mountains 2021","description":"\u003cp\u003ePressed in extremely limited quantities, this is one of the few pu'erh cakes we reserve for private collectors. We were fortunate to receive a small number of these tea cakes directly from our mentor in Beijing. Our mentor prefers remote and small-scale, old grove tea gardens. She is very fond of the 小叶种, or \"small-leaf varietal,\" of pu'erh. However, compared to 大叶种, \"big leaf varietal,\" it is far more difficult to source and much lesser known.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe six ancient tea mountains of Yunnan are 攸乐 You Le, 革登 Ge Deng, 倚邦 Yi Bang, 莽枝 Mangzhi, 蛮砖 Manzhuan, and 易武 Yiwu. Sacred Mountain is crafted with tea leaves sourced from two of the oldest and most secluded ones among them, Xikong 习崆 in Yibang 倚邦 and Manzhuan 蛮砖. On account of being so remote, the small number of ancient tea gardens here remain well preserved.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe lesser known, and more primitive 小叶种, \"small leaf varietal,\" of pu'erh trees are indigenous to this region and have been growing naturally in this remote area for thousands of years. Compared to the big leaf varietal, the buds and leaves are smaller, shorter and rounder. The tea brews to a vibrant yellow-green color, and their taste is distinctly gentle and nuanced.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOnly around 100 kg of tea are produced from the Xikong terroir for the Spring harvest. To make this tea the first harvest leaves sourced from two ancient tea gardens were blended together. 70% originates from Xikong, where the Pu'erh is known for its gentle orchid notes with soft, honey undertones. The remaining 30% originates from Manzhuan, where the Pu'erh is known for being sweet and smooth with strong energy, and a long, lingering aftertaste. We find all of these characteristics in Sacred Mountain, combined to make something very unusual, and so remarkable.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe liquor from this tea is a strange, light-trapping gold. It is a very balanced tea: as strong as it is sweet. Its more angular floral notes linger for a long time on the palate, giving us an opportunity to breathe them in. The Chinese phrase used to describe the sensation of the tea liquor is 细腻, which translates directly as, fine + intricate + exquisite + smooth + subtle + refined...imagine the synthesis of all of these things in your mouth, that is Sacred Mountain.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cultivate Tea","offers":[{"title":"25g","offer_id":39643128463465,"sku":"","price":50.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"50g","offer_id":44540300329240,"sku":"","price":98.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"357g cake","offer_id":52393163653400,"sku":null,"price":595.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/5737\/8153\/products\/615A1936.jpg?v=1676422652"},{"product_id":"2018-zi-ya-purple-bud","title":"2018 Zi Ya Purple Bud","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe Zi Ya \"Purple Bud\" is a unique and distinctive pu'erh raw from one of our favorite tea craftsmen, Mr. Tang in Jinggu Yunnan.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe first time we acquired the Zi Ya Purple Bud Pu'erh raw was in 2020 - we intentionally aged the cakes for one full year before drinking it in the spring of 2021. We were struck by its beautiful and plump leaves with a dark blue sheen, and also the clarity and gentleness of the tea. It has distinct elegant floral notes, and slightly smoky.Late last year, we were extremely fortunate to have the opportunity to acquire five precious cakes from the 2018 vintage year from Mr. Tang himself, from his own personal collection. His aged pu'erh cakes are rarely available as they are always snatched up by pu'erh connoisseurs and collectors as soon as they are release.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI was astonished by my first experience with the 2018 vintage. The mouthfeel is amazingly silky smooth - I could have mistaken it for an old-grove oolong if I didn't know it was a pu'erh raw. It is exceptionally sweet - with no smokiness that I had experienced from the 2020 year. On the palate, it had distinct caramel, molasses and burnt sugar notes, followed by dark chocolate. When I smelled the lid of the gaiwan that I was using to brew it, it had notes of sweet dried prune.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI was amazed at how much the Zi Ya pu'erh raw has aged in 3 years! I had always known that Mr. Tang's pu'erhs age exceptionally well, and to expect a substantial change every three years, but the experience still blew me away.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cultivate Tea","offers":[{"title":"25g","offer_id":39845346934889,"sku":"","price":40.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/5737\/8153\/products\/IMG_2604-2.jpg?v=1643788084"},{"product_id":"daxueshan-wild-puerh-shoots","title":"Daxueshan Wild Pu'erh Shoots","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis wild pu'erh is made from 1000 year old tea trees that grow on Daxueshan, or Big Snow Mountain. Trees of this impressive age reach very high, and no longer grow many leaves. It is considered disrespectful to harvest the leaves of trees this old, as it may hinder them, so instead, this pu'erh is made from \"the shoot.\" These shoots are dense bundles of newly sprouting leaves, tightly nested within one another, such that they appear flanked, like armor.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese trees are over 65 feet tall. In order for him and the local villagers to gather the shoots, they have to shimmy up them with their limbs wrapped around the trunk. To collect even a modest amount of shoots the pickers have to pack tents and living supplies in their backpacks and stay on the mountain for at least a night, as it can't be done in a single day.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is a long-standing tradition for Yunnan locals to harvest a small amount of fresh shoots from wild tea trees. The shoots would be dried under the sun, or pan-fried. These teas are never normally for sale on the market, as locals usually only make enough of it for their own consumption.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMany years ago, Mr. Tang attended his brother's wedding on Daxueshan, in Fengqing, where he first encountered wild pu'erh shoot tea made by local villagers. He was so captivated by the unique smell of wild flowers present in it that, ever since, he would visit a few villages in Daxueshan in the spring, collect a small amount of shoots from the villagers, and bring them back to his tea farm where he would experiment withering them and roasting them over charcoal, as is the custom.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMr. Tang crafts this tea according to the methods that have been passed down through generations of the local people. The shoots are slightly bruised as they are picked from the tree, making the tea slightly fermented. It is dried directly in the sun on bamboo mats after harvesting. Mr. Tang gently agitates the shoots as they are spread out on the mats to enhance the expression of their compelling fragrance. To finish, the shoots are slowly roasted over low-temperature charcoal for at least 2 weeks, removing the \"coldness\" from these wild tea leaves.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePrized for its energetics, and for offering us such a direct experience of ancient pu'erh trees, Mr. Tang's Daxueshan also delivers a shocking amount of flavour. The dense, freshly harvested buds are bright green with a streak of purple running along one side. They float in the gaiwan like small boats, and smell as though they are carrying an import of tropical fruit.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe liquor they brew is very clear, which can be deceiving, because its taste is so strong. Their liquor has a flavour like acacia honey and mango peel, finishing intensely sweet, like dissolved sugar and lychee. Its mouthfeel is dense, like electrolyte water. The potent energetics of this tea teaches us something about the way the ancient trees transmit their essence -- we taste their sap, and feel their enduring vitality.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cultivate Tea","offers":[{"title":"25g","offer_id":40375746855017,"sku":"","price":85.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"50g","offer_id":50461121511704,"sku":null,"price":170.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/5737\/8153\/files\/20260714_Cultivate_0400_WEB.jpg?v=1784989141"},{"product_id":"guafengzhai-2018","title":"Guafengzhai 2018","description":"\u003cp\u003eMost pu'erhs come from villages we would call remote, but Guafengzhai might represent an extreme within this category. With just over 100 households, Guafengzhai is the largest and most remote village of Yiwu County in Yunnan. It is about a 30 minute walk away from the border between Yunnan and Laos.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI have long been fascinated by the mysterious name of this village. The name is made up of 3 characters, the first two, \"guafeng,\" mean \"wind blowing\" and \"zhai\" means \"ancient village.\" The way these terms are combined and pronounced in \"Guafengzhai\" implies ominous and mythical undertones.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe people that live in this mysterious place are of the Yao Minority group, and are revered for being extremely adept at climbing the steep slopes of the mountains and forests that surround their village. Their skill has meant that, historically, Guafengzhai has been a place where pu'erh tea gathered from the surrounding mountains and forests is crafted and distributed. In fact, the village itself does not have any tea trees -- pu'erh will not grow there, as it is too windy. And still, pu'erh tea from Guafengzhai is highly regarded and sought after.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTo make the tea that we say comes from Guafengzhai requires a trek 4 to 5 hours from the village, and involves summiting 3 mountain tops, in order to access the ancient tea gardens where the leaves are harvested.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese ancient tea trees, hidden high up in the mountains, were planted in the Ming Dynasty. We consider them to be wild tea trees, as the Yao people have never managed them; they let them thrive on their own in the wild, undisturbed. Nevertheless, the Yao people maintain a deep connection to the ancient tea trees in their mountains. They carefully map out each and every one of them scattered throughout the vast, wild mountains that make up their territory. They are the keepers and stewards of these trees, as no one else would be able to find them.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe notice the distinct energetics of this tea before its taste or mouthfeel. It lands very deeply in the body, bringing a strong force with it. The taste is almost medicinal, and the liquor is heavy as it passes across the palate.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis tea satisfies a want to be nurtured, met, or contained. It is a humbling tea to drink, as it brings us close to the extreme wilderness of the mountains -- a place quite indifferent to humans -- and comes from trees that inhabit a scale of time far greater than our own.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cultivate Tea","offers":[{"title":"25g","offer_id":40402118279273,"sku":"","price":45.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"50g","offer_id":40402118312041,"sku":"","price":90.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"100g","offer_id":40402118344809,"sku":"","price":170.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"200g cake","offer_id":40402118410345,"sku":"","price":315.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/5737\/8153\/products\/615A8664.jpg?v=1667437643"},{"product_id":"ancient-big-white","title":"Ancient Big White","description":"\u003cp\u003eAncient pu'erh tea trees are not uncommon in Yunnan, however we rarely come across any of the Jinggu Dabai, or \"Big White,\" varietal outside of Yangta Village. This rare varietal is native to Yangta and the trees have never spread far from where they originated.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOn account of its rarity, the price of fresh leaves from the ancient Jinggu Dabai tea trees has increased steadily in recent years. Despite their climbing market value, Mr. Tang insists on making a small amount of pu'erh from Jinggu Dabai every year, should he be fortunate enough to find fresh leaves on the ancient trees.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis rare pu'erh comes from a grove of 300 ancient Jinggu Big White tea trees near his property. The trees here are approximately 400 years old, and stand together in the only known grove of the ancient Big White varietal to exist! Their newly sprouted leaves are golden yellow, and their branches, covered in moss and lichen, are full of vitality.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Jinggu Dabai varietal is subdivided into 9 varieties -- the yellow buds are used to make Ancient Gold Needle, which we also carry, and the other 8 varieties are combined to craft this pu'erh. While blended, this pu'erh is still \"pure material,\" meaning there hasn't been any mixing with leaves from younger tea trees.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe effect that this tea has is unusual: it tastes delicate and refreshing, while delivering a powerful energetic effect. Its mouthfeel hints at it being more substantial than we would guess from its flavour, and we can sense its potency in its extended, mouthcoating aftertaste.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe soft, gold liquor is viscous and heavy, carrying with it a bright, beguiling taste reminiscent of lemon-yogurt. The activity of this sweet and complex ferment settles deeply in us, transmitting the strong energy of these enduring trees.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe would want this pu'erh on an intentional day. It asks for patience, and seems to slow us down, inviting a contemplative and open-minded state. After several infusions we find our thoughts moving in less familiar ways, which is something worth watching for.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cultivate Tea","offers":[{"title":"25g","offer_id":44133623267608,"sku":"","price":65.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"50g","offer_id":44133623300376,"sku":"","price":130.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"200g cake","offer_id":44133623333144,"sku":"","price":450.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/5737\/8153\/products\/615A6392.jpg?v=1670020547"},{"product_id":"ancient-gold-needle","title":"Ancient Gold Needle","description":"\u003cp\u003eAncient pu'erh tea trees are not uncommon in Yunnan, however we rarely come across any of the Jinggu Dabai, or \"Big White,\" varietal outside of Yangta Village. This rare varietal is native to Yangta and the trees have never spread far from where they originated.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOn account of its rarity, the price of fresh leaves from the ancient Jinggu Dabai tea trees has increased steadily in recent years. Despite their climbing market value, Mr. Tang insists on making a small amount of pu'erh from Jinggu Dabai every year, should he be fortunate enough to find fresh leaves on the ancient trees.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis rare and unusual pu'erh comes from a grove of 300 ancient Jinggu Big White tea trees near his property. The trees here are approximately 400 years old, and they stand together in the only known grove of the ancient Big White varietal to exist. Their newly sprouted leaves are golden yellow, and their branches, covered in moss and lichen, are full of vitality.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Jinggu Dabai varietal is subdivided into 9 varieties -- the yellow buds are used to make this Ancient Gold Needle, and the other 8 varieties are combined in crafting the Ancient Big White, which we also carry. This pu'erh is \"pure material,\" meaning there hasn't been any mixing with leaves from younger tea trees.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMr. Tang's intention for Ancient Gold Needle is to craft a top-grade tea that exemplifies the finest characteristics of the rare Jinggu Dabai pu'erh trees. He understands that they express themselves best when handled according to uncompromising local, traditional methods, and has been meticulous in his craftsmanship.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe result is a pu'erh that will captivate you for many reasons. It is surprisingly delicate on the palate at first, with soft apricot notes and evaporating references to flowers. As its structure develops, a network of energy distributes quickly and evenly throughout the body. There is a dense, fabric-like quality to this pu'erh, and this tightly bound meshwork seems to gather us. As we spend more time with it, we start to feel more integrated, or even woven together.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cultivate Tea","offers":[{"title":"25g","offer_id":44134773489944,"sku":null,"price":70.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"50g","offer_id":44134773522712,"sku":null,"price":140.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"357g cake","offer_id":44134783123736,"sku":"","price":950.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/5737\/8153\/products\/615A6583.jpg?v=1670020674"},{"product_id":"secret-realm-mijing","title":"Secret Realm \"Mijing\"","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe name of this tea translates to \"Secret realm\" or \"Secret, uncharted place.\" This name could apply to both the place this tea comes from and the tea itself: it is no longer possible to acquire the 2017 harvest of this pu'erh, and the following harvests are available in such low quantities, their cost is quite prohibitive.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe acquired this tea from Ahang, who is of Dai ancestry and indigenous to the Lincang region of Yunnan. Ahang is one of the few people who could have shared this tea with us, as pu'erhs like this one are only directly accessible to the local indigenous people, and are rarely shared with those outside their communities.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhen we asked Ahang which village, exactly, this tea came from, he grinned and responded simply, \"Lincang.\" The Lincang area includes several prestigious and highly sought-after pu'erh producing villages, like Bingdao, Xigui, and Mangfei, and we admired that Ahang would not direct us towards the exact home of this \"Secret Realm\" amongst them.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHe told us that, a few years ago, he came across a dozen ancient tea trees, at least 500 years old, and that he immediately fell in love with them. They are towering tea trees - their huge canopies extended far from their trunks, and cast incredible shadows on the brush below them. They expressed such strength and intelligence, Ahang knew their leaves would yield incredible tea.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSince this encounter the leaves from these dozen ancient tea trees have only been harvested once per year, during the first Spring harvest. Their pu'erh cake is what is known as \"pure material,\" meaning it is not, like most high-value pu'erhs, slightly blended with other, younger tea leaves to reduce the cost of each cake. Instead, this tea is entirely made up of ancient leaves.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs you might imagine, this pu'erh has exceptional energy, complexity, and \"Qi.\" It will last for more than 20 infusions, and maintains a soft, weighted, medicinal quality that sinks deep into our person throughout. Initially, its taste references the wild jungles and mountains it comes from: the taproots of these ancient tea trees extend so deep into the earth, the minerals they pull up and deposit in their leaves produce a taste that is strong and wild -- like an entire forest and all of its seasons, bound together. It is a rare experience for most of us, to encounter this leaf-flavour. Later infusions are less intense, drawing out the sweetness of rock sugar, earth, and wild honey.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere are teas that support complex states, the handling of unanswerable questions, and that can meet us when we find ourselves in uncharted places of our own. This a tea of this nature -- it isn't for everyday, but when it's right, you'll be so grateful for its company there, in the unknown.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cultivate Tea","offers":[{"title":"25g","offer_id":44151153688856,"sku":null,"price":125.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"50g","offer_id":44151153721624,"sku":null,"price":250.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/5737\/8153\/products\/615A9010.jpg?v=1670020320"},{"product_id":"ancient-tree-yellow-leaf","title":"Ancient Tree Yellow Leaf","description":"\u003cp\u003eIn 2006 Tang Wang left his corporate job in the city, Kunming, and rented a small place in rural Yunnan where his only intentions were to read, reflect, and drink tea with friends. In one of these chats an old friend, Li, suggested that Tang grow tea in Li's hometown, Yangta Village. That July the two of them traveled to Jinggu in Yangta and leased 11 acres of forested area from Li's niece.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe area they leased was wild growth, at about 6500 ft elevation. This is where they would eventually plant 70,000 Jinggu Big White tea trees. However, Tang found out, somewhat far into the process of planting, that one cannot harvest newly planted tea trees until they have stood in the ground for 3 years. Confronted with this long pause, Tang leased another tea garden in the mountain that locals had shown him; a highly regarded area that was home to ancient pu'erh trees. And so, while he waited for his Jinggu Big Whites, Tang began making pu'erh from these very old trees.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne of the teas Mr. Tang produces is a traditional kind of pu'erh called \"Yellow Leaf.\" \"Yellow Leaf\" does not refer to a varietal of pu'erh, but rather a grade of pu'erh raw made from any older leaves that turn slightly yellow during pan-frying.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe are big fans of Yellow Leaf pu'erhs for a few reasons. First, they offer great value: Yellow Leafs are an accessible way to experience pu'erh from coveted villages and ancient trees that would otherwise be inaccessible, in both availability and price. Second, Yellow Leafs are generally more gentle and sweeter on the palate, being made from leaves that were slightly older when they were harvested. They are high quality and uncomplicated pu'erhs that still offer the depth and energy that makes pu'erh so specifically enjoyable.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMr. Tang shared this Yellow Leaf with us last year. He crafted it from arbor trees between 200 and 300 years old. He told us that this pu'erh is what he drinks daily, and described it as very good tea, albeit slightly rustic: \"like teas that tea farmers like to drink.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe were unexpectedly charmed by this Yellow Leaf; at how much clarity and energy it had to offer, while still being very light-hearted. We would drink this tea on a bright morning, when we want something even and light hearted, while still being grounding. This tea has the gift of not being too directive or attention-occupying, making it an excellent companion tea to other tasks.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cultivate Tea","offers":[{"title":"25g","offer_id":44540261400856,"sku":null,"price":16.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"50g","offer_id":44540261433624,"sku":null,"price":32.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"200g brick","offer_id":44540263498008,"sku":"","price":100.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/5737\/8153\/products\/615A1419.jpg?v=1676421235"},{"product_id":"mangfei-2018","title":"Mangfei 2019","description":"\u003cp\u003eMangfei is the name of the village located in Yongde, Lincang Prefecture in Yunnan. The name of this village literally translates to \"busy lung,\" which does not seem to function descriptively, save for producing intrigue. In the language of the Dai, the ethnic minority native to Yunnan, Manfei means \"mountains between river valleys,\" drawing a far clearer picture of the region it refers to.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn this lesser-known and remote village, there are still large areas populated with ancient tea trees. This pu'erh cake is made from the leaves of trees that are between 200 and 300 years old, and grow at roughly 6000 ft above sea level.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe tea it yields is spacious, in that there seems to be a negative space in what it carries across the palate. It moves this space through us, opening the chest and expanding through the body horizontally. The funk and ferment of fallen leaves intensifies progressively, as does an underlayer of confection, but this body is not imposing -- it does not lose its spaciousness.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a broadening tea, which stabilizes and opens us in equal measure. We would want to drink it on an overcast morning, when seeking room for contemplation. We could turn to it in order to be transported to remote places, or to the edges of our regions of understanding. Towards these journeys, it offers the support of the enlivening, whole-body sensation that comes from ancient trees.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cultivate Tea","offers":[{"title":"25g","offer_id":44559425896728,"sku":null,"price":28.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"50g","offer_id":44559425929496,"sku":null,"price":56.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/5737\/8153\/products\/615A1179.jpg?v=1676650169"},{"product_id":"washan-2022","title":"Washan 2022","description":"\u003cp\u003e\"Washan\" is made up of 2 characters. \"Wa\" is the name of the minority people that are native to this part of Yunnan and \"Shan\" means \"Mountain\". The locals sometimes call it \"A Washan\". It does not refer to a specific mountain, but rather, an area that is inhabited by the Wa people. This ethnic minority have traditionally been centered around Cangyuan in Yunnan, a remote area that, as recently as the 50's and 60's, the Wa people still inhabited.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBordering Myanmar, Washan is the source of the mighty Lancang River. The ancient forests here are lush and abundant with wild fruits and vegetables. The area also has many caves that serve as dwellings for wild animals, including Bengal tigers, leopards, gibbons and pythons, many of which still roam the Washan area.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis pu'erh is from 100 to 150 year old tea trees that grow in an abandoned tea garden deep in the jungle. The garden is home to a wide diversity of thriving plants, where even the weeds grow up to 5 feet tall. Thus, the tea trees, in order to compete for sunlight, must grow tall -- some of them reaching up to 16 feet.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBeing a young and fresh pu'erh, we appreciate this tea for being simpler and uncomplicated. It is sweet on the palette, with a bright and crisp mouthfeel, and a lingering fragrance of mountain flowers. It is well suited for mornings, as it brings simplicity and a grounding energy. It cleanses the palate and the mind, leaving us feeling refreshed and lighter in spirit.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cultivate Tea","offers":[{"title":"25g","offer_id":44559468134680,"sku":null,"price":28.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"50g","offer_id":44559468167448,"sku":null,"price":56.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/5737\/8153\/products\/615A1941_7e06dc49-9ce3-4c18-ad0b-087a1f2065fc.jpg?v=1676650833"},{"product_id":"pine-moon","title":"Pine \u0026 Moon","description":"\u003cp\u003eFor the past few years Tang Wang has been looking for abandoned pu'erh tea trees in the mountains and jungles by his tea farm in Yunnan. He has experimented with harvesting their leaves and crafting them into various pu'erh raws.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe trees for Pine \u0026amp; Moon are 5 km away from Mr. Tang's tea farm. They grow in a tea garden situated within a state-owned forest, where they were abandoned a very long time ago. The trees are only accessible on foot, by way of a very rugged road. He named this tea Pine \u0026amp; Moon because of the towering khasi pine trees that make up this dense forest; these tea trees have grown amongst the pines for over a century.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEvery spring the leaves of these trees are collected by people from the nearest village. Their 20 km hike into the forest takes them 3 hours, and they are only able to collect a few pounds of fresh leaves each day. They rarely encounter any people this deep in the forest, and step gently in the presence of the birds and the mountain trees.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOnce gathered, the fresh buds and leaves are handed off to Mr. Tang who spreads them out on bamboo mats to dry until they develop a floral, honeyed fragrance. Then they are pan-fried in a charcoal-fired iron work. After sitting for a few hours they are kneaded and shaped, and then finally, dried in the sun.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 2026 harvest is a bright and refined harvest of Pine and Moon. It has some extra sparkle and lightness in its energetics. We feel its cooling properties circulating upwards, behind the eyes. The taste of this harvest is less forested -- we feel more of the moonlight coming through. This is a wonderful tea for daily drinking, and a pu'erh raw that feels particularly refreshing and peaceful.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cultivate Tea","offers":[{"title":"25g","offer_id":45596785475864,"sku":"","price":35.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"50g","offer_id":52415779111192,"sku":null,"price":70.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"200g cake","offer_id":52415779143960,"sku":null,"price":250.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/5737\/8153\/files\/cultivate-june-17-2025-tea-cake-2-v1-5945.jpg?v=1752344006"},{"product_id":"fountain-of-the-forest","title":"Fountain of the Forest","description":"\u003cp\u003eFor the past few years Tang Wang has been looking for abandoned pu'erh tea trees in the mountains and jungles by his tea farm. He has experimented with harvesting their leaves and making them into different pu'erh raws. He has made teas from two different groves of trees he discovered -- one is facing north, and the other one is on the southern side of the mountain. The roads leading to both of them are very rugged and only accessible on foot.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe leaves for this tea are gathered in dense jungles 8 km up the mountain from Mr. Tang's tea farm, at around 6300 ft elevation. The forest here is wild, teeming with life and towering trees. Even tea trees grow tall and straight in these conditions, as they compete with the thick foliage for sunlight.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe age and varietal of these tea trees is varied, but all of them thrive in the wild, having grown unattended by humans for many years. The smaller tea trees are around 80 to 90 years old, and the bigger ones are between 200 and 300 years old.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe tea from their leaves is powerful, but also delicately supportive. The liquor feels weighty and substantial, gushing with forest. This incredible density is lifted by a bright, active ferment flavour that leans towards sour. This tea smells funky, like mud and plant matter, but tastes remarkably sweet. It finishes with a soft floral fragrance, characteristic of tea from Jinggu, as though signing its name in petals.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cultivate Tea","offers":[{"title":"25g","offer_id":45596943450392,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"50g","offer_id":45596943483160,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"100g","offer_id":45596943515928,"sku":null,"price":170.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"200g Cake","offer_id":45596943548696,"sku":null,"price":330.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/5737\/8153\/files\/615A1631.jpg?v=1688019003"},{"product_id":"jiutaipo-puerh-raw","title":"Jiutaipo Ancient Tree","description":"\u003cp\u003eFor the past few years Tang Wang has been looking for abandoned pu'erh tea trees in the mountains and jungles by his tea farm. He has experimented with harvesting their leaves and making them into different pu'erh raws. Last year he released the first small batch of this pu'erh raw, made from leaves he collected on his foraging trips.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is a privilege for us to present this special pu'erh raw from the ancient trees of Jiutaipo. \"Jiutaipo\" is the name of a very small, remote village in Jinggu, Yunnan. There are only 41 households here, and nearby them stand some of the oldest and most difficult to access tea gardens in Jinggu.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis tea comes from a beautiful alpine garden at 6000 ft elevation. The tea trees are of the indigenous Mengku \"Big-Leaf\" varietal, and are all between 150-200 years old. They were planted by people in the late Qing Dynasty, with the intention of producing tea for export to Myanmar, Hong Kong and Macau.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe tea garden sits on the west side of the mountain, receiving plenty of sunshine while surrounded by a healthy old growth forest. There are no built roads leading to the garden, making it very hard to find and reach. The tea trees are considered semi-wild, because while they were planted for cultivation centuries ago, they have survived untended, with minimal human intervention.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTraditional practice is to only harvest these trees once-per-year, in the spring. For this one special harvest only the first leaves are picked. The first harvest leaves are then crafted into a cake using a traditional sun-drying technique that best preserves their powerful energetics.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 2026 harvest is less metallic and more mineralic, this harvest still conjures melted rock as it pushes warmth through the body. We feel the force and clarity of its energetics and a pleasing lemon note coming from the ferment on the finish. If you smell the wet leaves you will immediately detect how much energy they contain. This tea cake has so much to offer, it's very well suited for aging.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cultivate Tea","offers":[{"title":"25g","offer_id":45605945016600,"sku":null,"price":60.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"50g","offer_id":52415778816280,"sku":null,"price":120.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"200g Cake","offer_id":45605945114904,"sku":null,"price":440.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/5737\/8153\/files\/cultivate-june-17-2025-tea-cake-2-v1-6012.jpg?v=1752353719"},{"product_id":"wuliangshan-single-groves-puerh-raw","title":"Wuliangshan Single Groves","description":"\u003cp\u003eFor the past few years Tang Wang has been looking for abandoned, ancient pu'erh tea trees in the mountains and jungles in Wuliangshan, near his tea farm in Jinggu, Yunnan. He has experimented with harvesting the leaves of a few of these trees -- most of them around 300 years old -- and making them into different pu'erh raws. Last year he released the first small batch of this pu'erh, made entirely from leaves he collected on his foraging trips.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis pu'erh is particularly special as it comes from a single grove, and has been reserved for what Mr. Tang considers his personal collection. Mr. Tang foraged these leaves in 2021 and compressed them into individual-sized \"cookies.\" He has released a small amount of it to share with friends and communities who truly appreciate pu'erh raw, and we feel fortunate to be considered amongst those people.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis pu'erh raw is perfumed and sweet smelling, with the focused characteristics we appreciate from a single grove. It is a pleasure to drink it and taste for its \"one-thingness,\" and its clarity. There is no funk or haze to this tea, rather, it feels a bit like rain water -- refreshing, resetting, enriched, and succinct.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cultivate Tea","offers":[{"title":"25g","offer_id":45778530992408,"sku":null,"price":65.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"50g","offer_id":45778531025176,"sku":null,"price":125.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/5737\/8153\/files\/wuliangshan_single_grove_226a7df6-17c9-4b23-833c-dfe6db3eee5d.jpg?v=1782428381"},{"product_id":"snow-chrysanthemum-pu-erh","title":"Snow Chrysanthemum \u0026 Pu’erh","description":"\u003cp\u003eIn 2012 Tang Wang embarked on a journey to the west of China, across the ancient Tea Silk Road, to Xinjiang. He was driven by curiosity about an ancient tradition of the Uyghur people, who use Snow Chrysanthemum flowers as both tea and medicine. Since then he has been experimenting with infusing and blending Snow Chrysanthemum into the pu'erh he crafts back in Yunnan.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAfter 12 years of practice Tang Wang felt he had perfected the combination of this unlikely pair, releasing this tea for the first time in 2025. He has shared with us something we can hardly believe exists: old grove pu'erh from the ancient forests of Yunnan, pressed with Snow Chrysanthemum flowers from the Kunlun Mountain range, that bloomed at 9000 ft above sea level.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTang Wang's craftsmanship is focused on preserving as much of the essence and vitality of the flowers and pu'erh as possible, honouring the energetic and medicinal potential of these plants. He shade-dries the chrysanthemum to preserve it, while the pu'erh is aged for 3 years to deepen its flavors. Then the chrysanthemum flowers and pu'erh are meticulously blended, steamed, and pressed into cakes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe result is really a masterpiece, uniting the wisdom of the ancient forests and the snow capped mountains. Its as though the pure snow of the Kunlun Mountains has melted into the roots of 200 year old pu'erh trees in Yunnan: an impossible terrain that summons both freshness and sweetness. The energetics of this tea are predictably strong, and the slightly ascorbic quality of the flowers accelerate their circulation through the body. This is a highly medicinal tea that will be especially supportive during the winter months.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cultivate Tea","offers":[{"title":"25g","offer_id":50853823217944,"sku":null,"price":25.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"50g","offer_id":50853823250712,"sku":null,"price":50.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"200g Cake","offer_id":50853823283480,"sku":null,"price":140.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/5737\/8153\/files\/20251117_Cultivate_0594_WEB.jpg?v=1764293131"}],"url":"https:\/\/cultivatetea.com\/collections\/puerh-raw\/style-ancient-tree.oembed","provider":"Cultivate Tea","version":"1.0","type":"link"}