Arbor White 2018

This tea comes to us from Mangnuo village in Shuangjiang County of Lincang. Mangnuo is one of two villages located along the incredible Lancang River; the other being Dawen. The name Mangnuo comes from the Dai dialect, meaning "a place with pools of freshwater."

As the name implies, Mangnuo is surrounded by bodies of water. Lahu ethnic tribes settled in Mangnuo around 600 years ago, planting tea trees in the village during the Ming Dynasty. One of the ancient tea trees in this village stands roughly 20 ft tall with a diameter of 5 ft!

The tea garden this tea comes from is situated on the sunny steep hills of Mangnuo Baha where mountains tower over it. The garden is surrounded by mist and fog from the Lancang river year round, shielding the plants from direct sun and higher temperatures.

The fresh leaves are harvested between late March and early April with a picking standard of one-bud-two-leaves. They are then withered and dried naturally outdoors on bamboo mats for at least 72 hours, and pressed into mini cakes.

This is a delicious tea: smooth and delicate, with elegant floral aromatics. It feels like drinking the nectar of wild alpine flowers, as it leaves the lingering taste of honey on the palate long after the tea is swallowed.