Wuliangshan 2013

Wuliangshan 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.

When 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.

What 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.

If 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.