Essence of Lincang 2019

The Essence of Lincang is a small batch pu'erh ripe made from the leaves of 200 years old trees. It is a blend of spring and autumn harvests, giving it some added complexity. This is an unusual tea because generally leaves from such ancient trees are made into pu'erh raw, as they are considered more valuable that way. We hardly ever find them fermented to this extent.

To ripen the tea, the leaves were carefully fermented on wooden pallets off the ground. The temperature and humidity of the room they rested in was strictly controlled. During fermentation, the tea developed the unique aroma of sweet rice wine. The tea was then aged for six months at room temperature, before being pressed into cakes.

The result is a full bodied pu'erh that tastes very vibrant and clean. It is not as earthy or 'underground' tasting as many pu'erh ripes, offering a more nuanced flavour profile. It has notes of sweet glutinous rice, wet stone and jujube dates and a mouthfeel that is smooth and satisfying. This tea gives a sensation comparable to drinking consomme: it is rich in texture and flavor, but with clarity and purity of taste. In this way, it is both a nourishing and uplifting tea.