Teas for Boiling

Introduction:
This Ripe Puer Tea is meticulously selected from the autumn harvest of 2020. Plucked from high-altitude tea gardens in Mengku Town, Lincang City, Yunnan Province, at elevations of over 1200 meters, this tea is made from high-quality one-bud-three-leaf material. After three years of aging, it exudes a rich, aged aroma with notes of wood, earth, and smokiness. Its balanced, mellow flavor leaves a lingering sweetness on the palate, accompanied by subtle fruity and floral undertones.

Reasons to Recommend:

• Special Processing Technique: The "wet piling" (wo dui) process is a crucial fermentation step in crafting ripe Puer tea. It involves piling sun-dried tea leaves to a certain height, sprinkling them with water, and covering them with burlap to ferment under warm and humid conditions for about 24 hours. Once the leaves reach the desired level of transformation, they are spread out to dry.
• Three Years of Aging: The aging of Puer tea is a natural process of oxidation and microbial fermentation. During this time, polyphenols, amino acids, and other chemical compounds in the tea gradually transform, developing new aromas and flavors. Ripe Puer tea further develops complex aromas and a smoother texture through aging.
• High-Mountain Tea Gardens: Grown in high-altitude tea gardens at around 1200 meters, this tea thrives in an environment where lush vegetation, organic-rich soil, and extreme daily temperature fluctuations enhance the accumulation of flavorful compounds in the leaves.

Oxidation Level: Fully fermented
Roasting Level: None
Processing Time: Spring 2020
Best Before Date: Suitable for long-term storage
Tea Variety: Yunnan Big Leaf

Recommended Purchase:
This 2014 aged Shou Mei White Tea is made from Fuding Da Bai and Da Hao tea cultivars grown in Fujian, China. Crafted with traditional sun-drying methods, it delivers a unique blend of "aged aroma" and "herbal fragrance." With a rich, sweet aftertaste and long-lasting brews, this tea is ideal for those who appreciate the complexity of aged teas. However, it’s best enjoyed through simmering or long steeps, making it less suited for Gongfu-style brewing. If you prefer fresh, light, or floral white teas, this option may not align with your taste. This tea is made from whole loose leaves compressed into small 5g cakes. There’s no need to measure—perfect for quick and convenient brewing.

Key Details about 2014 Aged Shou Mei:
Origin: Fuding City, Fujian Province, China
Production Date: August 16, 2014
Grade: First Grade, Autumn Harvest Shou Mei
Tea Cultivar: Fuding Da Bai, Da Hao
Craftsmanship: Traditional sun-drying, overseen by tea master Li Shengyuan
Flavor Highlights: Deep "aged aroma" and "herbal fragrance," with exceptional durability in steeping.
Special Note: This 10-year-aged Shou Mei embodies the character and charm of time-aged white tea.

What is Shou Mei White Tea?
Shou Mei is a type of Chinese white tea primarily grown in Fuding, Zhenghe, and Songxi in Fujian Province. Its name, "Longevity Eyebrow," refers to the tea's leaf shape, which resembles the eyebrows of an elderly person. According to the latest national standards, Shou Mei is crafted from young shoots or leaves of tea plants such as Da Bai, Shui Xian, or local varietals through withering, drying, and sorting processes. While often considered less delicate than other white teas, its robust and complex flavor makes it a great choice for tea beginners.

Brewing and Enjoyment Tips for Shou Mei White Tea:
Shou Mei is not typically consumed fresh; it is better appreciated after aging for at least three years. With time, the tea develops deeper, more layered flavors. After 10 years, aged Shou Mei offers a smoother, sweeter taste, a richer, darker tea liquor, and distinctive "aged" and "herbal" aromas. These qualities make aged Shou Mei highly valued among white tea enthusiasts. It’s best enjoyed when simmered or steeped for extended periods.

Storage Guidelines for Shou Mei White Tea:
To preserve its quality, store the tea in a dry environment with moisture content below 8.5%, temperature around 25°C (77°F), and humidity under 45%. Keep it away from light, odors, and air exposure by sealing it tightly. After three years of proper storage, the tea can be classified as “aged white tea.”

How to Brew Shou Mei White Tea: 
Shou Mei Thermos Brewing
1g tea per 100ml (3.4oz) water.
Boiling water (212°F).
Steeping Time: 1-2 hours.
Recommended Tool: Insulated thermos.

Boiling Method:
Add 1g of tea per 100ml (3.4oz) water.
Boil for 1-2 minutes, then let it sit for 2-3 minutes.
For each rebrew, boil 3 minutes longer.
Use a glass or ceramic teapot.
Enjoy up to 3 brews.

Introduction:
This 2018 Liubao tea is sourced from high-altitude tea gardens in Guilin, Guangxi, and made from high-grade one-bud-three-leaf material. After five years of aging, the tea has undergone sufficient fermentation and transformation, developing a unique flavor profile with a distinctive betel nut aroma, a bright red liquor, and a smooth, mellow taste with a slightly sweet aftertaste.

Reasons to Recommend:

• Core Production Area: Grown in Liubao Town, Wuzhou City, Guangxi, where the average annual temperature is 21.1°C, annual rainfall is 1503.6 mm, and annual sunshine duration is 1915 hours. The abundant rainfall and vast mountainous terrain create an ideal environment for tea cultivation.
• Unique Aroma: The "betel nut aroma" of Liubao tea originates from a faint "pine smoke fragrance" in newly made tea, which transforms into the distinctive "betel nut aroma" after prolonged aging. This aroma creates a lasting "cooling" sensation in the mouth.
• Rich History: Liubao tea flourished during the Tang and Song dynasties and reached its peak during the Ming and Qing dynasties. During the Jiaqing period of the Qing dynasty, it was recognized as one of China's 24 famous teas for its unique betel nut aroma.
• Dual Benefits: Liubao dark tea holds a special place in traditional Chinese medicine. It is both cooling and warming, said to eliminate excess dampness while providing warmth when needed.

Oxidation Level: None
Roasting Level: None
Tea Garden Soil: Yellow soil
Master Blender: Liu Yongqiang
Processing Time: 2018
Best Before Date: Suitable for permanent storage
Tea Variety: Guangxi Group Variety

“Lao Cha Po” specifically refers to old leaves (not tender buds) harvested one week before and after Shuangjiang (one of China’s 24 solar terms, around October 23, marking the start of colder weather). These are mostly coarse leaves from the current year or 2–3-year-old growth. “Cha Po” is the Liubao people’s respectful name for old leaves. In the past, farmers sold tender buds as high-quality tea, while coarse old leaves were kept as everyday tea. The name reflects the farmers’ wisdom of “making full use of what you have.”

Around Shuangjiang, large temperature differences and reduced rainfall make the old leaves thicker and richer in sugars and nutrients, giving the tea a natural cane sugar sweetness. Tea harvested at this time has less astringency and a smoother, naturally sweet taste.

This Lao Cha Po tea was brewed at the tea bar during the 15th Northwest Tea Festival and loved by everyone, receiving high praise.

This tea is made using the traditional Liubao “picking and cleaning old leaves” method: fresh leaves are briefly blanched in hot water, then sun-dried or air-dried. Blanching reduces bitterness, while the drying process, similar to white tea, preserves most of the tea’s natural compounds.

This batch of Lao Cha Po comes from wild, aged tea trees in Shizhai Town, Wuzhou City, with tree ages of 30–50 years, making the raw material rare. Because it uses old trees, even with only 20 years of aging, the tea exhibits flavor comparable to 30+ years aged tea. The tea has a distinct medicinal aroma and carries the forest-like character unique to old trees, offering a rich and unique flavor.