DETAILED TASTING NOTES

Smell of dry leaves: dried apples, marzipan
Smell of wet leaves: eucalyptus, dried stone fruit
Texture: thick, creamy
Taste: peach candies, banana, fresh wood
Finish: sweet, ethereal and floral
Smell of empty cup: fermented blood oranges
Aftertaste: long, aged chenpi (orange peel)
Body sensation: joyful, euphoric lightness, energizing

Category: Raw Pu'er Tea
Original Name: 春南糯古树生普洱
Harvest: April 2018
Origin: Ancient forest around the old village of Shitou, NanNuo Mountain, Menghai County, Xishuangbanna Prefecture, Yunnan Province, China
Cultivar: Da Ya Zhong (Big Leaf)
Altitude: 1600m+

Both Dry Season in NanNuo, 2018 and 2020, come from the same old trees, from the same producer, from the same season — only the harvest year differs. This is a rare opportunity to taste time side by side. These two years were particularly dry in southern Yunnan, concentrating the flavor of the leaves of these old trees (GuShu).

I personally find that the 2018 has a slightly lighter base than the 2020, but rewards patience with a beautiful and long-lasting aftertaste. Both have a powerful body feel.

GongFu Infusion:
95°C
6g /100ml
1st infusion: 10sec, subsequent: +3sec/infusion
15 infusions

This tea comes from an ancient garden on NanNuo Mountain, with trees estimated to be between 300 and 800 years old, near the old village of ShiTou. The garden grows in a forest ecosystem where tea trees coexist with other plants. The trees, especially the older ones, have not been treated with fertilizers or pesticides for many years. This environment contributes to the depth and mineral character of the tea.

The producer manages the harvesting and processing herself, with her family. I met her by chance in 2024, and her teas have consistently stood out, not only for their quality, but for the care and integrity she puts into them.