DETAILED TASTING NOTES

Scent of dry leaves: yellow apples, wooden barrel
Scent of wet leaves: dried fruit compote, steppe flowers
Texture: very thick, creamy and coating
Taste: yellow apples, dried apricots, osmanthus, slightly unripe loquat, crisp persimmons, Yunnan bananas
Finish: mineral and dry then refreshing coolness, very sweet-juicy, active transformation
Scent of empty cup: apples withering under the tree
Aftertaste: grape skin (ruby perhaps)
Body sensation: joyful, clear, meditative

Category: Raw pu'er tea
Original name: 秋南糯古树生普洱
Harvest: September 2025
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+

Easy to drink: light and forgiving. As it steeps, it gently settles into a fresh, syrupy liquor. Autumn sheng pu'er tends to be softer than its more powerful spring counterparts, making it one of the most accessible (and generally affordable) ways to experience true old-growth tree material (GuShu).

GongFu brewing:
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 in Yunnan. 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 consistently stood out, not only for their quality but for the care and integrity she puts into them.