What is Sheng Pu Er Tea?
Officially a green tea, Sheng Pu Er is made with a classic green tea method. But its destiny can’t be more different from a typical green tea with its aging potential.
Sheng Pu desirability is directly tied to the age of the tea trees and the location they come from. Highly sought after Pu Er come from trees 200-600 years old planted during Ming and Qing Dynasty, often referred to as da shu cha or gu shu cha. Like all top Chinese teas, the #1 factor to the teas’ value is tied to its terroir and Pu Er Sheng Cha are named after its terroir as well. This is comparable to naming wine from Champagne, Champagne.
Learn more about Pu Er with our Tea Fundamentals.
History of Nan Nuo Shan Ban Po Lao Zhai
Origin: Ban Po Lao Zhai, Nan Nuo Shan mountain, Meng Hai, West of Lang Cang river, Xi Shuang Ban Na, Yun Nan province, China (~1600-1700m elevation)
Ban Po is translated to half-way to the top of the mountain. The village is indeed located half-way up Nan Nuo Shan mountain. It is the most sought-after village for Sheng Pu in Nan Nuo Shan. Our Ban Po is harvested from ancient tea trees 200-600 years old. Ancient tea trees are called Gu Shu / Lao Shu in Chinese.
Ancient, Heirloom Trees
This tea is made from raw material of ancient, heirloom trees. The varietal is called Qun Ti Da Ye Zhong (Heirloom large leaf). The trees are 200-600 years old.
Tasting The 2019 Vintage
2019, in particular, has vegetal notes, bold tannins, and a floral finish.
Share Our Passion
If you love this guided tasting, join us monthly with our Educational Tea Club! We deep dive into two teas a month over Zoom. You'll be able to participate live and ask question and taste the tea together with our community.
Example Curriculum
What You'll Need
To get the most out of this session, we advise having a gong fu brewing set up ready to brew along with. A Gai Wan, Fairness Pitcher, Strainer, and Three Sip Cup is recommended.
You can purchase a full gong fu brewing kit here.
