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 comes from 200-600 years old trees planted during Ming and Qing Dynasties, 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 is 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 halfway to the top of the mountain. The village is indeed located halfway 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 the 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.
Taste of 2016 Vintage
2016 currently tastes earthy, woodsy, and like biscotti with orange peel. As this tea ages, its flavors journey with the tea throughout its lifespan.
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 questions 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.
Watch More Guided Tastings
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