"Northern Swallow" Bac Yen GuShu Raw Pu-erh Tea Cake (Vietnam 🇻🇳)

In the remote, lush highlands of Bắc Yên, Master Lao Cha summoned his eager disciple to share a moment of revelation. In his seasoned hands, he held not a cake but loose leaves, each as vibrant and full of life as the forest from which they came.

– "Behold," – he whispered, a gleam of wisdom in his eyes, – "a tea that weaves the story of its homeland, a melody of earth and air from the heart of Sơn La province."

The disciple leaned in, curiosity alight, as Lao Cha unfurled the tale of the tea. – "These leaves," – he said, – "are kin, born of the ancient Da Ye Zhong trees that stand as silent sentinels at the lofty embrace of the mountain's peak. Their roots intertwine with the history of the land, drawing forth a brew as entwined as life itself."

With care, Lao Cha prepared the tea, the air filling with a symphony of floral and smoky whispers. – "Taste," – he encouraged, – "and you'll find the ruggedness of the mountains softened by the caress of spring's first bloom. Like the dance of dawn and dusk, this tea balances youth's vigor with the grace of age."

Embark on a journey with Bắc Yến, Sơn La Vietnamese Sheng, a tea that embodies the purity and tradition of Vietnam's tea-growing heartlands. This Vietnamese Sheng comes from one of the best ancient tea tree gardens within the dense forests of Bắc Yên district, Sơn La province. A late March 2023 harvest, our Vietnamese Sheng offers an authentic taste of its origin. The tea garden sits at an altitude of 1800-1900 meters in the clean, pristine surroundings of a H'Mông village close to the Yên Bái province border.

This Vietnamese Sheng is full of the spring season's vitality, offering a rich and lasting Hui Gan (回甘) and a strong Qi (茶气). Its large-leaf Assamica varietal, locally known as Da Ye Zhong, is renowned for its robust leaves, yielding a complex and evolving brew that lasts for many rounds. 

The first steep of this tea reveals a light and refreshing taste with a subtle sweet aftertaste, indicative of its high-quality young leaves. As you continue to infuse the leaves, the tea's character gracefully unfolds. The second and third brews bring forward a harmonious blend of floral and fruity notes with an undercurrent of green freshness that is both invigorating and soothing. Initially reminiscent of a fresh meadow, the aroma evolves to exhibit a more nuanced profile with hints of ripe fruits and a gentle woodiness, reflecting the rich biodiversity of its origins.

The Sơn La province, where this tea is handpicked, is distinguished by its "cloud oceans" that gracefully envelop the higher altitudes in the mornings. These natural mists contribute to the soil's moisture and foster a tea that is free from urban pollutants. It ensures a product is as clean and pure as the environment from which it comes.

This Vietnamese Sheng is more than just a tea; it reflects the land's natural beauty and the dedication of its people to maintaining a clean and sustainable habitat. Our Vietnamese Sheng presents a bold yet refined profile, yielding a richly floral and sweet infusion. The balance of moderate astringency and bitterness complements the pronounced sweetness and subtle smoky notes from the wok. An intriguing minerality enhances the complexity of this tea, adding layers and depth to each sip.

It stands as a fine representation of Vietnamese tea culture, inviting tea drinkers to appreciate subtle complexities and natural elegance.