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"Laughing Buddha" GuShu Ripe Pu-erh Tea Cake, 2020 (100g)

$25.00

–  Shifu, why is this tea called Laughing Buddha? 

Lao Cha replies: — Take a sip, young one. Picture an old, wise pot-bellied laughing Buddha rejoicing at all the experiences life offers. It is just like this tea. The old tea bushes hold the history of many people who have come before. The taste is rich and complex. I'm sure, it's cha qi will get you tea drunk just like it did to those before you.

 

GuShu (古树) is one of the most desired tea types globally, with tea enthusiasts going out of their way to acquire some. Especially if it's particularly ancient. GuShu means ancient tea tree, and GuShu tea is made from older tea trees aged 100 years and up.

Our "Laughing Buddha" Gushu Ripe Pu-erh is made of tea trees that grow at the high altitudes of Mt. Phoenix in Yunnan. The dry strips are dark brown with reddish nuances. They infuse into a clear, intensive red liquor. You'll encounter a mellow taste with top notes of ripe fruits and berries. A wonderfully spicy and slightly earthy aroma opens up when brewing the tea. The superior raw material provides an intensive yet soft and smooth mouthfeel, with no apparent astringency or bitterness and a slightly earthy finish. You can easily get a dozen brews, as this GuShu Ripe Pu-erh is quite brew-resistant.

Feng Huang Mountain (Phoenix Mountain) lies in the Mojiang county, Pu'er district. It is situated on an important node of the Ancient Tea Horse Road and has 50 000 mu of ancient tea gardens scattered on its slopes. The tea coming from there is named "heaven-sent tea" by the locals. The minorities in this area include Hani, Bulang, and Lahu. All of them have a long history with tea growing and cultivation. The Bulang people living in Fenghuang Mountain are descendants of the ancient Pu people. They are believed to be the first people to use and cultivate tea. During the Qing dynasty, local farmers still planted trees and produced pu'erh tea. Due to the small-scale production and lack of industry, FengHuang Shan has remained a pristine area, largely untouched by development. Today, it is a sustainable tea production region. Here, tea farmers heavily emphasize green practices and clean production. So much so that there is an existing ban on the usage of pesticides and artificial fertilizers.

It is said that ancient tea trees have energy (茶气 – Chá Qì), like no other. The tea bushes in large-scale production have a shallow root system that only reaches through to the upper levels of the soil. The ancient trees have a vertical, well-developed root system with a central root. It goes deep into the ground, absorbing all the minerals, nutrients, and energy that the sacred tea-growing land of Yunnan has to offer. We invite you to try our Laughing Buddha to experience its effects for yourself.

 

 

• Place of Origin: Phoenix Mountain, Pu'er, Yunnan, China
• Altitude: 1300m
• Harvest Time: April 2020
• Picking Standard: one bud, three leaves
• Dry Leaf: young, rather small leaves of large leaf variety
• Aroma: spicy, slightly earthy, with strong berries and fruit notes
• Taste: mellow with notes of fruits and berries 
• Tea Tree: Da Ye Zhong (大叶种)

  

Brewing guidelines:

        212℉ / 100℃ 

1g per 50ml   3-5min

     1g per 20ml   Rinse. 5sec + 5sec for each subsequent infusion 

Customer Reviews

Based on 4 reviews
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A
Austin

All the teas I bought were very delicious

C
Charlie Dixson
Fantastic pu-erh

This is a great tasting pu-erh. The fruity flavor really comes out when brewed gong-fu style, but not overpowering. I used 12 grams for a 230ml Gaiwan I use for my private sessions, and after 12 brews, it still tasted great. Keep up the good work, Misha. You guys are the best as usual

A
Andrew
Not your typical shou

I really like this shou as the flavor is very clean and light with forest notes. The energy for me is heady and centered on my upper body. The cake is heavily compressed; I will be buying more of this tea in the near future.

T
Tim
Nice but not amazing

A very decent pu'erh, with lots of forest notes. Very tasty, but it lacked a punch. Like it wasn't thick enough for me, if you know what I mean. I enjoyed it though. It was a good tea experience – I don't regret getting it. But next time I'll re-order the "Golden Buds" 2013.