"Golden Buds" Jin Ya Ripe Pu-erh Tea Cake, 2013

DUE TO HIGH DEMAND, THIS TEA IS SOLD OUT. 

A young monk asked the wise tea master Lao Cha:

— Shifu, what is this treasure that you are saving for The Great Emperor of China?

— This treasure is Fengqing Golden Buds Ripe Pu-erh. It is made exclusively from the most precious tea leaves — the golden buds. Pu-erh made from these tea leaves is mellow, thick, and sweet. And the soft energy you get from this tea will last you all day, even during the winter. It takes many days and great attention and dedication to make this tea. This is a tea truly worthy of The Great Emperor. 

Feng Qing Golden Buds Ripe Pu-erh tea cake is made exclusively from the finest leaves picked during the early spring of 2013 in FengQing, Yunnan. This tea is made by farmers who are very passionate about their craft and use a tedious processing method known as "pile-fermentation". The 45-day process involves moistening large stacks of sun-dried raw tea leaves. The leaves are then piled high and carefully monitored to produce a dark composted tea pressed into cakes. The whole process requires the constant attention of the farmers to produce a top-quality Pu-erh.

What makes this tea special is the high proportion of golden buds used in every cake. Usually, the buds are only used to create top tea in every tea category. The tea cake has a glossy brown surface with golden tips visible on the top and bottom. It produces a deep red liquor with a soft and smooth mouthfeel. The rounded, mellow taste combines with a pleasant, aged woody scent. Because tea harvest is in early spring and due to the tenderness of the raw material, it holds a sweet flavor throughout the brews, not typical of other pu-erhs.

The area around Lincang is among the famous pu-erh tea-producing regions in Yunnan. It is situated near the border with Burma, nestling some of Yunnan's virgin tea tree forests. There, the tea trees grow freely, without human interference, in their natural surroundings and in symbiosis with other plants native to the region. Feng Qing county lies in the northern part of Lincang and is a well-known name among pu-erh tea lovers. It is where the oldest tea tree ever found is located. This tea king, a solemn remnant from distant times, is presumably 3 200 years of age. It is yet another proof of tea trees present in these lands centuries ago.

Entering its 10th year of aging, "Golden Buds" Jin Ya Ripe Pu-erh Tea Cake makes a great addition to your aged shu pu-erh collection. In China, Shou Pu-erh is among the few tea types deemed fine for drinking in the late hours of the day. Therefore, it is a safe bet for people prone to caffeine sensitivity and insomnia. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shu Pu-erh also helps with digestion. That makes it an excellent choice for sensitive stomachs.

NOTE: The pu-erh stand that's in the photos is not included.