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

–  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.

Brewing guidelines: