2003 Changtai "Ji Nian / Memorial" Sheng / Raw Tuo Cha (100g)

This is a tea that we are ecstatic to get back in stock! This was one of our first products and quickly sold out years ago. We never thought we would be able to get anymore. A Changtai representative who knew how much we liked this tea reached out to us to let us know that they knew some more had come up on the market and we jumped at the opportunity. 

This tea has a classic aged sheng experience that belies the age.  This tea is rich, aromatic, and a truly pleasant experience. The warming leaves reveal an inviting, deep, dark musty aroma of age. As water washes the leaves a refreshing aroma of earthiness with a rich sweetness comes out. The liquor is a hue of dark amber. The flavor is smooth and thick with a strong mustiness. It is sweet and heavy without bitterness or astringency. It's a very comforting experience that immediately feels familiar.

This aged sheng puerh comes from the Yunnan Changtai Tea Industry Group. They have been in the puerh business since the late 90's. This 100 gram mini tuo is called "Ji Nian" which means "Memorial". Changtai chose this name and blend to memorialize their history. The shape is reminescent of a birds nest and is called "tuo cha". It has been in use in China for a very long time. Some consider this shape to be superior because you get a large surface area in a small package. Others contend that air gets trapped in the pocket which helps with aging.

Changtai is well known for the quality of their early 2000's puerh. Their master blenders created this blend from Menghai area Da Shu (Big Tree) puerh tea trees in 2003. It has been stored in hot, humid Xishuangbanna until around 2013. It has been in Kunming since then. This blend contains a higher ratio of large leaves than buds.

Brewing Instructions

Use 5-10 grams of leaves and brew with 75-150ml ( 2.5-5oz ) of water at or near boiling. Rinse once for a few seconds. Start with quick steeps under 10s. With each re-steep adjust the steep time to your taste.

Enjoy!