Hailing from the legendary tea mountains of Yiwu, Yunnan, this 1999 tea is a rare find and a jewel vintage sheng Pu-erh. Yiwu is one of the six ancient Pu-erh tea mountains, and was a tribute Pu-erh tea during the Qing dynasty, a rich history exemplified in the photos I took below.  When I first tasted the tea on my sourcing trip, I knew it was the real deal. The tea owner is a native of Yiwu, and one of the several pioneer companies that started producing and selling Pu-erh teas back in 1990s when China was under economic reforms and its tea culture began a new era of renaissance. The Nei Fei, or the paper with the producer's mark inside of the tea cake, is from Lian Xin mark, one of the oldest Pu-erh tea producers in Yiwu. I was unwilling to purchase inauthentic or mediocre aged teas that are so common in the market, and I had been looking for aged sheng Pu-erh tea for quite some time. As with many of life's treasures, I came upon this gem when least expected.

This tea offers a thoroughly enlightening sensory experience and will expand your taste horizons. Time is the essence; the passing twenty-four years have brought a wonderful transformation of rich flavors to this tea. Early steeps feature a very noticeable ginseng aroma, characteristic of a well-aged Pu-erh tea. Very smooth and creamy texture, floral and woody notes complement the sweet aftertaste. A warm sensation with strong saliva and flow of energy soon kicks in and runs throughout your entire body. After seven or eight steeps the ginseng note becomes subtle, but a progression of creamy sweet notes follows. It gets even sweeter in the later steeps. After 24 years of aging, this tea is like a wise sage whispering and guiding you through life's wonders and brings complacency to your soul. A must try for Pu-erh tea fans. 

Click here for steeping instructions.

Additional Info

Origin:          Yi Wu township, Xishuangbanna, Yunnan province, China

Elevation:    1200 -1600 meters, Yunnan Da Ye (large leaves)

Tasting Notes

It has noticeable ginseng aroma, full bodied, very smooth and juicy, rich and complex flavor, quinoa and woody notes, with hints of fruits and dates, and a sweet aftertaste.