shu pu'er tea brick lincang | 2012

type: black

origin: china

region: yunnan

variety: pu erh

caffeine: strong

price level: $$$$

Elevation: 1,800m. Cultivar: Mengku Broad Leaf. Harvest Date: Spring-Summer 2012 There are two types of Pu'er tea: Sheng (raw, green) and Shu (ripe, dark). Both originate from a rustic sun-dried green tea called Shaiqing. Shu Pu'er is made by pile-fermenting Shaiqing teas over a period of 85-120 days. This 2012 vintage shu is made from Shaiqing Maocha (sun-dried green tea) grown in the Lincang region of western Yunnan. There is a rustic charm about this Zhuan Cha or "brick tea," one of the traditional shapes of compressed pu'er that was traded to areas like Tibet, Mongolia, and Shaanxi. Like fine wine, Pu'er tea has the ability to be aged and released in vintages. Young Shu Pu'er teas (2-3 years) typically have an assertive body and bold strength. The body and mouthfeel become richer and more integrated as the Shu Pu'er continues to age from 4-8 years.