2018 Yunnan Sourcing "Mang Zhi" Old Arbor Raw Pu-erh Tea Cake

Mang Zhi is a small village of Yi and Yao people living just west and south of Yi Wu town in the vicinity of Yi Bang and Xi Kong villages. Like the teas from Yi Bang and Xi Kong the tea is a primordial mixed large and small leaf varietal. The tea leaves are not as big as Yi Wu mountain (proper) large leaf varietal but have a higher level of aroma (香气高) but not lacking in cha qi (茶气). The brewed tea is aromatic, thick and sweet but not entirely lacking in bitterness and astringency. Mang Zhi village tea leaves are dark olive green color when brewed.

Careful attention was paid to the processing of this mao cha giving it an even taste and color with little or no black flecks (if the leaves are signed during the kill-green process). The mao cha was carefully steamed and pressed with 40 kilogram stone presses in the traditional manner and each stack of 7 cakes was packed in the highest grade bamboo leaf tongs for collection and long-term storage.

In total just 15 kilograms of this tea has been produced. We have delayed sales of this cake for several weeks to allow the water vapor from pressing to dissipate. Further aging will only improve this wonderful tea!

Net Weight: 250 grams per cake (7 cakes per bamboo leaf tong)

Harvest time: Late April 2018

Harvest Area: Mang Zhi (village), Yi Wu mountain range, Meng La county of Xi Shuang Banna

Total Production amount: 60 cakes (15 kilograms)

Wrapper Design and Illustration by Jake Knapp of the United States

This tea has been tested in a certified laboratory for 191 pesticides, and is within the EU MRL limits set for those 191 pesticide residues. For a full list of the 191 pesticides we tested for and more information about MRL testing and the EU Food and Safety commission click on this link.