2026 Yunnan Sourcing "The Source" Raw Pu-erh Tea Cake
“The Source” is a small-production raw pu-erh made entirely from first-flush Spring 2026 old-arbor tea. The leaves come from naturally growing mature tea trees approximately 60–100 years old in a remote, high-elevation tea garden in Yunnan.
For this production, we have deliberately chosen not to disclose the mountain, village, or precise growing area. There are teas where the name of the place is part of the experience, and there are others where we would rather have the tea speak for itself. “The Source” belongs firmly in the latter category.
What drew us to this material is its remarkable combination of sweetness, texture, fragrance, and clarity. It has the soft, almost buttery mouthfeel that we look for in exceptional old-arbor raw pu-erh, but underneath that softness is enough structure and strength to keep the tea engaging through a long session.
The brewed tea is pale gold and exceptionally clear. The aroma is immediately floral and sweet, with notes of orchid, wildflower honey, fresh bamboo, sweet wood, and a faint suggestion of citrus peel. In the mouth the tea is thick, smooth, and almost creamy, coating the tongue and palate before gradually spreading into the throat. Sugarcane sweetness is present from the first infusions, joined by soft grain, rock sugar, and hints of white peach as the session develops.
There is youthful bitterness, but it is clean and measured rather than aggressive, providing just enough structure to keep the sweetness from becoming one-dimensional. Astringency is low. After swallowing, the tea quickly produces a strong hui gan and persistent sheng jin, leaving the mouth cool, lubricated, and increasingly sweet. The finish seems to build rather than disappear, with lingering floral sweetness remaining well after the cup is empty.
The cha qi is similarly deceptive. It begins quietly and then rises steadily through the session, producing a calm, clear, and focused feeling rather than an abrupt rush. Combined with the tea’s viscosity and endurance, this gives “The Source” an unusually complete feeling in the mouth and body.
This is a tea for drinkers who do not need a famous village name to tell them what is in the cup. Its appeal lies in the quality of the material itself: old-arbor depth, beautiful sweetness, silky texture, long aftertaste, and enough underlying structure to evolve gracefully with age.
Brewing Guide
Gongfu (recommended)
6 grams per 100 ml
98–100°C
Quick rinse
Start with 5–8 second infusions and lengthen gradually
Expect 10+ strong infusions
For an especially soft and sweet presentation, try 95–96°C water and keep the first several infusions very short. Boiling water will bring out more structure, bitterness, mineral character, and cha qi.
Western
3–4 grams per 300 ml
95–98°C
Steep for 2:00–2:30
Re-steep 2–3 times, adding 20–30 seconds each round
Grandpa Style
1–1.2 grams per 100 ml
90–95°C
Top up with hot water as you drink
This method emphasizes the tea’s sugarcane sweetness, floral character, and soft, lubricating mouthfeel.
Aging Notes
This tea has excellent potential for longer-term aging. Its combination of sweetness, body, bitterness, aromatic intensity, and persistent mouthfeel gives it the structure necessary to develop greater depth over time.
Store in 50-65% RH and 70-90F, in an odor-free area, with minimal airflow.
With age, expect the youthful floral and fresh-fruit character to deepen toward honey, dried fruit, sweet wood, and increasingly integrated sweetness, while the already silky mouthfeel should become even more rounded.
In Summary
Name: 2026 Yunnan Sourcing “The Source” Raw Pu-erh Tea Cake
Tea Type: Raw Pu-erh Tea
Origin: Undisclosed high-elevation old-arbor tea garden in Yunnan
Harvest: First Flush Spring 2026
Trees: Naturally grown old-arbor tea trees, approximately 60–100 years old
Character: Sugarcane sweet, floral, creamy, fruity, cooling, and deeply textured
Mouthfeel: Thick, buttery, and highly lubricating
Hui Gan: Fast and persistent
Cha Qi: Clear, calm, and steadily building
Aging Potential: Excellent
Net Weight: 250 grams per cake
Total Production: 100 cakes
Packaging Illustration: Марічка Владимир
In short: “The Source” is a deeply sweet and beautifully textured old-arbor sheng with orchid fragrance, sugarcane sweetness, creamy viscosity, persistent hui gan, and a quiet but powerful cha qi. The exact origin remains our secret, the tea itself is the explanation.
Each cake comes in a free matching gift box that features the full uncropped illustration by the artist. The matching gift box is not available for purchase separately. NOTE: If the gift box arrives with creases or cosmetic blemishes we cannot provide a free replacement.
This tea has been tested in a certified laboratory for 404 pesticides, and is within the EU MRL limits set for those 404 pesticide residues. For a full list of the 404 pesticides we tested for and more information about MRL testing and the EU Food and Safety commission click on this link.
