2025 Yunnan Sourcing "Autumn Suan Zao Shu" Old Arbor Raw Pu-erh Tea Cake

Suan Zao Shu is one of the most remote villages in the Jinggu area. Reaching it takes nearly two hours from Jinggu town, and even then the road ends about five kilometers short of the village, with the remaining distance traveled on foot. At around 1,800 meters elevation, this rugged area is home to tea trees ranging from 50 to 400 years old. This autumn cake is made from leaves harvested from 200–300 year old trees in the Li family tea garden.

This is a powerful and highly distinctive tea. Suan Zao Shu is known for strength in every dimension: flavor, aroma, mouthfeel, and cha qi. The cup carries fruit and honey sweetness, a touch of tartness, and a bitter-savory edge that adds real depth. The aroma is unusual and memorable, leaning brothy and mushroom-like rather than purely floral. The tea leaves a strong impression in the mouth and throat, with long-lasting hui gan and a cha qi that is intense, immersive, and a little stupefying in the best possible way.

Why it’s special

• Extremely remote mountain origin: one of the harder-to-reach tea villages in Jinggu, helping preserve a clean and healthy growing environment
• Old-arbor material (200–300 yrs): thick, sturdy leaves from mature trees give the tea exceptional depth, structure, and energy
• Distinctive Suan Zao Shu profile: fruit, honey, tartness, savory depth, and brothy aromatics combine into something highly individual
• Autumn harvest character: broader, rounder, and more settled than spring, while still carrying serious strength and cha qi
• Traditional pressing: stone-pressed in the old manner for graceful aging

Tasting notes

• Aroma: brothy, mushroom-like, savory, with hints of honey and dark fruit
• Liquor: clear golden-amber with a thick, dense body
• Flavor: fruit and honey sweetness up front, followed by a touch of sourness, layered bitterness, and a savory depth that lingers
• Mouthfeel: strong, coating, and substantial with a deeply textured presence
• Finish & feel: persistent hui-gan, mouthwatering return, and a powerful, immersive cha qi

Origin & processing

• Area: Suan Zao Shu village, Jinggu area, Simao/Pu’er
• Elevation: ~1,800 meters
• Trees: old arbor, 200–300 years, from the Li family tea garden
• Season: Autumn 2025
• Craft: hand-picked • sun-withered • hand-rolled • sun-dried • traditionally stone-pressed
• Wrapper illustration: Cath Van

Brewing guide

(Great water helps. This tea rewards short early steeps and careful attention.)

Gongfu (recommended)

• 6 g / 100 mL
• 98–100 °C (208–212 °F)
• Quick rinse, then 5s • 8s • 10s • 12s • 15s, adding gradually for 10+ infusions
• Tip: If the bitter-savory edge feels too strong, shorten the first pours slightly or lower the temperature to 95–96 °C

Western

• 3–4 g / 300 mL (10 oz)
• 95–98 °C • 2:00–2:30
• 2–3 infusions, adding 20–30s each round

Grandpa style

• 1–1.2 g / 100 mL
• 90–95 °C
• Top up as you sip. Thick, sweet-savory, and steadily evolving.

Thermos style

• 1 gram per 100 ml
• Use 95C water and steep for 10-15 minutes

Pairing & occasions

Best enjoyed on its own or with very simple snacks like plain nuts or mild crackers. This is a tea for focused sessions where its unusual aroma, deep mouthfeel, and strong energy can be fully appreciated.

Aging notes

Built to integrate and round out with age. Store in 50-65% RH and 70-90F, in an odor-free area, with minimal airflow. Over time, expect the tartness and bitterness to soften, while the honeyed sweetness, savory depth, and texture become even more compelling.

In Summary

• Name: 2025 Yunnan Sourcing "Autumn Suan Zao Shu" Old Arbor Raw Pu-erh Tea Cake
• Region: Suan Zao Shu village, Jinggu area, Simao/Pu’er
• Elevation: ~1,800 m
• Trees: old arbor, 200–300 years
• Harvest: Autumn 2025
• Process: traditional raw pu-erh, stone-pressed
• Wrapper: Cath Van

In short: A remote-mountain autumn sheng from Suan Zao Shu with fruit, honey, tartness, savory depth, and a powerful, unforgettable mouthfeel—one of those teas that feels almost overwhelming at first, then keeps drawing you back.

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.