2019 Loose Leaf Gu Hua Sheng

Produced By Dongsa Cooperative

The Qianjiazhai Dongsa Cooperative was established to be a steward to the oldest tea forest in the world, wild-foraging and hand-finishing every leaf using traditional craft.

Tasting Profile

VERY SPICY – cooling, juniper, cinnamon
SAVORY – burdock, semolina
VEGETAL – tulsi, fennel
A LITTLE FLORAL – marigold
A LITTLE FRUITY – banana leaf

DATE OF PICKINGAugust 2019

QianjiazhaiMt. Ailao, Yunnan

ELEVATION2140 m

Qianjiazhai AssamicaTea Varietal

Craft and terroir have come together beautifully for this harvest from Qianjiazhai's wild tea trees. The Dongsa Cooperative wild-forages buds and tender leaves from tea trees between one hundred and three hundred years of age for this loose sheng pu'er blend. Every hand-picked leaf is withered and sun-dried in bamboo baskets, with little or no heat exposure to lock in the most wild and natural flavor of one of the most remote growing regions in the world.

The Qianjiazhai Dongsa Cooperative is a loose-knit association of farmer-foragers within the Mt. Ailao National Forest Preserve committed to protecting and sustaining the ancient tea trees, and inspiring more interest in the oldest tea forest in the world through their devoted craft. Gu Hua refers to a traditional agricultural period in very early autumn when tea flowers are all in bloom in Qianjiazhai. Master Zhou, the head of the cooperative, loves this season’s tea the most for its intense sweetness and fruity undertones. He and the Li Family hand-pick the leaves from 100-300 year old trees and allow them to dry in the sun without adding heat. While most sheng pu’er is too bitter to drink for years after picking, this tea is so sweet, nuanced and complex even fresh that it is a great gateway into pu’er and incredible for long term aging potential.

Steeping Instructions

Western

4 g.6-8
oz.use 208° watersteep 20 secondsresteep many times
add 10 sec. each infusion

Gongfu

5 g.6 oz.use 208° watersteep 6 seconds
add 3 sec. per steepingenjoy many steepings

Iced/Cold

4 g.12
oz.use room temp. waterrefrigerate overnight
(8 to 12 hours)add ice & enjoy