Maiden Shu Pu'er Cake Vintage 2012

Origin: Lincang Prefecture, Yunnan Province, China
Cultivar: Mengku Da Ye Broad Leaf
Elevation: 1850
Harvest: 2012

There are two types of Pu'er tea: Sheng (raw, green) and Shu (ripe, dark). Both originate from a sun-dried green tea known as Shaiqing maocha. Shu Pu'er is crafted by pile-fermenting shaiqing teas over a period of 85-120 days. Like a fine wine that is properly vintaged, Pu'er tea has the ability to age beautifully, developing new flavors over time. This is a true connoisseur's Shu Pu'er--the Maiden grade is defined as two leaves and a bud, harvested in spring and early summer. The Shu Pu'er fermentation process introduces an alluring earthy tone that provides the backbone for notes of rice milk, malt, buckwheat honey and sweet fermentation.