2009 Ba Jiao Ting Ultimate Purity Arbor Tree Raw Pu-erh Cake

This tea is produced by the Liming factory, established in 1963, trademark Ba Jiao Ting. Liming factory is the only state-owned Pu-erh tea factory remaining in contemporary Pu-erh tea industry of China.  

The tea cake was named Zi Chun, meaning the Ultimate Purity, a representation of pure leaves from the famous five Ban Zhang villages in Bulang mountain, Menghai county. It masterfully blended teas of 2007-2009 spring harvest, and pressed into cakes in 2009. It was meant for long-term aging, therefore it has not been circulated in the marketplace and has been well-kept at the producer's Kunming storage facility. Kunming storage is preferred the Dry Storage in the connoisseur's vocabulary that is compared to teas aged in Guang Dong province. With 15 years of aging in Kunming, this tea has manifestation of the great attributes of an aged Pu-erh tea that is captivating with deep and rich character, hints of smokiness, robust, succulent, with notes of dates and fruits, sweet aftertaste until the end. It has strong Cha Qi and the special Yun, which connoisseurs love to detect and capture in the liquor. 

It was worthy to note that the subtle smoky flavor permeates the liquor, and does NOT simply float in the air and fade away after a few steeping which is way common in mediocre or manipulated smoky teas. The smokiness is not over-powering, and balanced through out until after the mid-sessions during the steeping. 

The following is from a tea lover's tasty notes:  Before even reading the description of this tea, it was clear to me on first sip that it has a smoky character, but this isn't what I would describe as Lapsang smokiness; rather, what we have here is more in the vein of a Hakushu Japanese whisky — mild peatiness underwritten by some tropical fruitiness and a sprig of mint. Just like a fine whisky, this is a great pu-erh for those who want to sip and think. 

Additional Info

Origin:                     Bulang Mountains, Meng Hai, Yunnan province

Leaf Harvest:           Leaf harvested from 2007-2009 blend, pressed in 2009

Altitude:                  1600-1800m

Bush Varietal:         Yunnan Da Ye (large leaves) 

Caffeine level:         Medium

Tasting Notes

It is slightly smoky on the first half of steepings and faded away on the second half of steeping, very smooth and full bodied, has fruity notes with hints of melon and pear, very juicy and saliva producing.