Raw puerh mao cha from one of my favorite new areas we are working with.
 
Y Tý is a beautiful tea area in Lào Cai province right on the border with China. There are two villages that have old tea trees here, one is inhabited by H’Mông people and the other Dao.
 
This tea is from the Dao village. Although only a couple kilometers apart, this area has more rocky soil and more windy, dry days than the H’Mông village. The leaves are also brighter green than the trees in the other area. Tea trees in Y Tý have especially beautiful leaves.
 
This tea area is about a 45 minute walk from the village up through a forest of wild bamboo. The bamboo forest eventually ends and you reach the tea gardens. There are many old and ancient trees here but many have been pruned heavily to produce buds for silver needle tea. There are still about 15 trees that have been left to grow naturally and produce some really excellent puerh tea!
 
This tea brews up slowly into a rich golden brew. Heavily sweet with notes of cane sugar and meadow flowers with a light herbal character. Strong mineral note with low bitterness and astringency. Lasting huigan and strong relaxing qi.
 
This tea had a light rolling so it benefits from longer steeps over longer session with many steeps. Set aside an hour if possible to fully enjoy this one.
 
I have also had some really nice sessions blending the H'Mông village and Dao village teas together.
 
Season: Spring 2024
Picking Standard: 1 bud, 2-3 leaves
Region: Y Tý, Lào Cai
Elevation: 1700-1800m