Tree Spirit 2021 Huazhuliangzi Gushu

The price of this tea reflects what it is, an unmixed pure production of huazhuliangzi gushu, made in a wood fired wok, naturally sun dried, and pressed tighter than our Lincang cakes to help facilitate long-term aging.  This pure-gushu production starts off very heavy and mineral rich, and sweetens up as the session lengthens.  As a common feature of the terroir of this area (the Huazhuliangzi ridge is just one mountain valley away from the beloved Naka region), this tea has an ever so slight saline quality in the brew, which undoubtably comes from its unique mineral-rich growing environment.

Already with two years under its belt, this tea is rich and deep with mineral notes that trigger a lasting huigan.  There are some pleasant camfor notes entering the broth and a noticeably mellowed and mature character compared to tea made this spring.  As this tea was aged for two years in Tan’s production facility of the Baotang Village, wither level of heat and humidity have changed the tea noticeably in just these two years.  

This tea offers a good look into what the 2023 Huazhuliangzi cakes can become in part with a little bit of thoughtful aging, though the 2023 Huazhuliangzi is a 50/50 blend of Gushu and old arbor, so it should have a little more fragrant punch in its youth.