• handmade item

• materials: big-leaved arbor tea leaves from the mountain of Jingmai

• shape: cake

• dimension: diameter 18.5 cm / 7.28 in

• weight: 380 g / 13.40 oz

This is a sheng pu-erh that brews bright golden liquor with a heady orchid aroma, and can last for around 15 steeps. First spring leaves make the best-valued tea because of the concentrated nutrients, and the infused liquid emanates strongest aroma and flavour. Picked from the first spring of 2011, our Jingmai pu-erh possesses opulent aroma and intense flavour that is reminiscence of wilderness of Jingmai.

Located in the Lancang Lahu autonomous county in southwestern Yunnan province, Jingmai Mountain has 1800 years history of man-cultivated tea. Ancient tea gardens span an area of 28,000 mu, that is equivalent to 18.67 sq km or 4600 acres of land. Jingmai Mountain is composed of Jingmai, Mangjing, Manghong and six other villages occupied by Hani, Dai and Bulang ethnic groups. Ancient tea trees originate from Xishuangbanna Dai autonomous prefecture. Even though Jingmai Mountain is located outside of Xishuangbanna Dai autonomous prefecture, it is still considered as one of the top production area of ancient tree pu-erh. Bayanleng, the first Bulang tribe head in Jingmai village was a man of great vision. He told the tribe, “If I leave you with livestock, they may die from diseases; if I leave you with gold and silver, they will be used up; only if I leave you all with tea trees, they can sustain our descendants and will never be depleted.” His people took his word. After generations of persistence and hard work, it has become what we see now – mountain after mountain of ancient tea trees that rank Jingmai on the top for ancient tree pu-erh. Ancient tea trees require zero maintenance – no fertilizers or pesticides are needed.