EN
"Gongting" (meaning "palace") is a 2018 shu pu-erh from Yunnan. The name is customarily used for shu pu-erhs made from fine young leaves, which makes the tea soft and velvety. This batch is loose leaf and ready to drink.
Shu pu-erh is produced by accelerated fermentation, which makes the tea dark and warm in flavor. A few years of aging soften the initial fermentation smell, so the 2018 tea drinks softly and without harshness.
Characteristics
- Type: shu pu-erh
- Country: China, Yunnan
- Year: 2018
- Form: loose leaf
- Flavor: soft, woody, earthy, lightly sweet
Aroma and Taste
Dry leaf: warm and earthy, with notes of wood and dried fruit.
Liquor: a thick, dark liquor, soft, with a lightly sweet woody taste.
Aftertaste: soft, lightly sweet and long-lasting.
Why You'll Love It
Shu pu-erh warms well and suits hearty lunches, cold weather and long tea sessions. It forgives brewing inaccuracies, holds up for many infusions and quickly becomes an "everyday" tea.
How to Brew
Gongfu brewing (short infusions, gaiwan or Yixing teapot):
- 100–150 ml gaiwan or teapot: 6–7 g of tea
- Water at 95–100 °C; do a rinse
- Infusions of 10–15 s, then increase the time
- The tea holds up for 8–10 infusions
Western-style brewing (teapot or thermal tumbler):
- 3 g of tea per 200 ml of water
- Temperature 95–100 °C
- Steep for 3–5 min
- The leaf can be re-steeped 3–4 times
Storage
Store in tightly closed packaging in a cool, dry place, away from direct light and foreign odors.
