One of the most sublime Ripe PuErh teas that I have ever tasted. A Bing Dao ripe PuErh from 2010 made from estimated 250+ year old tea trees. One of a kind and unmissable.
This small-batch tea has left me slightly speechless. A ripe PuErh of the most supreme character. Thick, oily and delicious with a fabulous body high. It has instantly become one of my most treasured teas for the collection.
Let's start with the origin - Bing Dao. This village in Lincang is one of the top echelon villages for PuErh tea in Yunnan, demanding high prices, but you definitely GET what you pay for.
Bing Dao has a distinct character and unmistakeable tea-drunkeness. The taste of Bing Dao bridges the warm, sweet and creamy with a steely minerality. This leads to a bright, fresh juiciness and a very powerful high.
Next up, let's talk about the age of tea trees. This is a very rare opportunity to taste a Gushu (ancient tree) ripe PuErh. Grand Master Ripe is made from estimated 250 year old tea trees. Making a ripe tea from these trees is almost unheard of because of the reduction in yield from the ripening process and the high prices which the raw (unripened) tea commands.
Gushu material sends the richness of taste, texture and body sensation to a whole other level.
Finally, it is worth noting that this tea has had over ten years of ageing in Yunnan. The extra years produces an elegance and transparency which really shows off the mad quality of the tea.
So what is the experience of Grand Master Ripe?
This tea will give you an EPIC session (we highly recommend loading the pot with about 7-8g per 100ml for the fullest experience).
Deep, rich and warming with bourbon caramel and chocolate covered prunes. Add that clear and bright minerality which combines leathers, fresh pears and a sweet herbal structure. Top it all off with the most remarkable smooth, oily, thick and creamy character.
After just four or five infusions, you can expect a deep digestif comfort with a rising warmth and tingling body sensation. It's like a warm and penetrating hug from a new love - cosy and comforting yet exhilarating.
It's a Grand Master, no question.
