Epic Gushu from ancient 500-year-old trees growing in the high altitudes of Qian Jia Zhai. Powerfully altering tea with crazy energy.
The village of Qian Jia Zhai is high up in the Ailao Mountains, surrounded by ancient, biodiverse forests.
It is one of the most esteemed villages in the world of tea.
The forests around Qian Jian Zhai boast a treasure of wild-growing, ancient trees and a richly diverse ecosystem. It is home to one of the oldest tea trees on Earth estimated at 2700 years of age.
Portal Professor is made from estimated 500 year old trees growing at varying but high altitudes around Qian Jia Zhai in the core area of the Ailao Mountain.
From the first sip of the tea sample that made its way from this remote village, I was captivated and immediately purchased the entire batch.
The aroma and taste of Portal Professor is a masterclass of elegance and restraint while being complex, vibrant and satisfying.
This is one of the key definers of the GOAT level teas - forceful and charismatic yet with softness and grace.
Honey, fudge, warm skin, dried fruits and orange cream flood your nose in a gentle yet invigorating fog.
There is a satisfying sensory arc as the leaves when hot express the cooked sugars of honeycomb candy and carob and then transform as they cool to reveal apricots, orange zest and mineral creams.
The mouthfeel is thick, oily, filling and luxurious but then uns away to a cheeky minerality.
Portal Professor has a unique transformation in taste - starting with orange creamsicle then diving into the sweet, dark bitters of jungle honey, carob and dark chocolate before rising slowly through orange cake, sherbet candy, persimmon and river rocks.
The mouth is left with a buzzing minerality and a cooling, zesty salivation.
There is a chubby succulence to Portal Professor - alluring, rounded and full. But there is also a teasing feisitiness to its character - irreverent with no desire to please.
It is an addictive charm
Portal Professor has Cha Qi in spades. It is one of the most altering teas I can remember sourcing.
After only a few sips I can feel the potion working.
Gurgling stomach and an immediate flushing surge of circulation.
The body becomes weighty and relaxed, the warmth starts rising and the body begins to tingle intensely in a fuzzy glow.
My vision becomes altered, the world is respiring and I am carried on its breath.
Portal Professor keeps me floating for hours.
I have taken more of this tea into my private collection than any other - that should tell you how precious it is in my tea journey.
