An exceptionally balanced Yiwu style raw pu'er from 蛮砖 Mánzhuān Mountain.  With a touch more zing in the form of a slight increase in bitterness with a focused texture in the broth, this tea may serve as an ideal Menghai-style tea connoisseur's liaison to the typically more velvety smooth, elegant, expansive and sweeter Yiwu style raw pu'er of this area (typified by this year's Mahei).

This tea's character yields a rich, forest honey flavor, wildflower aromatics, sun-baked grains, and a mellow broth with a strong mineral profile later in the session.  Steep with precision and this tea will respond not only with dynamic flavor expression, but also grant a lovely, centering chaqi.

Directly south of Mansong, The Hé family Manzhuan ancient tree gardens just north of 曼迁 Màn Qiān is aspected in a hotbed of other acclaimed terroirs just a peak and valley away: the greater Yibang Mountains to the north, Mansa to the east, Gaoshan to the southeast, Walong to the southwest, and other Manzhuan villages directly west.  While teas from some of these surrounding areas fetch eye-watering prices as of late, we are proud to offer approachably priced Manzhuan ancient arbor material, ideal for drinking now or allowing these leaves to age gracefully.

Mature undergrowth in the 100-200 year range peppered with significantly older/larger specimens comprise this clean, steeply-sloped, ecologically-diverse tea garden at 1200 meters in elevation:

Leader of the troop, Mr. Hé's alter ego El Diablo was in full effect during our time in the gardens of Manzhuan

A short distance away, we visited trees that produce some of the most expensive tea in the world.  Approximately 3 miles north as the crow flies from these Hé family gardens north of Manqian, we explored 王子山 Wángzǐ shān "Prince Mountain" an area of Mansong that recently commanded an astounding 7,000USD per kilo, taking the crown as the most expensive pu'er tea, save select specialty single tree productions from other areas.

This year's cake wrapper artwork theme, Water Creatures of the Mekong, feature fish and mammals that call the Mekong River (the part that runs through Yunnan is referred to as the Lancang River) home.  A hand-inked drawing by Rosy Kirby of Lost Mountain Prints of one of these creatures grace the front of each cake, and this year's Manzhuan tea features the Mekong Fishing Cat Prionailurus viverrinu.