2020 Three Cranes "Golden Flowers 85022" Liu Bao Tea

A lovely 2018 wet piled Liu Bao tea that was intentionally inoculated with "golden flowers" (金花 Eurotium cristatum). This Liu Bao is made by the oldest producer of Liu Bao in Guangxi (Three Cranes / Wuzhou Tea Factory). Much like ripe pu-erh tea, liu bao is wet piled for several weeks to allow fermentation to take place. The degree of fermentation depends on the amount of time the tea is wet piled and can differ depending on the intended outcome. This is a blend of grades 2 and 3 Liu Bao (grades refer to leaf size only, not quality) with very light wet-piling (leaves are still quite greenish). The taste is rich, smooth, earthy, grainy, with notes of betel nut and fruit. We recommend aging for several years to allow for the wet-piling taste to dissipate and to allow the complex character of this tea to be fully realized! 7 kilograms per basket Packed in baskets in 2020 ** If you order the whole basket we will pack well to protect the basket but cannot guarantee it won't be damaged during transit. No returns or discounts due to damage to the basket! ALLERGEN ALERT!!! ** Because there is a possibility the golden flowers were inoculated using wheat flour we cannot guarantee this tea is safe for those with Celiac Disease or those that have severe gluten induced allergies **