Meng Song Bamboo Roasted Raw Pu-erh Tea

The Dai people in Xishuangbanna have been making bamboo roasted tea for centuries! Our offering was made from 2019 Spring harvested Meng Song village tea that was processed first into sun-dried mao cha, steamed to soften it and then tamped into sections of a unique varietal of aromatic bamboo (that is found only in Menghai county of Xishuangbanna) and then roasted in a fire pit! The blackened outer part of the bamboo is cut away and then lightly sanded so that it's not sooty, and the open end of the bamboo section is closed off with paper and piece of string for storage and aging! This is a lovely aromatic tea with a fruity thick character and an incredibly unique aroma that is imparted to the tea from the bamboo during the roasting process. The result is something very tasty and rich in flavor, which is certainly more than just a novelty! Each bamboo section holds roughly 200 grams of tea (+/- 25 grams).