Aged for 20+ years, this Liubao comes from a Yao minority village in Guangxi known for its old (100+ years) and wild trees. While claims of provenance for aged teas are often best taken with a grain of salt, this tea proves its worth in the cup, which is good enough for us. Made from the local “wild” varietal, this tea also undergoes a smoking process and was traditionally made as medicine for the village. This occurs as a byproduct of pine burned for cooking, smoking the tea that is stored in the attic above. Unsurprisingly, this tea has a smoky quality, however, it’s well balanced and not overbearing. What is surprising is how well it integrates with a floral fragrance. There is cooling, menthol quality all the way through, as well as a thick texture and mouthfeel. $1.08-1.20/gram
