Bitterleaf Reserve – Alter Ego 2016 Mansa Huangpian Raw Puer

A postscript to our initial 2016 spring teas, I can still remember the first time I sampled it. Being the huangpian from our WMD Mansa, the expectations were already high. Back then every sample was an exciting possibility, and I couldn’t wait for Coomi to get home, so I brewed it in my favourite Jianshui teapot. I immediately messaged her that we had a winner, and as soon as she got back and tried it herself, she agreed. A decade later, this tea has smoothed out nicely. There’s a touch of woodiness, zero astringency/bitterness, mineral sweetness, and a slight cooling sensation in the mouth and throat. These bricks are pressed tight, so if you just brew a chunk, it will continue to open and build throughout the sessions. This and the fact that it’s huangpian make it a good candidate for boiling as well. Availability: 10 x 250g bricks