Our Maestro lineup of shou puer connects modern production with the earliest days of its development. Overseen by Master Li, a shou puer technician/wizard since 1975, these teas preserve the best parts of traditional processing, while taking advantage of decades of expertise. Make sure to check the About Master Li tab for more details. The crown jewel of this series of shou, this tea delivers as promised. Its heavy Banzhang character translates to a thick, inky tea that’s full in the mouth and has an excellent depth of flavour. With a slight date flavour and nuttiness, this tea has a gentle, but pleasant bitterness. This is complemented by plenty of sweetness in the soup and a pronounced huigan. The “Banzhang” quality is thanks to a carefully formulated blend that includes plenty of material from the Banzhang 5 villages. Using entirely early spring old tree material, this formula includes tea from Xin Banzhang, Laomane, Hekai, Mengsong, and some Bakanan. Its bold flavour is matched by an uncommon elegance, making it instantly stand out compared to common shou puer productions. $0.83/gram Picking Period: Early Spring 2023 Region: Laomane, Xinbanzhang, Hekai, Bakanan & Mengsong, Yunnan
