Just shy of 20 years old, this aged raw puer still packs a punch. Any awkward phase in its development seems to be in the past, as this tea currently produces a smooth, yet lively brew. A noticeable energy and body feeling are accompanied by a lingering huigan – although this tea does not come off as particularly sweet up front. A deep, lasting camphor scent and pleasant “woody” fragrance is also present. While there is little bitterness in this tea, its rougher side seems to be more or less restrained, but can still be brought out with longer infusions if you’re not careful. Energetic, yet mature, this is a thoroughly enjoyable aged tea good for now or the future. This tea (along with its ’95 cousin ) was sourced from a somewhat eccentric private collector we have known closely. Always entertaining to drink with, his stories tend to extend past the limits of plausibility and induce a reaction of “whatever”… With that said, we have no reason to doubt that this is a 1998 Zhong Cha production from the Kunming factory, dry stored by only one previous owner. Each cake comes with its original wrapper, some of which may have bug-bitten holes. $0.55/gram