Limingxing Banzhang Gu Yun Shu Pu-erh (Ripe Pu-erh) Tea Cake 2015, 50g | Menghai

A ripe pu-erh from Limingxing (黎星 / 黎明星火), pressed in the style of Banzhang (班章古韵, "ancient charm of Banzhang") as a traditional Yunnan Menghai Qi Zi Bing cake, and offered here as a 50 g portion broken from it. Banzhang, in Menghai county of Xishuangbanna, Yunnan, is one of the most famous tea areas in all of pu-erh, long nicknamed the "King of Tea", its gardens sitting at 1,700–1,900 m amid a well-preserved natural ecosystem. According to the producer, the cake is made from qiaomu (arbor) ancient-tree Banzhang material. Pressed on 16 April 2015, now well-aged.

With over a decade of age behind it, this is ripe pu-erh at its smooth, comfortable best. The early pile-ferment edge is long gone, leaving a clean, deep cup that is rich and full-bodied, with a pronounced sweetness lingering in the finish. The aged aroma is clean and concentrated.

The liquor is a deep red-amber, thick and glossy, with a full texture that coats the mouth. Across infusions it stays stable and generous, standing up to many steeps while the sweetness opens further as the session goes on.

Limingxing traces its roots to the former state-owned Liming tea factory. A 50 g portion is an easy way to enjoy a decade-aged cake carrying the name of one of pu-erh's most celebrated regions, smooth and satisfying to drink today, equally at home in a focused gongfu session or a thermos.

Tea profile