I spotted this tea randomly in a shop in Taiwan and immediately recognised it from an article I’d previously read in The Leaf. Keen to explore some more authentic Lao Banzhang teas, I enquired further and it turned out that the owner of the shop produced this tea personally in 2005. What a find!
The leaves are incredibly thick and healthy. Having spent the last 4 years in Taiwan, they’ve already started to lose their greeness and turn light brown. The brewed liquor is incredible though. There’s still that characteristic Lao Banzhang flavour of a slight bitterness which melts quickly in the mouth, leaving a long-lasting sweetness in the mouth and throat, along with a slightly mellowed taste giving a small indication of what is to come from this tea in further years.
This tea can be brewed and brewed, the strong leaves have many layers of characteristics to display throughout the infusions.
Truly a great tea.