2024 Yunnan Sourcing "Subduer of Dragons" Ripe Raw Pu-erh Tea Cake

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This is a blend of “ye sheng” purple raw pu-erh tea and ripe pu-erh from several regions!

This pressing is our third pressing of a “ye sheng” raw and a ripe tea. The first one was the 2016 Yunnan Sourcing “Wild Purple Green Mark” Ripe Raw Pu-erh Tea Cake, and the second was the 2019 Yunnan Sourcing “Ebullient” Ripe-Raw Blend Pu-erh Tea Cake.

The wrapper illustration by Gervaise Durand, depicting Nezha Subduing a Dragon, is primarily based on ancient mythological stories recorded during the Ming Dynasty. For more information about the mythological figure Nezha, see the details below.

What happens when you skillfully blend Wild Purple “Ye Sheng” Raw Pu-erh tea with wild arbor ripe pu-erh tea from several regions? You get something delicious, powerful and complex that is the best of both worlds. It has the sweetness of a good ripe pu-erh, it has the umami and savory character of wild purple raw tea and the bitterness of both raw and ripe. The tea is thick and lubricating in the mouth and there is a slight lingering bitterness that transforms into a pleasant mouth-watering sweetness long after the tea has been enjoyed. Cha Qi is powerful but not overwhelming.

The aging prospects for this tea are really exciting. We have many examples of past raw and ripe blends in the world of pu-erh and several have become famous (like the famous “Purple Heaven” bricks and cakes from the 80’s and 90’s). I created this tea because it’s delicious to drink now and encompasses the things I like about raw and ripe pu-erh. The blending is harmonious and there is no need to wait to drink this tea, as it’s enjoyable right now for those who are not faint of heart!

Wrapper Design by Gervaise Durand

gervaisedurand.com / instagram.com/gervaise.durand

357 Grams per cake (7 cakes per bamboo leaf tong)

Just 150 kilograms in total pressed!

The Story of Nezha Conquers the Sea
Original Story:

General Li Jing’s wife, from Chen Tang Pass, gave birth to a flesh ball after being pregnant for three years and six months. Suddenly, the flesh ball burst open, and a boy jumped out, glowing with radiance. Li Jing was displeased, but a Taoist named Taiyi came to congratulate him. Taiyi named the child Nezha, took him as a disciple, and immediately gifted him two treasures: the Universe Ring (Qiankun Circle) and the Red Armillary Sash (Hun Tian Ling).

When Nezha was seven years old, there was a drought, and the Dragon King of the East Sea withheld rain. The Dragon King even sent his minions to capture boys and girls from the seaside at night. Nezha, seeing the injustice, killed the Dragon King’s minion, Yaksha, with the Universe Ring and then killed the Dragon King’s son, Ao Bing. The Dragon King went to the Heavenly Palace to complain but was again beaten half to death by Nezha on the way.

Consequently, the Dragon King invited his three brothers to discuss revenge. The next day, the Four Dragon Kings led their sailors to create huge waves, flooding Chen Tang Pass, demanding that Li Jing hand over Nezha. Nezha wanted to fight back but was stopped by Li Jing, who took away Nezha’s two treasures. For the safety of the entire city, Nezha sadly took his own life.

Afterwards, the Taoist Taiyi used lotus flowers and fresh lotus roots to create a new body for Nezha, bringing him back to life. The reborn Nezha, now wielding a Fire-tipped Spear and riding Wind Fire Wheels, defeated the Dragon Kings and rid the people of the evil.

Origins of the Story:

The legend of Nezha Conquering the Sea and subduing dragons is mainly derived from ancient mythological stories recorded in the Ming Dynasty novels “Investiture of the Gods,” “Journey to the West,” and “Complete Collection of Myths from the Three Religions.” Due to the protagonist Nezha’s innocent and fearless spirit, he has been beloved by people. The story, where an evil dragon harms the people and Nezha creates havoc in the Dragon King’s palace, has been adapted into several animated films and TV series.

Among these adaptations, the animated film “Nezha Conquers the Sea,” created by the Shanghai Animation Film Studio in the late 1970s, is highly praised for its vivid colors, elegant style, and rich imagination, and it has received acclaim both domestically and internationally, remaining a classic to this day.

In “Journey to the West,” one of the Four Great Classical Novels, Nezha is described as being powerful just three days after his birth. He defeated the Water Crystal Palace, captured and skinned a dragon, and later subdued ninety-six demon caves, ultimately becoming a celestial god.

This tea has been tested in a certified laboratory and has passed the MRL limits for 404 pesticide residues as established by the EU Food and Safety commission. For more information about MRL testing and the EU Food and Safety commission click on this link.