A perfectly integrated blend with Yanxin's Reserve '04 pu'er, elderberry and spice that spans the whole flavor spectrum. . . . We love pu'er for its multi-dimensional complexity. One of the most interesting and often overlooked elements of the pu'er experience is the vaguely numbing and tingling sensation that fine pu'er leaves in the aftertaste. Our goal with this blend was to highlight this textural quality of great shu pu'er, while at the same time creating a warming, rich and perfectly integrated taste experience.
We start with the incredible Yanxin's Reserve '04 Shu Nuggets. This tea is known for its pastry-like dessert flavors, and its smooth sweet aftertaste. We build on that richness with one of our favorite ingredients to pair with shu pu'er, dried elderberries. The dark sweetness of the elderberries brings out the natural berry qualities of the pu'er itself, and lingers on the sides of the tongue.
Next we draw out the pastry sweetness of the pu'er with a touch of licorice root, which helps highlight and blend the sweet spice of ginger root. Ginger starts to emphasize the tingling texture of this fine pu'er, but on its own, it doesn't push quite far enough. That is why we added a touch of Sichuan peppercorn to round out this tea and make it whole. Sichuan peppercorn has a uniquely numbing flavor that elevates this blend to a new level. Taken as a whole, no one flavor stands out above the others. They work together smoothly to emphasize everything warm and satisfying that we love about shu pu'er.
Date of Picking:2004
Location of Picking:Menghai County, Xishuangbanna, Yunnan
What Was Picked:These nuggets are formed from only the smallest most delicate buds, and slow-fermented to form nuggets
Sourcing Agent(s):Wang Yanxin
Using freshly-filtered boiling water, rinse two teaspoons of leaf in a gaiwan, or brew basket. Steep for one minute in an eight ounce vessel. Enjoy multiple infusions, increasing steep time by 20-30 seconds per infusion. For larger vessel brewing, use 1tsp per 8oz water, and increase steep time to two minutes.
