BULANG SHAN GAN EN SHENG CHA
BULANGSHAN GAN EN
SHENG (RAW) PU'ER
★ PESTICIDE-FREE
Laobanzhang, Bulang Shan, Menghai, Xishuangbanna, Yunnan, China
2017 Bulang Shan Gan En Sheng Cha is a raw Pu'Er tea produced from old tea trees growing in the Bulang Shan area of Xishuangbanna, Yunnan province, a region internationally respected for its powerful and deeply structured Sheng Cha material. Hand-harvested and traditionally processed, this tea reflects the combination of mature tree material, mountain terroir, and several years of natural aging that have already begun integrating its strong character. The infusion is dense and energetic, offering pronounced bitterness, deep minerality, returning sweetness, woody and herbal nuances, and a long, cooling aftertaste with evolving aromatic complexity. MORE
357 g cake
AROMA
Marmalade, honey
TASTE
Honey, woody
ALTITUDE: 1800 m
HARVEST: Spring, 2017
SHENG (RAW) PU'ER
★ PESTICIDE-FREE
Laobanzhang, Bulang Shan, Menghai, Xishuangbanna, Yunnan, China
2017 Bulang Shan Gan En Sheng Cha is a raw Pu'Er tea produced from old tea trees growing in the Bulang Shan area of Xishuangbanna, Yunnan province, a region internationally respected for its powerful and deeply structured Sheng Cha material. Hand-harvested and traditionally processed, this tea reflects the combination of mature tree material, mountain terroir, and several years of natural aging that have already begun integrating its strong character. The infusion is dense and energetic, offering pronounced bitterness, deep minerality, returning sweetness, woody and herbal nuances, and a long, cooling aftertaste with evolving aromatic complexity. MORE
357 g cake
AROMA
Marmalade, honey
TASTE
Honey, woody
ALTITUDE: 1800 m
HARVEST: Spring, 2017
SHENG PU'ER is a traditional post-processed tea made from sun-dried tea leaves that continue to evolve naturally through slow fermentation and aging over time. Thanks to minimal processing and its living microbial ecosystem, this type of tea retains a rich concentration of polyphenols, amino acids, minerals, vitamins, aromatic compounds, and other bioactive substances that gradually transform as the tea matures.
Unlike most tea categories, Sheng Pu'Er continues to develop for decades after production, with aging enhancing its complexity, smoothness, and depth while reducing bitterness and astringency. It is believed that regular consumption of Sheng Pu'Er may support cardiovascular health, contribute to healthy cholesterol metabolism, assist the body's natural antioxidant defenses, and promote healthy digestion. Traditionally, Sheng Pu'Er has also been appreciated for its invigorating Cha Qi, its ability to enhance mental clarity and concentration, support physical vitality, and create a balanced state of energy, calmness, and overall well-being.
Unlike most tea categories, Sheng Pu'Er continues to develop for decades after production, with aging enhancing its complexity, smoothness, and depth while reducing bitterness and astringency. It is believed that regular consumption of Sheng Pu'Er may support cardiovascular health, contribute to healthy cholesterol metabolism, assist the body's natural antioxidant defenses, and promote healthy digestion. Traditionally, Sheng Pu'Er has also been appreciated for its invigorating Cha Qi, its ability to enhance mental clarity and concentration, support physical vitality, and create a balanced state of energy, calmness, and overall well-being.
Learn more about the BIOCHEMISTRY OF A TEA LEAF
SEED-GROWN TEA PLANT
This tea refers to a Qunzi Zhong, a "seed-grown tea plant". Unlike cloned or asexually propagated cultivars, which are created by cuttings or grafting from a single "mother" plant, Qunzi Zhong tea trees are grown from seeds. This results in a genetically diverse population of plants. Each seed-grown tea tree is unique, with slightly different characteristics. This genetic variety helps improve the resilience of the tea garden, making it more resistant to pests, diseases, and environmental stress. Seed-grown trees usually develop stronger and deeper roots than cloned plants, allowing them to draw nutrients and minerals from deeper soil layers, often giving the tea a more complex and rich flavor profile. Qunzi Zhong represents the traditional way of tea cultivation. Because of the genetic diversity, teas made from Qunzi Zhong plants tend to offer more layered and nuanced flavors, reflecting a richer expression of the local terroir (soil, climate, and environment).
WILD TEA
Wild tea refers to plants that grow naturally in the forest or mountains without human planting, pruning, or care. These trees are very old, deeply rooted in the earth, and part of a diverse natural ecosystem. These are tall, old trees, some more than 100, 300, or even 1000+ years old, rooted deep into mineral-rich soil, thriving in diverse ecosystems. Wild tea trees grow tall and strong, with roots reaching deep into the earth. This allows them to absorb various minerals, creating complex, full-bodied flavors that change with each harvest. Growing in remote forests, these trees are untouched by pesticides or fertilizers. Many tea lovers say wild teas carry a unique energy, a grounding, calming, and sometimes uplifting presence. This is believed to be the "Qi" of the mountains, the life force of ancient trees, passed into the leaves. Wild tea is often high in antioxidants, polyphenols, and minerals. Because these trees grow slowly and absorb nutrients naturally, their leaves produce clean, nourishing brews that are gentle on the body but rich in effect.
Learn more about Pesticide-Free Gardening
EASTERN (PIN CHA) ★
Temperature: 99 °C
Amount: 3-5 grams per 120 ml of water
Steeping: 10-30 sec x 7+
WESTERN (INFUSION)
Temperature: 99 °C
Amount: 2-3 grams per 250 ml of water
Steeping: 1-2 min x 3
Learn more about TEA BREWING METHODS
Tea absorbs surrounding aromas and moisture. This type of tea oxidizes when it comes into contact with oxygen and loses its properties, including taste and aroma. Store it in a dry and cool place in airtight packaging. Avoid direct exposure to the sun and high temperatures.
BEST BEFORE: 2 years since production date!
*Suitable for long-term aging. Under proper storage conditions, the tea may gradually develop increased depth, smoothness, and complexity.
BEST BEFORE: 2 years since production date!
*Suitable for long-term aging. Under proper storage conditions, the tea may gradually develop increased depth, smoothness, and complexity.
Learn more ABOUT TEA STORAGE
ABOUT
2017 Bulang Shan Gan En Sheng Cha is a raw Pu'Er tea produced from tea material harvested and processed in 2017 in the Laobanzhang area of Bulang Shan, Menghai, Xishuangbanna, Yunnan, China, at an altitude of approximately 1800 meters above sea level. This region is internationally respected among experienced Pu'Er tea lovers for producing some of the most powerful, structured, and long-aging Sheng Cha material in Yunnan. Traditional production techniques combined with mature mountain tea material create a tea with pronounced energetic character, deep structural complexity, and exceptional aging potential.
The production follows a classic Sheng Cha processing approach focused on preserving the integrity and natural expression of the leaf material through careful hand-harvesting, pan-firing, sun-drying, and traditional stone pressing. Several years of natural aging have already begun integrating the tea’s powerful bitterness and structural intensity into a more balanced and layered profile while preserving its characteristic Bulang Shan energy. The name Gan En, meaning “Grateful,” reflects the identity of the tea factory responsible for the production of this tea.
Tea material from the Laobanzhang area is especially valued for its concentration, depth, strong returning sweetness, and long-lasting energetic aftertaste. The mountain environment of Bulang Shan supports the development of dense polyphenol structure and pronounced mineral character, qualities that make teas from this region particularly suitable for long-term aging. Properly stored Sheng Pu'Er from this terroir continues evolving for many years, gradually developing greater smoothness, aromatic complexity, and internal harmony while maintaining strength and clarity.
TERROIR
The Laobanzhang area of Bulang Shan, Menghai, Xishuangbanna, is one of the most respected and recognizable terroirs in the world of Sheng Pu'Er. Situated at elevations reaching approximately 1800 meters above sea level, this mountain environment combines warm subtropical conditions with dense forest ecosystems, frequent mist, abundant rainfall, and strong biodiversity. These environmental factors contribute directly to the tea’s pronounced structure, powerful bitterness, deep minerality, strong returning sweetness, and exceptional aging potential.
The mountain soils of the region are rich in minerals and organic matter, with stable moisture retention and good natural drainage. Tea trees growing in these environments develop extensive root systems that penetrate deeply into the mountain terrain and interact with multiple soil layers accumulated over long ecological cycles. This deep mineral interaction contributes to the dense texture, energetic character, and layered complexity characteristic of high-quality Sheng Pu'Er from Bulang Shan.
The ecological environment surrounding the tea gardens remains highly biodiverse, with dense forest vegetation and humid mountain air supporting slow and balanced leaf development. Frequent cloud cover moderates direct sunlight exposure, helping preserve aromatic freshness and complexity within the leaves, while periods of strong mountain sunlight contribute to concentration and polyphenol structure. This balance between warmth, humidity, altitude, and biodiversity produces teas with strong body, pronounced bitterness, persistent sweetness, and remarkable structural depth.
Traditional harvesting and processing methods remain closely connected to the rhythm of the local mountain environment. Tea material is selectively hand-harvested and processed near the cultivation area to preserve freshness and maintain the integrity of the leaves before fixation. Combined with the distinctive mountain terroir of Laobanzhang and Bulang Shan, these conditions produce Sheng Pu'Er with exceptional energetic character, deep aromatic evolution, and long-term transformation capacity highly valued among experienced Pu'Er tea lovers.
ORGANOLEPTICS
The dry leaves are large, thick, and visually expressive, displaying deep olive, dark brown, and silver-toned hues characteristic of traditionally aged Sheng Pu'Er from Bulang Shan. Their appearance reflects careful hand-harvesting and traditional processing while preserving the natural integrity and structure of the leaf material. The aroma of the dry leaf is deep, concentrated, and powerful, combining notes of dry wood, mountain herbs, warm minerals, resin, dark honey, humid forest tones, and subtle dried fruit sweetness. In a preheated gaiwan or teapot, the aroma becomes warmer and significantly more layered, revealing additional notes of tree bark, medicinal herbs, incense-like woodiness, light spice, camphor-like freshness, and characteristic Bulang Shan depth. After the rinse, the leaves fully awaken and the aromatic profile becomes richer and more integrated, balancing woody maturity, herbal intensity, mineral depth, and returning sweetness.
The liquor is clear and bright, with a rich golden-amber tone reflecting several years of natural aging. The aroma of the infusion is dense and highly persistent, combining warm minerals, aged wood, dried herbs, resinous notes, subtle floral nuances, medicinal tones, and cooling camphor-like freshness. The texture is thick, coating, and energetic, showing the powerful structure characteristic of Laobanzhang material while maintaining balance and clarity. Initial bitterness is pronounced and direct yet exceptionally clean, quickly transforming into strong returning sweetness and active salivation throughout the palate and throat. Layers of minerals, forest wood, herbal medicine, dark honey, light spice, dried fruits, and cooling sensations continue evolving throughout the session while maintaining remarkable balance between strength, depth, energy, and refinement.
The aftertaste is exceptionally long, cooling, and deeply persistent, with sweetness gradually building and remaining in the throat and mouth long after drinking. As the tea continues to open, the structure becomes increasingly integrated and rounded while preserving its energetic mountain character and powerful Bulang Shan identity. In the empty cup, the aroma remains warm and expressive, revealing lingering notes of aged wood, medicinal herbs, resin, dark honey, humid forest tones, and subtle camphor undertones.
2017 Bulang Shan Gan En Sheng Cha is a raw Pu'Er tea produced from tea material harvested and processed in 2017 in the Laobanzhang area of Bulang Shan, Menghai, Xishuangbanna, Yunnan, China, at an altitude of approximately 1800 meters above sea level. This region is internationally respected among experienced Pu'Er tea lovers for producing some of the most powerful, structured, and long-aging Sheng Cha material in Yunnan. Traditional production techniques combined with mature mountain tea material create a tea with pronounced energetic character, deep structural complexity, and exceptional aging potential.
The production follows a classic Sheng Cha processing approach focused on preserving the integrity and natural expression of the leaf material through careful hand-harvesting, pan-firing, sun-drying, and traditional stone pressing. Several years of natural aging have already begun integrating the tea’s powerful bitterness and structural intensity into a more balanced and layered profile while preserving its characteristic Bulang Shan energy. The name Gan En, meaning “Grateful,” reflects the identity of the tea factory responsible for the production of this tea.
Tea material from the Laobanzhang area is especially valued for its concentration, depth, strong returning sweetness, and long-lasting energetic aftertaste. The mountain environment of Bulang Shan supports the development of dense polyphenol structure and pronounced mineral character, qualities that make teas from this region particularly suitable for long-term aging. Properly stored Sheng Pu'Er from this terroir continues evolving for many years, gradually developing greater smoothness, aromatic complexity, and internal harmony while maintaining strength and clarity.
TERROIR
The Laobanzhang area of Bulang Shan, Menghai, Xishuangbanna, is one of the most respected and recognizable terroirs in the world of Sheng Pu'Er. Situated at elevations reaching approximately 1800 meters above sea level, this mountain environment combines warm subtropical conditions with dense forest ecosystems, frequent mist, abundant rainfall, and strong biodiversity. These environmental factors contribute directly to the tea’s pronounced structure, powerful bitterness, deep minerality, strong returning sweetness, and exceptional aging potential.
The mountain soils of the region are rich in minerals and organic matter, with stable moisture retention and good natural drainage. Tea trees growing in these environments develop extensive root systems that penetrate deeply into the mountain terrain and interact with multiple soil layers accumulated over long ecological cycles. This deep mineral interaction contributes to the dense texture, energetic character, and layered complexity characteristic of high-quality Sheng Pu'Er from Bulang Shan.
The ecological environment surrounding the tea gardens remains highly biodiverse, with dense forest vegetation and humid mountain air supporting slow and balanced leaf development. Frequent cloud cover moderates direct sunlight exposure, helping preserve aromatic freshness and complexity within the leaves, while periods of strong mountain sunlight contribute to concentration and polyphenol structure. This balance between warmth, humidity, altitude, and biodiversity produces teas with strong body, pronounced bitterness, persistent sweetness, and remarkable structural depth.
Traditional harvesting and processing methods remain closely connected to the rhythm of the local mountain environment. Tea material is selectively hand-harvested and processed near the cultivation area to preserve freshness and maintain the integrity of the leaves before fixation. Combined with the distinctive mountain terroir of Laobanzhang and Bulang Shan, these conditions produce Sheng Pu'Er with exceptional energetic character, deep aromatic evolution, and long-term transformation capacity highly valued among experienced Pu'Er tea lovers.
ORGANOLEPTICS
The dry leaves are large, thick, and visually expressive, displaying deep olive, dark brown, and silver-toned hues characteristic of traditionally aged Sheng Pu'Er from Bulang Shan. Their appearance reflects careful hand-harvesting and traditional processing while preserving the natural integrity and structure of the leaf material. The aroma of the dry leaf is deep, concentrated, and powerful, combining notes of dry wood, mountain herbs, warm minerals, resin, dark honey, humid forest tones, and subtle dried fruit sweetness. In a preheated gaiwan or teapot, the aroma becomes warmer and significantly more layered, revealing additional notes of tree bark, medicinal herbs, incense-like woodiness, light spice, camphor-like freshness, and characteristic Bulang Shan depth. After the rinse, the leaves fully awaken and the aromatic profile becomes richer and more integrated, balancing woody maturity, herbal intensity, mineral depth, and returning sweetness.
The liquor is clear and bright, with a rich golden-amber tone reflecting several years of natural aging. The aroma of the infusion is dense and highly persistent, combining warm minerals, aged wood, dried herbs, resinous notes, subtle floral nuances, medicinal tones, and cooling camphor-like freshness. The texture is thick, coating, and energetic, showing the powerful structure characteristic of Laobanzhang material while maintaining balance and clarity. Initial bitterness is pronounced and direct yet exceptionally clean, quickly transforming into strong returning sweetness and active salivation throughout the palate and throat. Layers of minerals, forest wood, herbal medicine, dark honey, light spice, dried fruits, and cooling sensations continue evolving throughout the session while maintaining remarkable balance between strength, depth, energy, and refinement.
The aftertaste is exceptionally long, cooling, and deeply persistent, with sweetness gradually building and remaining in the throat and mouth long after drinking. As the tea continues to open, the structure becomes increasingly integrated and rounded while preserving its energetic mountain character and powerful Bulang Shan identity. In the empty cup, the aroma remains warm and expressive, revealing lingering notes of aged wood, medicinal herbs, resin, dark honey, humid forest tones, and subtle camphor undertones.
Check out our Laobanzhang Gu Sheng Pu'er 2017 video review in 4K!
Laobanzhang Gu Shu Sheng Pu'er 2017
4K Timelapse Video
SHENG (RAW) PU'ER
Explore more Sheng (Raw) Pu'Er from AN SHIM TEA Collection.