ABOUT
2023 Bing Dao Gao Shan Qizi Yuan Cha is a raw Pu'Er tea produced from spring 2023 tea material harvested from tea trees estimated to be approximately 300 years old growing at an altitude of around 2100 meters in the Bing Dao area of Mengku, Lincang, Yunnan, China. High elevation, mature old tree material, and traditional Sheng Cha production techniques create a tea with refined structure, pronounced sweetness, and exceptional long-term aging potential. The production follows a classic processing approach focused on preserving the freshness, energetic clarity, and integrity of the leaf material through careful hand-harvesting, pan-firing, sun-drying, and traditional stone pressing.
Bing Dao is internationally respected among experienced Pu'Er tea lovers for producing Sheng Pu'Er with elegant texture, layered minerality, refined bitterness, and exceptional Hui Gan. Old tea trees growing in these high-mountain environments develop extensive root systems capable of penetrating deeply into mineral-rich mountain soils, contributing to the dense texture, aromatic precision, and layered complexity associated with high-quality Gu Shu Sheng Pu'Er. Compared to more aggressive regional profiles, Bing Dao teas are traditionally appreciated for their balance between strength, softness, sweetness, and refined energetic depth.
As a young Sheng Pu'Er, the spring 2023 harvest still preserves much of its vibrant freshness, structural tension, and dynamic mountain character. Floral, vegetal, mineral, and sweet returning notes remain highly expressive and direct, while the concentration associated with mature old tree material already provides remarkable depth and persistence throughout the session. Properly stored Bing Dao Gu Shu Sheng Pu'Er is especially valued for its ability to evolve gradually over decades while preserving aromatic clarity, sweetness, refined structure, and elegant high-mountain character.
TERROIR
The Bing Dao area of Mengku, Lincang, is one of the most respected high-mountain terroirs in the world of Sheng Pu'Er production, internationally recognized for producing teas with refined sweetness, elegant structure, and exceptional aromatic precision. Tea trees in this region grow at elevations reaching approximately 2100 meters above sea level, where cool mountain temperatures, dense mist, abundant rainfall, and strong day-to-night temperature variation create ideal conditions for slow and balanced leaf development. These environmental conditions contribute directly to the tea’s pronounced minerality, refined bitterness, layered sweetness, and exceptional long-term aging potential.
The mountain soils of Bing Dao are rich in minerals and organic matter, with stable moisture retention and excellent natural drainage. Old 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 centuries of ecological development. This deep mineral interaction contributes to the dense texture, smooth structure, persistent aftertaste, and layered complexity characteristic of high-quality Gu Shu Sheng Pu'Er from the region.
Dense forest vegetation and humid mountain conditions support relatively slow vegetation cycles while protecting the tea trees from excessive environmental stress. Frequent cloud cover moderates direct sunlight exposure, helping preserve aromatic freshness and complexity within the leaves, while periods of stronger mountain sunlight contribute to concentration and balanced polyphenol development. Compared to more aggressive regional profiles, Bing Dao terroir is especially appreciated for producing Sheng Pu'Er with elegant sweetness, refined bitterness, pronounced Hui Gan, and harmonious aromatic evolution over time.
The high elevation of approximately 2100 meters plays a particularly important role in the final character of this tea. Cooler temperatures and slower vegetation cycles support the accumulation of concentrated aromatic compounds, balanced amino acid content, and refined energetic clarity within the leaves while preserving freshness and structural precision. Combined with mature old tree material and the high-mountain ecology of Bing Dao, these conditions produce Sheng Pu'Er with exceptional clarity, elegant energetic character, and remarkable transformation potential highly valued among experienced Pu'Er tea lovers.
ORGANOLEPTICS
The dry leaves are large, elegant, and well-structured, displaying deep olive and dark green tones with silver-covered buds characteristic of young old tree Sheng Pu'Er from high-mountain environments. Their appearance reflects careful hand-harvesting and traditional processing while preserving the natural integrity and texture of the leaves. The aroma of the dry leaf is refined, vibrant, and deeply layered, combining notes of wildflowers, floral honey, fresh herbs, warm minerals, light woodiness, and subtle fruit sweetness. In a preheated gaiwan or teapot, the aroma becomes warmer and increasingly expressive, revealing additional layers of forest wood, humid stone minerality, tree bark, soft spice, fresh mountain herbs, and delicate camphor-like freshness characteristic of Bing Dao material. After the rinse, the leaves fully awaken and the aromatic profile becomes smoother and more integrated, balancing floral elegance, mineral clarity, woody depth, and refined sweetness.
The liquor is clear and bright, with a rich golden-yellow tone reflecting the freshness and concentration of young old tree Sheng Pu'Er. The aroma of the infusion is layered, refined, and highly persistent, combining warm minerals, floral nuances, fresh herbs, light resinous notes, subtle fruity sweetness, and cooling mountain freshness. The texture is dense, smooth, and silky, showing the refined balance and elegant structure characteristic of Bing Dao material while maintaining excellent clarity and energetic tension. Initial bitterness is delicate, clean, and exceptionally controlled, quickly transforming into pronounced Hui Gan, strong returning sweetness that develops actively throughout the palate and throat. Layers of floral honey, fresh wood, minerals, mountain herbs, dried fruits, light spice, resin, and cooling sensations continue evolving throughout the session while maintaining remarkable harmony between freshness, elegance, energetic character, and depth.
The aftertaste is exceptionally long, cooling, and deeply persistent, with sweetness gradually intensifying and remaining in the throat and mouth long after drinking. As the tea continues to open, the structure becomes increasingly expansive and integrated while preserving its refined Bing Dao character and high-mountain clarity. In the empty cup, the aroma remains warm and expressive, revealing lingering notes of floral honey, sweet wood, dried fruits, humid forest tones, light resin, fresh herbs, and subtle camphor undertones.