SƠN LA GU SHU MAO CHA
SƠN LA ANCIENT TREES
SHENG (RAW) PU'ER
★ PESTICIDE-FREE
Ban Be, Tà Xùa, Sơn La, Vietnam
Son La Gu Shu Mao Cha is a raw Pu'Er-style tea produced from ancient tea trees growing in the mountainous Sơn La province of northern Vietnam, a region known for high-altitude forests and old Assamica tea trees. Harvested in spring 2023 and processed using traditional sun-dried mao cha methods, the tea reflects the fresh vitality and strong mountain character of northern Vietnamese ancient tree material. The infusion is bright and structured, offering floral-herbal freshness, mineral depth, gentle bitterness, and a long, cooling aftertaste with pronounced returning sweetness. MORE
AROMA
Honey, vegetal, smoky
TASTE
Floral, fruity, honey
ALTITUDE: 1400 m
VARIETY: Snow Shan
HARVEST: 2023
SHENG (RAW) PU'ER
★ PESTICIDE-FREE
Ban Be, Tà Xùa, Sơn La, Vietnam
Son La Gu Shu Mao Cha is a raw Pu'Er-style tea produced from ancient tea trees growing in the mountainous Sơn La province of northern Vietnam, a region known for high-altitude forests and old Assamica tea trees. Harvested in spring 2023 and processed using traditional sun-dried mao cha methods, the tea reflects the fresh vitality and strong mountain character of northern Vietnamese ancient tree material. The infusion is bright and structured, offering floral-herbal freshness, mineral depth, gentle bitterness, and a long, cooling aftertaste with pronounced returning sweetness. MORE
AROMA
Honey, vegetal, smoky
TASTE
Floral, fruity, honey
ALTITUDE: 1400 m
VARIETY: Snow Shan
HARVEST: 2023
Because the leaves undergo only the essential stages of Sheng Pu'Er production before pressing or further aging, GU SHU MAO CHA preserves a high concentration of naturally occurring polyphenols, amino acids, minerals, aromatic compounds, and other valuable substances accumulated by the deep-rooted ancient trees.
It is believed that regular consumption of Gu Shu Mao Cha may support cardiovascular health, contribute to the body's natural antioxidant defenses, promote healthy digestion, and enhance mental clarity and focus. Traditionally, ancient tree teas have also been appreciated for their powerful Cha Qi, long-lasting sweetness, mineral richness, and their ability to create a balanced state of physical vitality, calm concentration, and overall well-being.
It is believed that regular consumption of Gu Shu Mao Cha may support cardiovascular health, contribute to the body's natural antioxidant defenses, promote healthy digestion, and enhance mental clarity and focus. Traditionally, ancient tree teas have also been appreciated for their powerful Cha Qi, long-lasting sweetness, mineral richness, and their ability to create a balanced state of physical vitality, calm concentration, 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
Sơn La province in northern Vietnam is one of the country’s important mountain tea-growing regions, known for ancient Assamica tea trees growing in remote high-altitude forest environments. Teas from this area are appreciated among experienced tea lovers for their energetic mountain character, mineral freshness, balanced structure, and distinctive aromatic clarity. Compared to many traditional Yunnan raw Pu'Er teas, ancient tree teas from Sơn La often express a brighter and more vibrant profile while maintaining depth, complexity, and strong ageing potential.
This 2023 Sơn La Gu Shu Mao Cha was produced from spring-harvested leaves collected from ancient tea trees and processed according to traditional sun-dried mao cha methods. After harvesting, the leaves underwent withering, wok-firing, rolling, and natural sun-drying, preserving the living character of the tea and supporting its future maturation potential. As loose mao cha, the tea remains in its natural and uncompressed form, allowing the mountain terroir, ancient tree material, and craftsmanship to express themselves with clarity and precision.
The character of Sơn La teas is often defined by the balance between freshness, minerality, sweetness, and energetic mountain structure. Ancient tree material from this region typically produces infusions with floral-herbal aromatics, cooling sensations, pronounced returning sweetness, and long-lasting aftertaste. These qualities have made northern Vietnamese ancient tree teas increasingly respected among tea practitioners seeking expressive mountain teas beyond the traditional Chinese Pu'Er regions.
TERROIR
Sơn La province is located in the mountainous northwestern region of Vietnam, an area characterized by high elevations, dense forests, abundant rainfall, frequent mountain mist, and rich biodiversity. Ancient tea trees in this region often grow at altitudes ranging from 1000 to over 1800 meters above sea level, where cool temperatures and significant day and night temperature variation support slow and balanced leaf development. These environmental conditions contribute to the freshness, mineral structure, aromatic clarity, and energetic character characteristic of Sơn La ancient tree teas.
The tea trees growing in this area are primarily ancient Assamica varietals naturally integrated into mountain forest ecosystems rather than cultivated plantation environments. Deep root systems allow the trees to absorb minerals and nutrients from rocky mountain soils, while the surrounding forest vegetation creates stable ecological conditions and highly complex aromatic development. The interaction between altitude, humidity, forest biodiversity, and mineral-rich terrain contributes to teas with floral-herbal freshness, pronounced minerality, cooling sensations, and long-lasting returning sweetness.
Compared to many traditional Yunnan raw Pu'Er teas, the terroir of Sơn La often produces a bright and vibrant mountain profile with expressive freshness and direct mineral character. At the same time, the teas maintain depth, structure, and strong maturation potential characteristic of high-quality ancient tree material. The combination of remote mountain forests, old tea trees, and traditional sun-dried processing creates teas with a distinctive identity within the broader tradition of ancient tree mao cha.
ORGANOLEPTICS
The dry leaf appearance is lively and expressive, with large twisted leaves and visible buds showing shades of dark green, olive, and muted silver characteristic of fresh ancient tree mao cha. The aroma of the dry leaves is bright and layered, combining floral-herbal freshness with notes of wild honey, mountain vegetation, fresh wood, and subtle mineral undertones. In a preheated teapot, the tea gradually opens up, the aroma becoming deeper and more concentrated, revealing notes of mountain flowers, fresh herbs, warm stone, resin, and light tropical fruit nuances. After a brief rinse, the leaves fully awaken, and the aroma becomes more vibrant and complex, combining cooling herbal freshness with floral sweetness, pronounced mineral depth, light woody tones, and subtle camphor-like freshness. The aroma of the liquor in the empty cup is clean and persistent, showing warm minerals, dried flowers, honeyed sweetness, and fresh mountain character with remarkable clarity.
The taste is energetic, structured, and refreshing, with a dense texture and pronounced mountain character from the first infusions. Floral-herbal sweetness and fresh mineral notes gradually transition into deeper woody, resinous, and lightly fruity tones supported by elegant bitterness and stable energetic structure. The bitterness is clear yet balanced, quickly transforming into strong returning sweetness and long cooling sensations characteristic of high mountain ancient tree tea. The mouthfeel remains thick, vibrant, and refreshing throughout multiple infusions while maintaining precision and clarity. The aftertaste is long, cooling, and highly persistent, with pronounced salivation and lingering mineral sweetness developing deeply in the mouth and throat. In the empty cup after drinking, warm floral notes, minerals, dried herbs, resin, and soft honey sweetness remain with a deep and lasting aromatic finish.
Sơn La province in northern Vietnam is one of the country’s important mountain tea-growing regions, known for ancient Assamica tea trees growing in remote high-altitude forest environments. Teas from this area are appreciated among experienced tea lovers for their energetic mountain character, mineral freshness, balanced structure, and distinctive aromatic clarity. Compared to many traditional Yunnan raw Pu'Er teas, ancient tree teas from Sơn La often express a brighter and more vibrant profile while maintaining depth, complexity, and strong ageing potential.
This 2023 Sơn La Gu Shu Mao Cha was produced from spring-harvested leaves collected from ancient tea trees and processed according to traditional sun-dried mao cha methods. After harvesting, the leaves underwent withering, wok-firing, rolling, and natural sun-drying, preserving the living character of the tea and supporting its future maturation potential. As loose mao cha, the tea remains in its natural and uncompressed form, allowing the mountain terroir, ancient tree material, and craftsmanship to express themselves with clarity and precision.
The character of Sơn La teas is often defined by the balance between freshness, minerality, sweetness, and energetic mountain structure. Ancient tree material from this region typically produces infusions with floral-herbal aromatics, cooling sensations, pronounced returning sweetness, and long-lasting aftertaste. These qualities have made northern Vietnamese ancient tree teas increasingly respected among tea practitioners seeking expressive mountain teas beyond the traditional Chinese Pu'Er regions.
TERROIR
Sơn La province is located in the mountainous northwestern region of Vietnam, an area characterized by high elevations, dense forests, abundant rainfall, frequent mountain mist, and rich biodiversity. Ancient tea trees in this region often grow at altitudes ranging from 1000 to over 1800 meters above sea level, where cool temperatures and significant day and night temperature variation support slow and balanced leaf development. These environmental conditions contribute to the freshness, mineral structure, aromatic clarity, and energetic character characteristic of Sơn La ancient tree teas.
The tea trees growing in this area are primarily ancient Assamica varietals naturally integrated into mountain forest ecosystems rather than cultivated plantation environments. Deep root systems allow the trees to absorb minerals and nutrients from rocky mountain soils, while the surrounding forest vegetation creates stable ecological conditions and highly complex aromatic development. The interaction between altitude, humidity, forest biodiversity, and mineral-rich terrain contributes to teas with floral-herbal freshness, pronounced minerality, cooling sensations, and long-lasting returning sweetness.
Compared to many traditional Yunnan raw Pu'Er teas, the terroir of Sơn La often produces a bright and vibrant mountain profile with expressive freshness and direct mineral character. At the same time, the teas maintain depth, structure, and strong maturation potential characteristic of high-quality ancient tree material. The combination of remote mountain forests, old tea trees, and traditional sun-dried processing creates teas with a distinctive identity within the broader tradition of ancient tree mao cha.
ORGANOLEPTICS
The dry leaf appearance is lively and expressive, with large twisted leaves and visible buds showing shades of dark green, olive, and muted silver characteristic of fresh ancient tree mao cha. The aroma of the dry leaves is bright and layered, combining floral-herbal freshness with notes of wild honey, mountain vegetation, fresh wood, and subtle mineral undertones. In a preheated teapot, the tea gradually opens up, the aroma becoming deeper and more concentrated, revealing notes of mountain flowers, fresh herbs, warm stone, resin, and light tropical fruit nuances. After a brief rinse, the leaves fully awaken, and the aroma becomes more vibrant and complex, combining cooling herbal freshness with floral sweetness, pronounced mineral depth, light woody tones, and subtle camphor-like freshness. The aroma of the liquor in the empty cup is clean and persistent, showing warm minerals, dried flowers, honeyed sweetness, and fresh mountain character with remarkable clarity.
The taste is energetic, structured, and refreshing, with a dense texture and pronounced mountain character from the first infusions. Floral-herbal sweetness and fresh mineral notes gradually transition into deeper woody, resinous, and lightly fruity tones supported by elegant bitterness and stable energetic structure. The bitterness is clear yet balanced, quickly transforming into strong returning sweetness and long cooling sensations characteristic of high mountain ancient tree tea. The mouthfeel remains thick, vibrant, and refreshing throughout multiple infusions while maintaining precision and clarity. The aftertaste is long, cooling, and highly persistent, with pronounced salivation and lingering mineral sweetness developing deeply in the mouth and throat. In the empty cup after drinking, warm floral notes, minerals, dried herbs, resin, and soft honey sweetness remain with a deep and lasting aromatic finish.
GU SHU MAO CHA
Explore more Gu Shu Mao Cha from the AN SHIM TEA Collection.