FatBat Private Pressing Gushu Raw Puerh 犀牛塘 茶王地 古树 For our Rhino Pond (Xi Niu Tang) production this year, we decided to go big and arrange a pure gushu (ancient tree) picking from the innermost core of the Xi Niu Tang gardens – an area called the King Tree Grove, or plot (茶王地 Cha Wang Di). This small area of land is where the King Tea Tree is located, along with 7-8 other very old “named” trees (these are typically picked as single tree pickings). The groves here are the oldest in Pasha Middle Village, and the soil/terroir in this area is considered to be some of the best in the entire Pasha region. More moderate prices this year enabled us secure top tier material for an acceptable cost. Characteristic of this area, this tea has the sought-after Menghai / Pasha robustness and rich tannin in the body, but with an unexpected silky smoothness that makes it a wonderfully balanced and nourishing session. Some of the nicest Rhino Pond tea we've had for a while, from some of the oldest trees. A tea to treasure and age. TASTING NOTES Thick, heavy mossy fragrance from the warmed leaf. The liquor carries notes of sun-dried then roasted kelp, along with a smooth-leatheriness of fine dark chocolate. A distinct character of dark green mosses, wet crushed ferns and pungent wildflower is present (unusual for Pasha teas, but quite unique to this thickly forested King Tree Grove), embodying the richness and variety of jungle flora in this grove. Surprisingly, a sweetness of pear puree becomes evident mid-session, lurking consistently beneath the saline - mineral - seaweed character. This tea is only just developing its flavor profile and promises far more in the years ahead -- notes will be updated. TERROIR Xi Niu Tang (meaning Rhino Pond) refers to the core groves of Pasha Middle Village, widely considered some of the best gushu tea gardens in the surrounding area. Pasha sits centrally in the greater Menghai region alongside its neighbors Bulang to the west, Nannuo Shan (east) and Meng Song (north). Tea from here is often said to exhibit some of the best characteristics of the surrounding areas, but combining them in its own unique style. Pasha's links to Lao Banzhang are widely recognized. Lao Banzhang is said to have been cultivated by early settlers who originally moved from Pasha and seeded new tea gardens from the original Pasha cultivars. The tea produced in these two regions is similar, boasting "big" profiles with a rich tannin which gives way quickly to lasting huigan. Bitterness may be hinted at but must not be excessive in high quality productions. While the quality of Pasha area tea has long been recognized, the specific groves of Rhino Pond have been particularly sought after in the past 4-5 years, as producers began isolating material from these trees (instead of combining them into big “Pasha” batches) and hence discovering that this tea was significantly more refined and complex than in other gardens. In particular, the innermost core area (King Tree Grove) had growing conditions and old trees that brought out the best characteristics of the terroir.
Sample (20g), Full Cake (200g), Tong (1kg - 5 cakes)