Pu-erh raw cake Gu Hua Cha -2008

This is a Pu-erh raw cake compressed in 2008, from leaves harvested in the Bang-Dong of Lin-Cang, a core production area of Pu-erh teas. The tea leaves were harvested during the Autumn season when all grains were flowering (Gu Hua), and thus given the name Gu Hua Cha (谷花茶).

Pu-erh teas can be harvested for three seasons in Yun-Nan: spring, summer and autumn. The Autumn teas are generally considered to be of less pricey as spring crops, buy more expensive than summer crop, while others believe they are of value for money for the following reason:

1. with grains flowering in the field, the air is filled with their fragrances for the tea leaves to absorb and mimic 
2. the day temperature is at 24-28^oC, ideal condition for tea polyphenols to develop
3. the air and weather condition of this time of the year is ideal for plucking and processing the teas (not too wet, hot or dry)
4. the temperature is cooler than summer, so the leaves have longer period to accumulate the nutrients 

This tea has been naturally aged since 2008, yielding a rich reddish gold brew colour. It has a mild smoky flavour, mellow with almost no bitterness or astringency, finishes with a commending refreshing Hui Gan (aftertaste) lingering for long after. This is surely an aged pu-erh raw cake with a high value/price ratio for daily consumption. 

Please note: 

• This tea has been naturally aged since 2008, with a relative loose edge - a sign of an aged Pu-erh.
• Due to their long term storage and the nature of thin paper wrapping, most of the pu-erh teas as this would have some level of damage (eg. tear) to their packaging, which is NOT considered as faulty. (We however do offer some discount to those that the damage is considered to be severe enough to have caused the loss of tea.)

Pu-erh tea type:

Raw (Sheng 生)

Packaging weight:

1. full cake - 357g 
2. Sample pack - 50g

Production year: 

2008

Harvesting area: 

Bang-Dong 

Manufacturer: 

Hong-Chang

Preparation and storage guide:

https://www.valleygreentea.com.au/preparation/pu-erh-tea-preparation-and-storage-guide.html