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2016 HE KAI ZHEN MIN - (ripe) - mini tong

China - BuLan Shan mountain, XiShuangBanna county, Yunnan province

  • 2016 HE KAI ZHEN MIN  - (ripe) - mini tong
  • beeng
  • cake
  • cup
2016 HE KAI ZHEN MIN  - (ripe) - mini tong beengcakecup

* Temporarily out of stock.

Email when in stock

We are delighted to offer you our latest discovery, Little Hekai Gem, a mini tong of 7 bengs (cakes). Each cake is individually wrapped in special paper. The mao cha (raw tea leaves) is from Hekai mountain in the BuLang Shan area. The tea trees are grown naturally, alongside other wild plants at altitudes of between 1700 -1900 metres in jungle conditions without any pesticides or chemical fertilisers. Aged between 40-60 years old, called Qiao Mu, the Bulang farmers manage and take care of the trees in the traditional way. The area is shrouded in fog for 6 months of the year and these conditions along with the terrain, produce a tea of excellent quality. The large leaves are handpicked, air dried, pan fried, fermented, steamed and then pressed in moulds.

This practice of pressing the tea into cakes was originally developed in the Ming dynasty to make the tea easier to transport over long distances. The cakes were stacked in piles of seven, called a tong, wrapped in bamboo leaves, then 12 tongs were placed into a basket and strapped to either side of a mule or horse for the journey along the Teahorse routes which ran across the mountain ranges between China and Tibet, north to Siberia and south to Thailand.

Even today the farmers still produce the tea following the traditional processing method passed down by their ancestors over the years. The resulting high quality tea has a floral and sweet lingering taste with a strong aftertaste and the leaves can be infused several times.

Name:
2016 Little Hekai Gem (ripe)
Chinese Name:
贺开珍茗 HE KAI ZHEN MIN, 勐海七子饼 MENGHAI QIi ZI BING
Origin:
BuLan Shan mountain, Xishuangbanna county, Yunnan province
Harvest:
Autumn 2016
Pressed:
2017 - Gao Shan Yuan Tea Factory, Menghai Town
Picking standard:
Whole leaves
Dried tea colour:
Greenish brown
Aroma:
Light floral perfume
Liquor:
Reddish brown
Taste:
Floral, rich, sweet aftertaste
Time of day:
Anytime
Brewing:
Multiple, 6x and more - to taste

Brew the perfect cup of
HE KAI ZHEN MIN - (ripe) - mini tong

1 pcs/ 300 ml
100 °C
3 - 5 minutes

Michael, Tunbridge Wells 09 June 2020

Excellent taste. Thank you

Stephen, Wimborne 15 April 2018

A decent pu erh for the price and presentation, which is excellent. This tea holds its own alongside some of the Menghai offerings. Will take several infusions happily. Not to be confused with some of the lower quality mini-toucha out there. This would make a great gift for a tea-lover.

Little Hekai Gem (ripe), a mini tong of 7 bengs (cakes).

* Temporarily out of stock.

Email when in stock

We are delighted to offer you our latest discovery, Little Hekai Gem, a mini tong of 7 bengs (cakes). Each cake is individually wrapped in special paper. The mao cha (raw tea leaves) is from Hekai mountain in the BuLang Shan area. The tea trees are grown naturally, alongside other wild plants at altitudes of between 1700 -1900 metres in jungle conditions without any pesticides or chemical fertilisers. Aged between 40-60 years old, called Qiao Mu, the Bulang farmers manage and take care of the trees in the traditional way. The area is shrouded in fog for 6 months of the year and these conditions along with the terrain, produce a tea of excellent quality. The large leaves are handpicked, air dried, pan fried, fermented, steamed and then pressed in moulds.

This practice of pressing the tea into cakes was originally developed in the Ming dynasty to make the tea easier to transport over long distances. The cakes were stacked in piles of seven, called a tong, wrapped in bamboo leaves, then 12 tongs were placed into a basket and strapped to either side of a mule or horse for the journey along the Teahorse routes which ran across the mountain ranges between China and Tibet, north to Siberia and south to Thailand.

Even today the farmers still produce the tea following the traditional processing method passed down by their ancestors over the years. The resulting high quality tea has a floral and sweet lingering taste with a strong aftertaste and the leaves can be infused several times.