Bulangshan 2005 No.870

Almost twenty years old puer tea from ancient tea trees, which starts with pleasant mature notes. However, its real specialness lies in its effect. Someone drove to the depth of the dark forest, someone finds herself/himself in the clearing with the endless milky way above his head. It gives us the possibility of confrontation; with ourselves, our doubts, and our fears. This tea requires courage, but if we pay attention to it, we can have amazing experiences.

Bulangshan (布朗山) lies in southwest Xishuangbanna (西双版纳), China. The first record of tea production in this area can be traced back to as early as the 15th century. Bulang mountain is resided by minorities known as the Bulang tribe. For generations, these people have been producing tea in the mountains. Thanks to this tradition, their teas have a unique touch scarcely to be found anywhere else. As the ‘gushu’ attribute suggests, the tea is from 400-500 years old trees, thus quite strong in energy: it clears the body and mind and helps you to be here in the present moment.

Photo: Gaál Dániel

Steamed gaiwan: tobacco
Tastes, feelings: Nice and pleasant first sip with vanilla, wood, smoke, and leather. Then walnut, peat moss whiskey, old apricot jam, and a hint of camphor flavors. After the third, and fourth pouring the effects became so strong, thus the attention is diverted from the flavors. This tea takes everyone in different directions. The effects are just like purgatory, if it finds cleanness, it gives joy and peace. If it finds confusion and doubts, then it gives us the opportunity to face ourselves. We put a lot of things down, but the next day we woke up more complete.

Quantity: 5-6 grams per 150 ml
Water temperature: 85-90ºC. From fresh, cold spring water or filtered water
Brewing time: 3-5-7…seconds
Infusions: 10-12