Tea King Che Jie's Sun-dried Red Tea from Ancient Trees in Nannuo Mountain

Appreciation

This sun-dried tea uses fresh leaves from century-old tea trees belonging to Che Jie, the "Tea King" of Banpo Village in Nannuo Mountain, Yunnan. It is made using his unique techniques combined with the traditional sun-drying methods of the Hani ethnic group. It is a fusion of the ecology of Nannuo Mountain, the intrinsic quality of ancient trees, and the craftsmanship of the tea king, with a sweet taste that hides the charm of the mountains and forests.

Year: 2024, 2025
Level: Top Rare
Maker: Che Jie, King of Tea from Nannuo Mountain, Yunnan
Origin: Che Jie's family's ancient tea trees, located at an altitude of 1800 meters on the mountainside of Banpo Laozhai, Nannuo Mountain, Yunnan.
Variety: The Menghai large-leaf variety is a sexually propagated species formed through long-term natural evolution without artificial selection, thus retaining rich genetic diversity.
Craftsmanship: Using the first spring buds and two leaves from the family's century-old tea trees, it combines the millennia-old tea-making wisdom of the Hani people with its own unique techniques.

Quality Appraisal

Dry tea appearance: the natural texture of ancient tree buds and leaves

The dry tea leaves are in the form of one bud and two leaves. The leaves are tightly rolled but not stiff. The buds are plump and fresh, with a dark and lustrous color and light brown and golden hairs. They have a fine velvety feel to the touch. This is the mark of Che Jie's selection of tender shoots from ancient trees in the first spring. If you bring your nose close, you can smell a faint honey fragrance mixed with a hint of the freshness of mountain forest grass and trees.

The color of the soup: the lustrous beauty of amber with a golden ring.

After being brewed with boiling water, the tea soup quickly turns a bright amber color, clear as solidified cream, with a thick golden ring floating around the rim of the bowl. This is a direct reflection of the rich theaflavins preserved by the sun-drying process. When left to stand, the surface of the tea soup has a subtle luster, and scattered tea hairs can be seen suspended, showcasing the fullness of the ancient tree's internal qualities.

Aroma: A layered, mellow sweetness

The moment you lift the lid, a rich floral fragrance wafts out. The top notes are fresh wildflowers and peaches, the middle notes turn into a mellow aged fragrance, and the base notes reveal the unique woody scent of ancient trees. The layers are distinct yet not chaotic. The fragrance lingers at the bottom of the glass: the honey scent is long-lasting and does not dissipate.

Flavor: The beauty of a perfect balance between sweetness and richness

Unlike traditional black tea, sun-dried black tea from ancient trees is much more vigorous and fresh! The tea is rich yet refreshingly sweet – this comes from the high amino acid content of the fresh leaves from ancient tea trees. When swallowed, the tea soup is thick and smooth like syrup, and a sweet aftertaste immediately rises in the throat, changing from the initial floral and fruity sweetness to the jujube sweetness. The sweetness of black tea and the mellowness of Pu'er tea intertwine in the mouth, "fragrant in the water, and moist in the fragrance".

 Infused Leaves: Reddish-brown and intact, with thick and elastic leaf flesh, showing the characteristics of tender shoots from ancient trees.