Phoenix Mountain Gushu Raw Puerh

This Phoenix Mountain Gushu Raw Puerh (凤凰山) tea from the Phoenix Nest area in Yunnan, China, offers a captivating experience for tea enthusiasts. The tea is invites you in with a sweet, floral aroma, interwoven with subtle hints of juniper and cedar wood. Upon tasting, the flavor reveals a gentle sweetness reminiscent of apricot jam, layered with delicate floral notes that float on top. The sweet and floral aftertaste lingers on the palate, leaving a juicy and sweet impression.

The tea is also full-bodied with a thicker texture that coats the tongue. When drinking the tea, by letting it sit at the front of the mouth, you can enjoy a mellower flavor, whereas if you focus it on the sides of the mouth, it’ll highlight its brighter, livelier notes. Smooth and free from any dryness, the tea glides down the throat effortlessly, leaving a pleasant cooling sensation in the chest.

The Phoenix Mountain Gushu Raw Pu-erh owes its exceptional quality to the ancient tea trees and the rich biodiversity of its growing environment. Situated between Dingjiazhai and Yangjiazhai in Yiwuzhen, the Phoenix Nest area lies at a higher elevation than Wan Gong, with pristine ecosystems and dense forests. Frequently enveloped in mist, this environment provides natural irrigation and ideal conditions for tea cultivation. The tea trees are primarily of the Yunnan large-leaf variety, characterized by their substantial size, soft leaves, and white down-covered buds. These trees, combined with the region’s long-standing tea cultivation history, contribute to the tea’s distinctive flavor and richness.

Brewing Instructions (Gongfu Style): Use 7 grams of tea leaves in a 90ml gaiwan with 204°F (95°C) water.

1. Start by rinsing the tea leaves.

2. For the first infusion, steep for just 5 seconds—begin counting as soon as the water touches the leaves.

3. For subsequent infusions, steep for only 1 second, ensuring the tea is poured out immediately after the water is added. Avoid over-steeping, as it may bring out bitterness. Although the tea remains free of dryness, even when over-steeped.

 4. After the 7th infusion, start steeping 1-2 seconds longer than the previous infusions.

5. After the 12th infusion, the flavor won’t be as intense as the initial infusions, however, the texture and feeling of the tea will still easily remain up to 16-20 infusions, allowing you to continue enjoying the tea with its more gentle flavor and amazing feeling for a long time. If you want to extract more of the flavor in these later brews, only fill the gaiwan up half-way when brewing. 

The richness, smoothness, and resilient tea leaves of the Phoenix Mountain Gushu Raw Pu-erh make it a truly exceptional tea, perfect for long, relaxing tea sessions either quietly by yourself, or leisurely with friends over a couple hours.