2020 Da Chao Shan Single Big Ancient Tree (T5*, Benchmark)

Highlights:

• 1 single big very ancient tree (top 2% oldest trees in this area)
• 100% pure first spring pick
• Maximum tree estimated age: 700 years (see below “How old are these trees?” for more info)
• Complex fruit and sweet aromas
• Very smooth: delicate and sweet with no astringency
• Ethereally subtle high quality Qi

Da Chao Shan, in Lincang near both Nahan/Xigui and Bangdong, has some huge trees in very clean environment. This tea can feel a bit light on taste when freshly picked but the 6 year aging gives it a more texture, while having essentially no astringency (or much bitterness either).

This tea is not recommended as your very first benchmark cake (try 2025 TianMenShan Extra Tall Ancient Trees or 2025 Walong Pure Ancient Trees for something stronger-tasting or 2025 BoHeTang Extra Tall Ancient Trees for something smooth but more flavourful). This is however recommended for lovers of a delicate and smooth taste and refined high quality Qi.

Steep it with 20% more leaf than you usually use to see a very unique profile emerging: while remaining very classily smooth, the delicate single tree flavours come out very noticeably in a light-and-refined brew.

How old are these trees?

All tree ages are approximations, and one should always doubt when an age is given as a single number. There are no certain scientific methods to identify the age of a tea tree. The only possible way to tell how old (and healthy) a certain tree is is by drinking its leaves and comparing it to its neighbours: the older the tree is, the thicker the soup and the more comfortable the ChaQi and your body in general.

The consensus among the most reliable tea experts about the age of the oldest standard puerh varietal trees in Bangwai is over 1000 years (some people say less or more than this too). However people, even experts, have very different opinions about what age of tree is in a specific area.

So there always is uncertainty in this topic and we won’t pretend otherwise, we simply say: If you or your favourite expert think there are 700+ years old in Da Chao Shan, this is one such tree. This is a genuine Big ancient tree and accordingly this is one the very best available trees available in the area. Best largely means oldest, but healthiest/biggest is also very important.

You can find more details about reference tree ages on the Benchmark ancient tree introduction under “Age of trees”.

Puerh.uk Benchmark Ancient Tree Series Introduction

• The best possible ancient tree tea that can be obtained in a given specific garden
• Our most significant contribution to making available a type of puerh that was not available before
• Super strict quality criteria (standard puerh varietal only, classic puerh areas only, 1st spring pick, extremely clean environment, ancient trees that have never been cut, healthiest and biggest trees only chosen for single trees production)

The best tea is not for sale, it’s available only through relationships. Tier 5 is about 0.01% of available Puerh, with ancient tree leaves only with all taste qualities present in overwhelming amount, tea that is basically only found in elite asian circles and via private connections.

Benchmark ancient tree Puerh is the top section of Tier 5, and particularly means: this is highest expression of ancient tree puerh from a specific garden, so it can be used as “benchmark” to tell whether other puerh is truly ancient tree or not.

Puerh of this quality has never been made before in history (only in the last 10 years), this is the most exciting frontier of tea at the moment as far as we’re concerned. Please see the full Benchmark ancient tree introduction page for more info.

30g ceramic jars (a bit more than 1oz) containing chunks of cake, 200g cakes.