Type: Raw Pu-erh (non-fermented) Grade: 1-3 Production Area: Yiwu, Menghai County, Xishuangbanna Prefecture, Yunnan Province
I have always wanted to personally source a good quality Yiwu tea. Pu-erh from Yiwu tea is my favorite because of its softness, its unique plum flavor and its balanced energy. The "Yiwu charm" is a sensory experience that can readily be felt but is almost impossible to describe in words.
Sourcing Yiwu tea is particularly difficult not only because of its high price but its authenticity. During my trip in 2014 to Yiwu, I visited the Yu family in San He Village, whom I have known since 2009. The Yu family has their own ancient tea garden. Their trade mark "Red Yiwu" refers to teas produced from their family tea garden. I purchased a small amount of their tea in 2009 and it remains one of my favorites. On this trip, I was able to source a limited amount of their 2014 edition to offer to Bana customers.
Taste characteristics: This tea is soft and silky, yet rich and durable. The plum flavor typical of teas from the Yiwu region is the most charming and attractive aspect of this tea. Even though this is a very young tea, the bitterness is well-balanced and it dissipates quickly into a pleasant sweet after-taste that lingers.
BREWING INSTRUCTIONS: Use 5g of leaves per 5-6 oz of water. Rinse with 185 degree F /85 degrees C water prior to brewing. Follow the suggested steeping times below.
A Gem09/28/2024 ByJohnt3 While sipping the first steep, the smell at the bottom of the cup is so fragrant, that it eclipses the pleasant, thick flavors in the mouth. In my experience, this inversion where the fragrance at the bottom of the cup overwhelms flavors in the mouth during early steeps happens only for special teas.
The tea delivers high complexity, with strong flavors that one hears about from puer drinkers who have the good fortune to drink high quality Yiwus. Thick, lasting flavors of plum fruit, pleasant flowers, and hints of incense-like fragrance that I find hard to describe.
The huigan/aftertaste is quite amazing. It builds with each steep. By the fifth steep, a pleasant cooling, menthol-like sensation lingers on the lips and in the mouth for several minutes after sipping.
Many thanks to Bana for making such an excellent and rare tea available, and especially for selling a smaller quantity option that is easier on the wallet than the whole cake. Our responseThank you for your high praise for the Red Yiwu Raw Pu-erh. It is always rewarding to hear feedback from customers who appreciate the depth and complexities high quality pu-erh tea has to offer. Good pu-erh is not just a drink; it is a whole body enjoyment.
Excellent Soft and Fruity Yiwu Tea11/15/2019 ByRichard Wong YiWu tea is known for its water-softness, and its plum/fruity flavor, and indeed this 2014 Red YiWu has embraced these two key features. Because this is a 2014 tea and it is already 2019, the tea leaves have clearly undergone the aging process. The color is noticeably more brown and less green than a fresh tea cake. Aside from the famous saying that: Baozhang is king and Yiwu is queen, there is also a saying that: Ten year Yiwu triumphs ten year Baozhang – implying that Yiwu tea ages better and faster than Baozhang tea. While "Better" is subjective, in my experience, Yiwu tea indeed ages faster than many other pu-erh tea. The tea cake weights 400 gram, and is being sold for under $400. ~$1 per gram is a very reasonable price point for any high quality tea like this tea. The leaves on the tea cake are reasonably compressed – not too tight and not too loose. Overall, the 2014 Red YiWu Raw tea is a definite recommendation from me. Our responseThank you so much for the glowing review. It brought a smile to my face to know that you enjoyed the tea so much.
Nice Tea11/26/2023 ByDennis Li I enjoyed drinking this tea. It starts off with light taste of plum. Subsequent infusions, the plum flavor increases, deepens with a sweetness that coats the mouth. It makes your body feel warm. This tea adds variety and quality for consumers. Our responseYiwu is one of my favorite pu-erh regions in Yunnan. The signature plum flavor is very comforting and alluring. Thank you for taking the time to review this tea.
