Gushu shu puer 2022 Mengsun gushu (from centuries-old trees from Mengsun)

Mengsun Gushu Shu Pu'er 2022: Ancient Trees and Basket Fermentation (勐宋茶山)

This tea represents the pinnacle of craftsmanship and the generosity of nature, embodied in Shu Pu'er (熟普洱, Shú pǔ'ěr). We are talking about Gushu Shu Pu'er from Mengsong (勐宋茶山, Měngsòng Cháshān) 2022 - loose Shu Pu'er, the raw material for which was collected from ancient tea trees over 500 years old in the famous Mengsong region of Menghai County. The fermentation method - in baskets - also deserves special attention.

Origin: Mensun (勐宋, Měng sòng ) – land of ancient trees

Mengsong is a mountainous region in Menghai County, Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province. It is famous for its old tea gardens and trees, which produce tea with a strong character and rich flavor. This tea is made from Dà Yè Zhǒng (大叶种), a Yunnan large-leaf variety of Camellia sinensis var. assamica .

The key aspect of this tea is the use of Gushu (古树, Gǔ shù) raw materials, with the trees being over 500 years old. This places it in the category of teas from extremely rare, ancient trees. Such raw materials are valued for:

• Depth and Complexity: Older trees with deep root systems produce more complex and mineral flavours.
• Smoothness and texture: Teas often have a smoother, denser, and more oily texture.
• Potential: Huge potential for long-term storage and development.
• Energy (Cha Qi): Noticeable, often balanced effects.

The use of such valuable raw materials for the production of shu puer is a rare occurrence, since the fermentation process greatly changes the original profile of the leaf. This speaks of a special approach to the creation of this tea.

Special Fermentation: Shu Puer in Baskets

Unlike the standard "Wò duī" (渥堆, Wò duī) method, where tea is fermented in large, multi-ton piles, the basket fermentation method (筐装发酵, Kuāngzhuāng fāxiào) is used here. Tea leaves are placed in special baskets where they undergo an accelerated fermentation process in small batches. This method is believed to allow:

• It is better to control temperature and humidity during the fermentation process.
• Achieve more uniform fermentation within a small batch.
• To obtain a cleaner profile of shu pu'er, with less of the unwanted "wet pile" (dui wei - 堆味, Duī wèi) notes. This method is often used for processing high-quality raw materials such as Gushu, in order to carry out the fermentation as gently as possible and preserve the potential of the leaf.

Maocha (loose shu) format

The tea is presented in the form of loose shu puer. This is a less common form compared to pressed cakes or tocha. The loose format is convenient for immediate brewing without the need to break the press and allows you to better examine the leaf itself.

Vintage 2022: youth and potential

The tea is made from 2022 raw materials, which makes it a relatively young shu puer (about 2.5 years old as of April 2025). However, given the use of ancient trees and gentle fermentation in baskets, this tea already has a significant smoothness, depth and purity of taste, surpassing ordinary shu of this age. Its potential for further aging is enormous.

Expected flavor and aroma: depth and purity

The combination of all the factors – ancient Mengsun trees, basket fermentation – creates a rich and clean profile:

• Aroma: Deep, clean, with notes of old wood, dark chocolate, nuts (walnut, almond), hints of dried dark fruits (prunes, dates) and light minerality. Earthiness should be noble and not dominant.
• Taste: Very smooth, dense, silky, enveloping. Rich, multi-layered taste with notes of dark chocolate, precious wood, nut paste, light sweetness of cane sugar and a long sweet aftertaste. Bitterness and astringency are absent.
• Infusion: Thick, dense, dark, but clean and transparent.

Brewing recommendations

1. Quantity: 5-8 grams of loose tea per 100-150 ml of water.
2. Water: Boiling water (95-100°C).
3. Rinsing: 1-2 quick rinses with boiling water are required.
4. Brewing: By steeping, starting with 10-15 seconds, gradually increasing the time. The tea should withstand a large number of steeps due to the quality of the raw material.

Mengsun Gushu shu puer 2022 is a rare and valuable tea that represents the pinnacle of quality in the world of shu puer. Using raw materials from ancient trees (over 500 years old) from the famous Mengsun region, processed using delicate basket fermentation, it produces an incredibly smooth, deep, pure and complex taste. The loose leaf form allows you to immediately assess the quality of the leaf and enjoy the tea without delay. This is the choice for sophisticated connoisseurs looking for a benchmark shu puer with a distinct character and great potential.