2013 Xiaguan Love Forever

Produced by Xiaguan for Feitai, the Love Forever series is one that many Western puer drinkers will already recognize. Offered here is the paper tong version rather than the bamboo tong release, with many considering the paper tong version to be the more desirable of the two.

The story behind this tea is that it was pressed in 2013 using material from 2003, believed to be from the Banzhang area. 

This example comes from very clean Taiwan dry storage. While the tea is beginning to show clear signs of age, time has done little to mute its aromatic and complex character. Many of the tea's more expressive qualities remain fully intact and on display.

Bright, complex top notes with a distinctive note reminiscent of vanilla—though others may experience it differently—sit atop a woody and resinous foundation. While the mouthfeel is beginning to show signs of elegance with age, the tea still retains some roughness and a touch of astringency in the finish—characteristics that, in my experience, are not unusual for Xiaguan productions from this period.

Strong returning sweetness, a pronounced aftertaste, powerful chaqi, and excellent endurance make this a tea that I believe offers very good value for the money, whether enjoyed now or aged further.