90's Feng Tai Xiang Liubao

This tea comes from Feng Tai Xiang Tea Factory and is batch No. 12 of their Feng Zi Hao series from the 1990s. The leaves were stored in their original bamboo basket, where they aged and transformed for nearly three decades.

Despite spending many years in Hong Kong storage, the tea brews remarkably clean, with no unpleasant storage notes. The characteristic betel nut aroma associated with Liubao tea is present, though it has mellowed over time and is now nicely integrated into the tea’s aged flavor profile. In the mouth the tea is very smooth, with good liveliness and an oily texture. When brewed strong in a small pot, it produces a nicely concentrated liquor with a pleasant bitterness that transforms into a lingering sweetness. Energetically, this tea is surprisingly potent and, in my opinion, best enjoyed in the morning. It has impressive endurance and just keeps giving and giving.

Overall, this is a very satisfying example of aged Liubao, displaying the depth of character that comes from years of aging, and one I highly recommend.