可以兴85周年曼松大树纪念饼

Year: 2011 Autumn

Origin: 曼松 Mansong, Yunnan

Tree age: 大树 Big Tree, 75-100 years old

Storage: Taiwan

To celebrate its 85th Anniversary, Keyixing Tea Factory 可以興 produced a limited number of these raw pu'er cakes made with material taken from the legendary Mansong 曼松.

曼松 Mansong attained legendary status during the Ming Dynasty, when material picked from tea trees in this area became royal tribute, becoming the reserve of the Emperor. Material from Mansong is much-sought-after and sold at a premium rate. Material for these cakes was picked in the autumn from trees classified as "Big Trees" 大树, which puts their age at between 75-100 years old, not quite gushu, but not young material either.

The tea has a nice earthy aroma indicating the presence of some humidity in storage. Tea brews to a clear dark orange. It has a balanced bitterness and sweetness with earthy and fruity notes. The tea lasts many brews, maintaining its pleasant smoothness as the sharper elements give way to a subtle sweetness.

Keyixing Tea Factory 可以興 was founded in 1926, and was the first factory to introduce the compressed tea brick shape for storage.