Denong Wild Ripe Pu-erh Tea from Bana Tea Company
Today’s tea: Denong Wild, Bana Tea Company’s newest offering. This is a 2009 pu-erh tea made from 100% rare wild ancient arbor trees. (Disclosure: Bana Tea Company is a Tea Finely Brewed advertiser and this tea was received as a free sample).
With pu-erh, parameters are important. Here’s what I used: Six grams for the gaiwan. A twenty second infusion, the first time around. Add ten seconds for each of the next three infusions. Two minutes for the fifth infusion, and then add a minute for every infusion after that.
Brewing tea like this lets you experience how the tea opens up, as each infusion coaxes a little more out of the leaves.
The first infusion here yields a light amber infusion with a striking sweetness. The tea has a smooth, almost delicate body. But there is complexity there. As it cools, I notice how the tea changes in the mouth, from a sweet almond-like nuttiness to a mild tartiness. I also find that the tea has a cooling, refreshing effect on the mouth.
With the next infusion, the tartiness has become much more apparent. The liquor is much darker now, and the body isn’t delicate anymore. The earthy, campfire qualities that I have noted in other ripe pu-erhs is here, but it’s in balance with the other flavours. I have had other pu-erhs where all you can taste is that earthy flavour, but here it is part of a greater whole. Flavours of almonds and citrus fruits float around, interacting playfully.
I find it hard to do this tea justice. There is a great deal of complexity here. Ideally, I think you would allow this brick to age, but it’s great for drinking right now.
Denong Wild is available from Bana Tea Company for $12 for a 100-gram brick, or as part of their Beginner’s Gift Pack.