Flavor Profile
What began as a raw liubao has developed rich, darkened ripe characteristics through aging since 2018. Like the Dragon Dog, this Liubao tea carries a rich but lightly smoky aroma and nuanced hints of star anise, herbal licorice, menthol, sweet roasted nuttiness, and betel nut. This liubao is bold, mysterious and powerful, yet with a touch of warmth, embodying the marks of time and history. Grown in a unique forest-symbiotic environment, this liubao instantly transports one to the village home of the Yao ethnic minority.
Liubao Tea Leaf Characteristics
Leaves are harvested from 300+ year-old forest-grown tea trees. This 2018 spring pick leaves brings out the richest and sweetest flavor. The ancient tea trees, with their roots deeply entrenched in the soil, yield leaves that are richer in nutrients and sweeter in taste, offering a complex and layered flavor profile. After prolonged storage, they create an even more exquisite and delightful experience.
Location on Rock Mountain
Rock Mountain is located stands at an elevation of 1,100 meters(3280 feet). The natural environment here is breathtaking, with tea trees coexisting alongside other plants, particularly star anise trees. In this secluded and mysterious setting, tea trees are scattered sparsely, and only the local mountain villagers possess the knowledge to locate all the elusive ancient tea trees.
Yao Ethnic Group
For generations, the Yao ethnic group of Guangxi province has preserved traditional Liubao tea craftsmanship. They carefully select original Liubao leaf strains, process leaves using farmhouse techniques, and store them under specialized conditions, including three months of smoke aging, to create the distinctive Yao flavor found in every gram of this tea.
Teafoodiejess (verified owner) –
Clean, warming, subtly sweet, refreshing. This has been my favorite Liu Bao to date. It has a delightful light smokiness (and a pleasant one at that!), the type that is clean and fresh, light and aromatic (opposed to smokiness that can be akin to ashtray). It is a clean tasting Liu Bao, no funkiness. Slightly aromatic/herbal in a warming way (fennel, licorice, warming), and has a subtle nutty sweetness throughout which is quite enjoyable. If you enjoy a light smoked lapsang, you’ll enjoy this.