2018 GongMei White Tea Cake

2018 GongMei White Tea Cake: Wild-Garden Leaf at a Fair Price

This cake was pressed in 2018 from leaves picked in an unmanaged, wild-grown tea garden in Xianpu Village, Puxi Town, Fuding. The tea trees there are roughly seventy years old and grow without irrigation or fertiliser, which gives the leaf a distinctive, slightly rustic character that many find appealing.

Wild-Grown Character

• 70-year-old trees – older, unmanaged tea trees produce smaller harvests with more concentrated flavour.
• Xianpu Village, Puxi – a village-growing area in Fuding known for traditional tea farming.
• Cake format – pressed in 2018 and available as 300 g and 600 g cakes, it is easy to store, ages efficiently, and sells for less than premium aged white teas.

Tasting Notes

The liquor is a clear honey-amber with a clean, woody aroma. On the palate it is mellow with a touch of wild-grown depth, showing notes of honey, dried leaves and a faint herbaceous edge that gives it character. The finish is smooth with a mild sweetness.

Brewing and Storage

Break off a small piece and use about 5 g per 150 ml of water at 95–100°C. It brews well both short and long – quick infusions for a lighter cup, or simmering for a richer, darker brew. The cake format stores well; keep it in a dry, ventilated, odour-free space.