2024 Phoenix Nest Secret Grove

FatBat Private Pressing Gushu Puerh

墨江凤凰窝古树

Our second pressing of this extremely sought-after tea from the Mojiang Phoenix Mountains (not to be confused with the lesser known Phoenix Nest in Yiwu). This is a tea that is not easily obtained on the market outside of collector circles – experienced puerh fanatics will understand what it means for us to be able to offer this.

Each year, this is the tea we look forward most to producing – however this may be the final year we are able to secure this material due to change of ownership (more details below).

Exceedingly unique perfume-like fragrance that permeates the room, accompanying a thick broth that is silken and soothing, yet with a powerful richness that lingers in the back of the throat. Yellow flowers steeped in vanilla custard, with the barest hint of baking spice. A subtle, beguiling tea of the highest level.

A NOTE ON PROVENANCE

Our material was obtained from groves we labeled as “secret”, not to create mystery, but rather in respect of a non-disclosure clause we had signed with the owner of these trees.

The owner’s land contract is set to expire shortly after the 2024 Spring season, upon which ownership of these trees will have transfer to new ownership (a businessman who currently controls a number of other Phoenix Nest gardens).

We can now reveal these groves as being Wu Ban Qing (吴板箐) – they are sited in an ancient valley known as the “old nest” (凤凰老窝) near the top of Phoenix Mountain and produce some of the best material we have tasted from several gardens in this mountain.

These ancient groves have up till now escaped the capitalist madness that surrounds the yearly trading of Phoenix Nest material (market pricing 28k RMB or $4k per kilo). This is now set to change, and sadly, 2024 is the final year we are able to secure this material.

TECHNICALS