2026 Old Dragon's Grove Gushu Puerh

FatBat Private Pressing Imperial Tribute Raw Puerh

老龙箐 迷地 古树

When we visited Farmer Dong of the MiDi Imperial Gardens this Spring, we were not expecting to discover a completely new grove in this vicinity. We’d heard of Lao Long Qing (Old Dragon’s Grove) before around tea-table chats, but always with zero hint of its location or how to source it. We were delighted when Farmer Dong mentioned that he had arranged to make several pickings this year from this area and we could visit the groves themselves – an opportunity we could not miss.

Old Dragon’s Grove is a rare oddity in these parts. The MiDi region of Mojiang is more famous for its characteristic small-leaved varietals growing in managed gardens (such as the Imperial Tribute gardens). Old Dragon's Grove however, is one of the only known groves in this area to have mainly large-leaved cultivars growing wild in great density, in the middle of primeval rainforest (i.e. a true jungle-type tea). As such, this is a valuable chance to taste the perfumey floral/aromatic character of MiDi area terroir, but with the unique power and robustness of body from the large-leaf varietal trees growing wild. As far as we know, this is the only grove with such a profile in this area, with this combination of characteristics.

Because of its small volume, this material has previously mostly been sold direct to buyers in Guangzhou. This year, we were fortunate to be able to visit these groves and secure a small picking to offer here. This tea is certain to mature beautifully over the ages and is a high recommendation.

TASTING PROFILE

Rich, powerful oaky tannins that never become astringent, but instead coat the tongue endlessly and promise a long and brilliant maturation journey. Early tastings reveal a character of walnuts, barley and concentrated oils of Italian blood orange, accompanied by the virile pungency of wildflowers post-bloom. Mouthfeel is like fine suede, smooth yet textured, with a moderately heavy oakiness on the palate, a substantial tea. Despite the robust flavors, the qi is deceptively sneaky in approach; it is only until mid-session that one realizes the irresistible expanding force in the chest and the swirling of thoughts.

TERROIR

Old Dragon’s Grove is not far from the carefully managed MiDi Imperial Tribute Gardens – it is in fact visible in the distance as a thickly forested slope on a neighboring mountainside. However, it sits in an area of primeval forest that hasn’t ever been developed, so takes about 45 minutes on motorbike over rough trails to reach. Riding into this area, the air changes perceptibly from hot and reddish-dusty to cool, dark and fragrantly green, as the trees press in on you. These glades have laid completely wild for countless years – the MiDi villagers tell us that very early ancestors in these parts once may have lived in these jungles and planted these tea trees – occasionally one notices small piles of rock which hint at long-abandoned settlements. In contrast to the many garden-type groves in MiDi with small-leaf varietals growing in direct sun on the slopes, the large-leaf varietal tea trees in Old Dragon’s Grove grow partially shaded, interspersed amidst towering trees of great variety, with a multitude of wild flora underfoot. This gives the tea a highly interesting wild character and powerful complexity that is highly prized by those who taste it.