Prior Storage: clean and dry Kunming, no storage smell
Qiao Mu Wang (Wild Arbor King) is a classic recipe from Mengku Rongshi tea factory, which won gold and silver awards in the 2006 Tea Expo. It is also known to be one of the only remaining Mengku Rongshi productions post-2010 with completely traditional production techniques, resulting in old-school flavor and superb age-ability.
This blend highlights the intense woody, leathery and untamed side of Lincang teas (in contrast to the typical sugary/fruity style that is often found in the Lincang region). Despite the powerful nature of this blend, the maturation over the years showcases its gentle evolution into a complex confection of wildhoney, pressed flowers and sun-baked blonde woods.
TASTE PROFILE
In keeping with its name, the sweetness here is of sharp wildflowers and foraged honey coming from the wild-growing trees. It is surprising, as we typically think of "rock sugar and fruit" when imagining Mengku-area teas, but this tea instead has a much more intense wild character of exotic woods and foraged roots. The mouthfeel is lubricating and thick, while retaining a distinct smooth leather texture. Punchy without veering into aggressive territory, this is a good example of traditionally processed blended sheng which has gained complexity and refinement with age.
