Seohopene Ancient | Green Pu'erh Tea from the Yao people's 20m wild tea tree
Estimated delivery to you: 27 July to 03 August.
Exclusive tea from ancient 20-meter tall, wild tea trees in the mountainous regions of northern Laos. The tea is highly praised internationally due to its unique nutritional profile and origin: 357 grams of the same quality from the same region normally sells for 140 USD outside Sweden. Our price: 845 SEK. The reason for our lower pricing is that the main purpose is primarily to introduce the traditional Asian tea culture to Sweden/Scandinavia. In addition, we also offer an introductory discount on the smallest size so that everyone can try it at the same price per gram as if they bought a larger one. Since we in Sweden are not accustomed to this type of tea, the threshold would have been quite high if the teas were sold at the normal price: 140 USD. This is emphasized only so that the tea’s quality is not misjudged based on the price compared to other teas on the international market.
Another noteworthy point is that this grower has a very narrow market—largely due to the low development in the country and inability to speak English; they speak Laotian and Yao, a language very similar to Chinese. They are therefore more or less forced to sell at the price set by the Chinese traders. Their teas have only reached the European market to a very limited extent. I want to help this grower broaden their market and gain the market freedom and recognition that the class of their teas deserves.
This tea has been found through our own research and contact with the local population.
Origin:
This tea comes from a village up in northern Laos near the border with China. The people living in the village belong to the traditional Yao people, a mountain population who have inhabited the mountain regions in the area for over a thousand years and ethnically descend from southern China. The spoken Yao language is very similar to Chinese.
The village where this group of Yao live is called Seohopene and lies in a river valley between two mountain ridges, a one-hour drive along the nature-surrounded river from the nearest "town".
In the areas around this village grow ancient tea trees, which are several hundred years old and up to 20 meters tall. These tea trees and their ancestors have grown here for thousands of years, as northern Laos is part of the region where the tea bush—or tea tree—Camellia sinensis originates. The proximity to these tea trees combined with the Yao people’s nature-close lifestyle means that the growing tea industry essentially supports the entire village.
Distinctive features:
The special thing about these tea cakes is that they are made only from leaves of large tea trees, which can be up to 20 meters tall—the exact age is unknown. What distinguishes tea made from large tea trees is that their well-established roots have access to a broader nutritional profile than cultivated tea, which means that the leaves we brew tea from have a more diverse nutritional content. For the same reason, these tea trees also develop a flavor profile unique to each tree. Thanks to the richer nutritional content, these teas can be brewed several times before they lose their flavor.
It is also important that teas from the wild are free from pesticides.
These teas are produced in the classic Yunnan manner: heated in a large fire-heated wok after a short aging process and then pressed into compact so-called tea cakes. This type of tea is called Pu'erh and, thanks to its post-harvest process, has the ability to develop more sought-after qualities the longer it ages. Like aged wines, the flavor profile often develops with age toward a softer, more defined character.
Flavor profile:
This tea has some fruity notes—such as dried apricot and recently fallen plums (as they still smell sweet and are edible). Surrounded by a light smoky background like most classic green Pu'erh teas. Quite bitter during the first brews partly due to its broad nutritional profile, which diminishes with subsequent brews. After a few brews, a subtle Hui Gan emerges—it is a so-called returning sweetness that usually settles in the palate and often gives a sweet taste of freshly picked tea. A guideline is: the more bitter the tea, the more Hui Gan. (For a tea with more Hui Gan but less fruitiness, see 400 Year Old Organic Tea) Seohopen Ancient often withstands up to 10 brews before it loses fullness.
It is worth noting that this is a green Pu'erh tea (Sheng) with a fresher taste and clearer color than the brownish Pu'erh teas (Shou) which have undergone a more intense fermentation process and developed a rich, earthy flavor profile.
How to brew the tea:
Brewing Pu'erh tea is exciting and requires a few steps to bring out the best flavor. It can be useful to think of tea brewing as an extraction process—where different substances are extracted from the leaves at different temperatures, methods, and brewing times.
Here is how you do it:
-
Prepare the tea: Gently break off leaves from the tea cake with a small pointed kitchen knife, or alternatively a proper Pu'erh knife. Measure about 1 tablespoon of Pu'erh tea for a small pot or gaiwan (150–200 ml), or adjust the amount according to your taste.
-
Rinse the tea: Pour hot water (about 95°C) over the tea and pour away the water after 20 seconds. This step cleans the tea and "awakens" the leaves. If you have a tea set, you can pour this liquid from your gaiwan into your teapot and then into your cup to warm the set before pouring it out.
-
Brewing: The brewing time given is specific for, among others, Seohopen Ancient which comes from ancient tea trees and is therefore very potent = suitable for shorter brewing times.
Pour 95°C water over the tea leaves again and let steep for 5 seconds for the first brew—it is enough to draw out the flavor from this tea. Continue with 5-second brewing times for subsequent brews until you feel the flavor starts to fade, then you can increase to 10, 15, 30 seconds or longer. Over 1 minute is not recommended. Longer times give a more intense flavor. But having a long brewing time during the first brews can give a very bitter brew, which is not always desired. It is more enjoyable to do shorter brews and feel the flavors develop with each brew. -
Pour and enjoy: Pour the tea into a cup and enjoy. Pu'erh can be brewed several times, and the flavor develops with each brew.
Sitting down and brewing tea in a classic East Asian way can be a good moment in everyday life to relax. Through a calm session where you focus only on your senses and the experience itself, you can give yourself an exciting but soothing relaxation that can otherwise be hard to "justify" in daily life.
Tip: Feel free to use a gaiwan or a classic small teapot to maximize the flavor and experience.
Ingredients: Pu'erh tea
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Seohopene Ancient | Green Pu'erh Tea from the Yao people's 20m wild tea tree
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Exclusive tea from ancient 20-meter tall, wild tea trees in the mountainous regions of northern Laos. The tea is highly praised internationally due to its unique nutritional profile and origin: 357 grams of the same quality from the same region normally sells for 140 USD outside Sweden. Our price: 845 SEK. The reason for our lower pricing is that the main purpose is primarily to introduce the traditional Asian tea culture to Sweden/Scandinavia. In addition, we also offer an introductory discount on the smallest size so that everyone can try it at the same price per gram as if they bought a larger one. Since we in Sweden are not accustomed to this type of tea, the threshold would have been quite high if the teas were sold at the normal price: 140 USD. This is emphasized only so that the tea’s quality is not misjudged based on the price compared to other teas on the international market.
Another noteworthy point is that this grower has a very narrow market—largely due to the low development in the country and inability to speak English; they speak Laotian and Yao, a language very similar to Chinese. They are therefore more or less forced to sell at the price set by the Chinese traders. Their teas have only reached the European market to a very limited extent. I want to help this grower broaden their market and gain the market freedom and recognition that the class of their teas deserves.
This tea has been found through our own research and contact with the local population.
Origin:
This tea comes from a village up in northern Laos near the border with China. The people living in the village belong to the traditional Yao people, a mountain population who have inhabited the mountain regions in the area for over a thousand years and ethnically descend from southern China. The spoken Yao language is very similar to Chinese.
The village where this group of Yao live is called Seohopene and lies in a river valley between two mountain ridges, a one-hour drive along the nature-surrounded river from the nearest "town".
In the areas around this village grow ancient tea trees, which are several hundred years old and up to 20 meters tall. These tea trees and their ancestors have grown here for thousands of years, as northern Laos is part of the region where the tea bush—or tea tree—Camellia sinensis originates. The proximity to these tea trees combined with the Yao people’s nature-close lifestyle means that the growing tea industry essentially supports the entire village.
Distinctive features:
The special thing about these tea cakes is that they are made only from leaves of large tea trees, which can be up to 20 meters tall—the exact age is unknown. What distinguishes tea made from large tea trees is that their well-established roots have access to a broader nutritional profile than cultivated tea, which means that the leaves we brew tea from have a more diverse nutritional content. For the same reason, these tea trees also develop a flavor profile unique to each tree. Thanks to the richer nutritional content, these teas can be brewed several times before they lose their flavor.
It is also important that teas from the wild are free from pesticides.
These teas are produced in the classic Yunnan manner: heated in a large fire-heated wok after a short aging process and then pressed into compact so-called tea cakes. This type of tea is called Pu'erh and, thanks to its post-harvest process, has the ability to develop more sought-after qualities the longer it ages. Like aged wines, the flavor profile often develops with age toward a softer, more defined character.
Flavor profile:
This tea has some fruity notes—such as dried apricot and recently fallen plums (as they still smell sweet and are edible). Surrounded by a light smoky background like most classic green Pu'erh teas. Quite bitter during the first brews partly due to its broad nutritional profile, which diminishes with subsequent brews. After a few brews, a subtle Hui Gan emerges—it is a so-called returning sweetness that usually settles in the palate and often gives a sweet taste of freshly picked tea. A guideline is: the more bitter the tea, the more Hui Gan. (For a tea with more Hui Gan but less fruitiness, see 400 Year Old Organic Tea) Seohopen Ancient often withstands up to 10 brews before it loses fullness.
It is worth noting that this is a green Pu'erh tea (Sheng) with a fresher taste and clearer color than the brownish Pu'erh teas (Shou) which have undergone a more intense fermentation process and developed a rich, earthy flavor profile.
How to brew the tea:
Brewing Pu'erh tea is exciting and requires a few steps to bring out the best flavor. It can be useful to think of tea brewing as an extraction process—where different substances are extracted from the leaves at different temperatures, methods, and brewing times.
Here is how you do it:
-
Prepare the tea: Gently break off leaves from the tea cake with a small pointed kitchen knife, or alternatively a proper Pu'erh knife. Measure about 1 tablespoon of Pu'erh tea for a small pot or gaiwan (150–200 ml), or adjust the amount according to your taste.
-
Rinse the tea: Pour hot water (about 95°C) over the tea and pour away the water after 20 seconds. This step cleans the tea and "awakens" the leaves. If you have a tea set, you can pour this liquid from your gaiwan into your teapot and then into your cup to warm the set before pouring it out.
-
Brewing: The brewing time given is specific for, among others, Seohopen Ancient which comes from ancient tea trees and is therefore very potent = suitable for shorter brewing times.
Pour 95°C water over the tea leaves again and let steep for 5 seconds for the first brew—it is enough to draw out the flavor from this tea. Continue with 5-second brewing times for subsequent brews until you feel the flavor starts to fade, then you can increase to 10, 15, 30 seconds or longer. Over 1 minute is not recommended. Longer times give a more intense flavor. But having a long brewing time during the first brews can give a very bitter brew, which is not always desired. It is more enjoyable to do shorter brews and feel the flavors develop with each brew. -
Pour and enjoy: Pour the tea into a cup and enjoy. Pu'erh can be brewed several times, and the flavor develops with each brew.
Sitting down and brewing tea in a classic East Asian way can be a good moment in everyday life to relax. Through a calm session where you focus only on your senses and the experience itself, you can give yourself an exciting but soothing relaxation that can otherwise be hard to "justify" in daily life.
Tip: Feel free to use a gaiwan or a classic small teapot to maximize the flavor and experience.
Ingredients: Pu'erh tea
Do you want to grow your own tea?
Here you will find the different types of hardy tea bushes we have - for open-field cultivation of your own tea. The plants and seeds we sell are used by us ourselves for our own tea plantations in Marieholm and near the Kävlinge River, zone 1 in windy Skåne.
Tebuske 'Tieguanyin': Hardy variety (Camellia sinensis var. sinensis) 40-50 cm
516 SEK
Unit price perTebuske 'Tieguanyin': Hardy variety (Camellia sinensis var. sinensis) 40-50 cm
516 SEK
Unit price per
Tebuske 'Longjing 43': Hardy variety (Camellia sinensis var. sinensis) 40-50 cm
476 SEK
Unit price perTebuske 'Longjing 43': Hardy variety (Camellia sinensis var. sinensis) 40-50 cm
476 SEK
Unit price per
Tebuske 'Kymin': Hardy variety (Camellia sinensis var. sinensis) 30-40 cm
300 SEK
Unit price perTebuske 'Kymin': Hardy variety (Camellia sinensis var. sinensis) 30-40 cm
300 SEK
Unit price per
Tebuske 'Kolkhida': Hardy variety (Camellia sinensis var. sinensis) 30-40 cm
300 SEK
Unit price perTebuske 'Kolkhida': Hardy variety (Camellia sinensis var. sinensis) 30-40 cm
300 SEK
Unit price per
Tebuske 'Georgian Classic': Hardy variety (Camellia sinensis var. sinensis) 30-40 cm
300 SEK
Unit price perTebuske 'Georgian Classic': Hardy variety (Camellia sinensis var. sinensis) 30-40 cm
300 SEK
Unit price per
Tebuske 'Tearoma®': Hardy variety (Camellia sinensis) 30-40 cm
236 SEK
Unit price per
Tebuske 'Tea By Me': Hardy variety (Camellia sinensis) 2 & 3 years 30-50 cm
From 236 SEK
Unit price perTebuske 'Tea By Me': Hardy variety (Camellia sinensis) 2 & 3 years 30-50 cm
From 236 SEK
Unit price per
Tebuske / Tea shrub in various sizes 30-70 cm (Camellia sinensis)
From 260 SEK
Unit price per
Tea bush (Camellia sinensis)
52 SEK
Unit price per
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