Old Grove '22
Old Grove ’22 is an ancient-tree ripe pu-erh from Mi Feng Shan in Yongde, Lincang — a high ridge around 2,050 m where many seed-grown trees are three to five centuries old. Shao’s family and a local cooperative hand-picked Mengku Daye from spring through early autumn 2022, then entrusted the maocha to a veteran wet-piling team nearby. Released as loose tea — not pressed — it shows the site’s clarity without waiting on compression to unwind. The aim is a refined ripe pu-erh that carries the calm strength of old groves and a clean, mineral line.
The make is gentle to respect age and altitude. Clean spring water is lightly misted over the leaf to wake microbes without off-aromas. Piles are kept smaller and cooler, built on breathable floors, then covered with palm-fiber mats that retain humidity yet let the tea breathe. Turning is done by hand on a fixed schedule. Airy, well-lit rooms prevent excess moisture from lingering. By late autumn the leaf is fluffed loose to dry naturally, then given a quiet settling pause so fresh fermentation tones recede and sweetness gathers — a ripe pu-erh shaped for definition, not darkness.
Loose format guides how it evolves. Uncompressed leaves exchange air more evenly, so development is quicker and linear while preserving the grove’s poised sweetness. Ancient trees contribute depth without heaviness, and Mengku Daye provides a steady backbone. Overseen by a senior master trained since the 1970s, the transformation runs deep but stays clean. Offered loose in 2022 after its long rest, Old Grove ’22 opens composed today and is built for graceful, transparent aging.
FAQ
How old are the trees?
Many are roughly three to five centuries old, seed-grown trunks with deep roots that yield thicker leaf and calm strength.
What defines the wet-piling here?
Gentle parameters for old-tree leaf: spring-water misting, smaller/cooler piles, palm-fiber covers, scheduled hand turns, natural drying and a settling pause.
Why release it loose rather than pressed?
Loose ripe pu-erh develops a bit faster and more evenly, emphasizing definition; cakes age slower and knit flavors more densely.
Who directed the make?
Shao’s family and a local cooperative gathered the leaf; a veteran piling master guided fermentation and the post-pile rest.
What does elevation add?
High, cool slopes concentrate flavor and lend a clean, mineral line that supports a composed, settled profile in ripe pu-erh.