PROFILE: STRAW, MOSS, STONE, FLORAL, STONE FRUIT, SHENG-STYLE

ORIGIN: Y TI, LAO CAI, VIETNAM

HARVEST: APRIL 2023

Forest Genie is a distinctive and pleasingly balanced sheng-style dark tea from the Y Ti commune of Bat Xat district in Lao Cai. Produced in a close-knit Red Dao community whose families live either side of the Vietnam/ China border which is separated here by the narrow Lung Po stream.

Wild trees spread deep into the ancient forest in Y Ti at altitudes of 2,000 metres and above. Harvested leaves are collected and taken to the village where they are gently pan-dried, rolled and left in the sun to dry in small batches by an artisan tea-maker.

Forest Genie is a fascinating and complex tea that offers generous depth to the drinking experience that stretches from the tongue to the nose, palate and back of the throat.

The newly arrived 2023 Forest Genie promises to be an excellent addition to our collection. It has the familiar bitter tendencies of a young sheng, but this does not overpower the underlying sweetness that lingers in the throat. In the cup, the tea is green to yellow in colour with primary notes of moss, straw, mineral and a light floralness. We have high expectations that this tea will age superbly well.