Unlike nowadays that the factories repack the tea into small potions before putting on sale, Liu Bao tea was sold in huge baskets of the production and then tea companies and tea shops used to make their own package. So, for the Liu Bao teas of more than 20 years, it's hard to find the original packing and the batch number; and for those of over 30 years, almost impossible. However, lack of certain information doesn't prevent us from enjoying this treasure.
Medicine scents, jujube notes, aging aroma, sweetness, all in the very clean taste of the delicate liquor. These exquisite flavors come from the mature whole leaf material, uncut and unclassified (the classification of raw material applies only to cut leaves). This tea can stand for numerous infusions, please don't waste these rare leaves when the flavors weaken, just extend steeping time and you will get more cups of delicacy one after another.
1998 Whole Leaf Liu Bao
Producer: San He (Three Cranes) / Wuzhou Tea Factory.
Harvest: unknown (mid 1990s), uncut whole leaves, unclassified.
Storage: in big bamboo baskets in Guangxi. Aging process information unknown, on sale since 1998.
Origin: Wuzhou >> Guangxi
Gongfu Style
8g/100ml/100ºC
Rinse; 30-40s in the 1st infusion; 10-15s in the following infusions; increase the steeping time by several seconds in each infusion starting from the 6th or 7th.
To Boil
This tea can withstand extended boiling; the longer it boils, the purer and sweeter the taste it imparts.
Using steeped leaves after 6 or 7 infusions : 8g/300ml
Bring 300ml of water to a boil, add the steeped leaves (8g), then reduce heat and simmer for 5-8 minutes or longer until it reaches your desired strength; add always boiling water every time half of the liquor is consumed, able to reach a total volume of more than 1 liter.
Using new tea leaves : 3-4g/300ml
Bring 300ml of water to a boil, add 3-4g of tea leaves, then reduce heat and simmer for 5-8 minutes or longer until it reaches your desired strength; add always boiling water every time half of the liquor is consumed, able to reach a total volume of more than 1.5 liter.
