David Duckler

Artisan Revival Stone-Pressed Banzhang '06 Sheng Pu'er from Verdant Tea

David Duckler drank Artisan Revival Stone-Pressed Banzhang '06 Sheng Pu'er by Verdant Tea

I can’t believe that Wang Yanxin was able to convince the Banzhang Ancient Forest Workshop to part with seven more bricks of this beauty. It is everything I love about sheng pu’er, thick and nutty like Farmer’s Cooperative, yet sparkling with hints of orange and melon. Banzhang Mountain is a magical place.

I have been checking in on the region using google satellite images, and it is still just as remote. The old village has only six houses! The new village has a whopping eleven. You can see the winding footpaths where the villagers walk to wild-harvest this tea.

I will admit it, I bought the last brick of this from Verdant Tea when it was running out, and have felt guilty for not letting it go with so much interest, but how could I? I recently tasted some 15-year tea from the area and it blew my mind. This is already getting there. Luckily I don’t have to feel so guilty anymore with a few more bricks back in stock.

2012-03-26 16:24:52 -0400

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Bonnie 2012-03-26 16:45:33 -0400

A Coup! Very exciting! I appreciate the continued effort to bring such rare tea to all of us in North America (and beyond also). Sounds delicious.

Anthony Joel Verbrick 2012-03-26 20:55:57 -0400

This is good news.

Kashyap 2012-03-27 09:55:12 -0400

what year/vintage is it?

David Duckler 2012-03-27 10:28:20 -0400

Thanks! This is actually more of the 2006 vintage. ’06 was such a good year for Yunnan. All the ’06 sheng from Wang Yanxin that I try has so much potential and complexity already. This brick was pressed on June 6th, ’06. I know that for us 666 may be a loaded number, but for the villagers of Banzhang, they must have known this would be a good one to press it on a palindrome. Exciting to have it back, even for a short time.

Kashyap 2012-03-28 09:40:10 -0400

thats awesome…i totally agree…all the sheng pu erh from that region in that year that I’ve had the chance to try were all amazing…so strange…its a rather somber year for me…my mother died from a 2 year fight with ALS in the Sept. of that year and there is no way I had even the inkling of the weather conditions in China….nice to hear you have this..I will have to pick some of this up

Michael Hetrick 2012-03-28 09:59:42 -0400

Sigh… Sounds like I’ll have to place an order when I get back home! I’m currently drinking the Nansan Village Sheng, which is hitting all of the right notes. Any comparisons between the two?

David Duckler 2012-04-23 16:47:02 -0400

Hi Michael, sorry for the later reply here. The Nansan and the Artisan Revival are both on the more rich thick end of the spectrum for flavor, but while the Nansan is more on the spiced, herbaceous side of things, the Artisan Revival is nutty, creamy and slightly floral. Definitely worth tasting if you haven’t already gotten around to it.

Michael Hetrick 2012-04-27 13:19:14 -0400

Thanks! I’ve already taken out about half the ounce that I purchased. It’s great. In fact, I think I should go make some right now…

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David Duckler

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