Chrysalides Send Message

The 10th edition of Mei Leaf’s annual Young Gushu series, which features loose leaf sheng with a focus on adolescent exuberance, not limited to a particular mountain. These teas tend to have a kick, with medicinal notes given prominence over the fruity notes of most of the Mei Leaf shengs.

2025’s Young Gushu is a Lincang product, with easily recognizable medicinal, steamed bamboo, and custard notes. Like all shengs with this taste profile, it should work great as a dim sum tea. The chaqi is strong, keeping up the tradition, but it is not nearly as epic as those of the 2020-21 YG’s, which still stand as the most psychoactive teas I’ve ever drank. Lincang is a wonderful and distinct puerh growing region, and this tea is a strong representative for that region. Does it stand out among the ever-growing roster of young gushu offerings by Mei Leaf? Probably not, but I don’t think you will find yourself disappointed with a session of this stuff on a hot Californian summer day, right after spending the afternoon in the smoldering heat of the valley that Jack London once called his home.

As Mei Leaf’s most popular line of tea, Jade Star is one that usually commands attention. In past years, editions would sell out almost instantaneously. Rave reviews and high demand led the company to expand production, and both the 7th and 8th iterations of Jade Star seem to be easy to obtain (a recent promotion was ran where one could get 40% off a cake of JS8 if they subscribed to Mei Leaf’s email newsletter – overproduction much?). This dropped the 100 USD price tag to a respectable 60, about in line with the rest of their quality white tea cake productions.

I’m not as big of a fan of white teas as the rest of the community, mainly because I prefer to brew them in porcelain, which makes for a weak body. I decided to brew this one in Yixing and boy does it make a difference; this tea becomes a heavyweight, and can take a lot of abuse at high temps and long steeps. Its taste profile is complex, exotic, and rich; sandalwood, myrrh, and impressions of the fleeting days of a long Indian summer; it feels like the elder brother of a quality Bai Mudan and I like drinking it late in the day, if not at night. My only complaint about this tea is that it somehow leaves me more parched after every sip; it’s a true succubus which will keep bringing you back for more and more abuse. Get it while you still can.