‘Empress’ 2006 Imperial Grade Shou Puerh

A cleanly stored and well aged 'gong ting' or Imperial grade shou puerh. Also known as 'Silver Needle, Golden Lotus', Imperial grade is the finest grade of shou puerh, consisting of mostly buds. This tea is a classic in the world of puerh, and we find this one to be exceptionally enjoyable. Woody, earthy and rich, the clean storage really shines through.

*Note: "finest grade" is referring to the leaf grade and not the value or overall quality of the leaf material. Leaves are graded by size, generally using a 0-9 scale. 0 being "Imperial Grade"- buds only, and 9 being large, mature leaves. Traditionally, shou cha is made by blending different leaf grades in specific ratios to produce a desired outcome. The factory codes such as our "7572" refer partially to the specific leaf ratios used in the production.