Gong Ting from Yong De, Da Xue Shan, Lincang
A warm, misty morning prompted me to brew an old gong ting… 🌫
Gong Ting (宫廷) is a type of raw material for shu pu’er, characterized by a high number of small buds and sometimes consisting entirely of them. It has a rich and straightforward taste, along with a pronounced invigorating effect. You may come across the words “palace” or “imperial” alongside the term “Gong Ting”—however, this is just a marketing trick designed to create an illusion of premium quality.
The term “imperial” refers to tribute tea, also known as “Gong Cha” (宫茶)—a tea that was regularly sent to the imperial court in China as tribute. The tradition of tribute tea dates back to 1066 BCE and mostly consisted of first spring harvest green teas. Shu pu’er was never a tribute tea, as it was only invented in the 1970s, and Gong Ting itself appeared even later, in the 1990s.
You may also find the “Gong Cha” prefix in the names of different teas, but these are just words used to attract buyers. They mean nothing, as the last empire (Qing) fell more than a century ago, and in modern China, no one pays tea tribute to anyone. So, Gong Cha is about a historical phenomenon, while Gong Ting refers to a specific type of raw material for shu pu’er.
Now, on to the review!
🌿 The raw material comes from Yong De County, Da Xue Shan region, Lincang Prefecture. Harvested in 2013, fermented, and pressed in 2014.
The pressing is of medium density, so it was easy to break off a piece into smaller fragments for better extraction.
Aroma: Ashy notes, deep tones of dark leather, a light spicy scent of gingerbread, spring kindling, and the sweetness of raisins, transitioning into fermented shades reminiscent of kombucha. An antique, old-world aroma that brings to mind the scent of a well-worn sheepskin coat from grandpa’s wardrobe.
Taste: A strict, buttery-olive old man! Almond liqueur infused with fresh cherry juice, a long-lasting and deeply penetrating astringency of 95% dark chocolate. Clearly pronounced sandy tones synergize with a camphor aftertaste, all without a trace of sweetness.
A fast, dense charge—and off to code! 💚
Alexander 🔜 @alexrublevsky