Harvest Location: Qitou, Liu An County, Anhui Province, China
Harvest Date: Early May 2008
Cultivar:  Qunti  Zhong
Elevation:  650m
 
This 2008 Liu An Basket Tea is a rare, slow-aged tea from Liu An County in Anhui Province, with over 15 years of natural fermentation tucked inside its traditional woven bamboo basket.
 
Often placed alongside Hei Cha (黑茶, dark teas) like Fu Zhuan and Pu-erh, Liu An has its own unique path: some tea scholars don’t classify it as Hei Cha, since it does not undergo wet-piling (wo dui).
Instead, the freshly pan-fired leaves (Liu An Gua Pian) are spread out and allowed to rest overnight outdoors, absorbing and drying under the natural cycle of evening dew and daytime warmth. Repeated over several nights, this process initiates a mild, natural fermentation that matures over the years into the smooth, earthy profile Liu An is known for.
 
After this gentle post-fermentation, the tea is lightly steamed and pressed into small bamboo baskets.  The filled basket is then briefly dried over gentle heat.  It will then be stored and continue to age slowly in breathable packaging. This method encourages microbial transformation similar to Pu-erh, but with less moisture and more subtle evolution. The bamboo imparts a faint woody fragrance, and the low compression allows airflow for long-term aging.
 
Over the years, this tea develops a mellow richness. The 2008 vintage now brews a clean, reddish-brown liquor, with soft notes of aged wood, forest moss, and light medicinal bitterness, finishing with a touch of mineral sweetness.