No matter how you rank the best black teas in the world, Liu Bao is certainly
amongst the best. We decided to show you some famous vintages which are
paragons of the genre, starting with the best of the best, which is
actually amongst the
most wonderful teas we have ever tried, full stop.
Considered the best Liu Bao tea in the world, and one
of the best teas we have ever tried in general, is 1950s
Pu Tian Gong Qing or "Joy to the World." It was named
by Master Lin himself. It was a higher grade of Liu Bao
reserved for the managers and owners of the mines.
Some people think that this tea may have been produced
from Yunnanese raw material traded to Guangxi in a
year of lower yield, arguing that beneath the processing
it has a puerh body. Master Lin thinks that this is not
true, however. "Joy to the World" is a deep and gorgeous
tea that fills your being, bringing bliss in waves.普 天 共 慶
1970s Shuang Xing Hao Yin (双星号印 / SSHC Penang) is amongst our favorite Liu
Bao teas, mostly because it
seems to be easier to find and therefore more accessible than teas like
1950s Fu Hua or LLLL367 (both of which are
better). SSHC is red and mellow, billowy and nutty. It has fragrant
elements, tasting of Chinese herbs, sometimes
sandalwood and, of course, betel nut. It feels rich in the mouth while
staying lighter and more clear than puerh
teas of a similar vintage. The Qi is strong, bold and vibrant and makes for
a deep and lasting session. SSHC is very
patient and, we find, often wonderful in the late afternoon or early
evening.
双 星 号 印Guangxi Wuzhou Tea Factory's (广西梧州茶厂) famous "VIVE" from the 1980s is a
deep and rich Liu Bao, with
loamy flavors that taste of autumn forest walks. It has the deeper, wetter
and hotter piling of the 1980s, which
began due to the influence of shou puerh. It is thicker and richer than
earlier Liu Bao vintages, though it lacks
their refinement, grace and glory. It is still wonderful, reminding you of
camphor and thick, dreamy days. This tea
is deep and patient, with a more grounding Qi that relaxes and loosens the
moment, descending to the core and
bringing the warmth of a bath on a cold day.
广 西 梧 州 茶 厂
