Giàng Pằng is a beautiful area in Yên Bái province. You drive up a treacherous dirt road, crossing streams and rocky sections until you reach the village at 1400m. The people living here are of the H’Mông ethnicity. You can see goats and exotic looking chickens and ducks scurrying around the tea tree gardens. This area also produces high quality cinnamon and you can see the cinnamon tree bark sun drying at people’s houses from time to time throughout the year.
 
This tea is made from medium, old and ancient tree material from our friend Lềnh’s family’s gardens that I processed in mid April. It is probably about 70% ancient tree tea leaf.
 
This tea brews up into a rich green golden soup. Heavily floral and vegetal with the characteristic melon/ plum leathery character that is prevalent in good teas from Giàng Pằng. Low-medium bitterness and astringency. Good huigan, medium thickness and decent longevity.
 
200g cake ($0.23/ gram)
 
Season: April 2025
Picking Standard: 1 bud, 2-3 leaves
Region: Giàng Pằng, Yên Bái
Elevation: 1400m