2017 Menghai Gong Ting “Palace” Grade Shou Pu'er Tea Cake

Gong Ting (宫廷), or "Palace Grade," is one of the highest classifications of Shou Pu’er, distinguished by its fine golden buds and young leaves. This 2017 Menghai Gong Ting tea cake is composed entirely of these delicate, tender leaves, offering an exceptionally smooth texture and naturally sweet flavor.

Premium Sorting & Processing

During the Shou Pu’er fermentation process, tea leaves undergo wet piling (渥堆, Wo Dui) to develop their signature rich, dark character. After fermentation, Gong Ting-grade leaves are meticulously sorted out—a labor-intensive process that separates the finest buds from larger leaves and stems. These buds can then be kept loose or compressed into cakes, as in this case.

This Gong Ting Pu’er was fermented in Menghai and pressed on October 22, 2017. Menghai County, one of Yunnan’s premier tea regions, is known for its ideal climate and deep-rooted expertise in Pu’er fermentation techniques.

Flavor & Texture

The tea brews into a deep, reddish-brown liquor, with an aroma reminiscent of warm cocoa, dried fruit, and polished wood. Its silky texture is soft and creamy, often likened to rice soup, and the flavor is naturally sweet and clean. Due to its high proportion of buds, it is rich and full-bodied from the first steep, making it a highly satisfying daily drinker.

With only 9 cakes left, this 2017 Gong Ting Pu’er is an excellent representation of Menghai’s refined fermentation process and a must-try for lovers of smooth, elegant Shou Pu’er.