2011 Yunnan Sourcing "Autumn Xi Kong" Yi Wu Pu-erh Tea Cake

Xi Kong tea like Yi Bang is special in that it is not large leaf varietal but rather a primitive small leaf varietal that has grown in this area for hundreds if not thousands of years.  Like other small leaf varietal wild arbor tea trees in Yunnan (Jing Mai), the flavor is lighter and more smooth, but the aroma is pungent and fruity. Xi Kong and Yi Bang are more similar to each other than our other Fall Yi Wu teas, but I find Xi Kong to have something darker and more pungent than Yi Bang.  Xi Kong's aroma is more subtle and it's taste is incredibly textured and fills the mouth and throat imparting a wonderful sensation!  I recommend drinking this tea on a sunny day in a warm place to allow for a full release of it's aroma and cha qi! This year's autumn production comes from hundreds of year old tea trees! This tea was compressed in a small tea factory in Yi Wu town where unusually large 40 kilogam stone presses were used.  Low temperature (35C) “baking” was used to dry these cakes afte