2024 Gudun Zheng Shan Xiao Zhong

2025-12-18

This is a very nice and comforting tea. It has a certain liveliness in the higher notes—almost a touch of tanginess, but only lightly—while the main impression is carried by its base character: a round, sweet bouquet of a charming black tea. It reminds me quite a bit of my favorite Qi Lan black tea from Meetea (which I probably did not review here). Overall the notes feel well balanced, with a decent amount of complexity and a satisfying, round taste.

Energy-wise, it doesn’t reach the depth of puerh, but it has a comforting, slightly warming character. Also, the aftertaste is not as resounding as puerh would be, it stops quickly.

But tastewise I’d happily serve it to guests, who are not so much into tea.

It’s also interesting to taste it in comparison with a smoked version Smoked Zheng Shan Xiao Zhong (not the same tea, but area), which comes across completely differently, as the smoking masks much of the tea’s base character and lets far less of it shine through.