Celebrating the 27th Anniversary of Hong Kong’s Return: Savoring Yunnan Banzhang Ancient Tree Ripe Pu-erh Tea and History in Harmony
July 1, 2024
As July 1, 2024 arrives, we celebrate the 27th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to the motherland and the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. On this memorable occasion, I would like to share a truly extraordinary tea with you: Yunnan Banzhang Ancient Tree ripe Pu-erh tea. This tea not only represents the pinnacle of Chinese tea culture, but is also intimately connected with the historic journey of Hong Kong’s return, leading us into an immersive dialogue between fine tea and living history.
This master ripe Pu-erh is crafted from precious raw materials harvested from 300-plus-year-old Ancient Tree tea arbors in 1997—the historic year marking Hong Kong’s return. Following ten years of meticulous aging and dedicated dry-storage aging in Hong Kong, the tea was pressed into classic tea cakes on July 29, 2014, silently witnessing the growth and flourishing of Hong Kong alongside the motherland. Each tea leaf holds the quiet sedimentation of time and the distilled essence of pristine nature; every sip conveys the rhythmic pulse of decades and the solemn depth of history.
The tea leaves originate from the celebrated Banzhang ancient tea gardens in Yanjian Township. This venerable terroir has witnessed the tireless dedication and wisdom of generations of tea artisans. Every ancient tea tree stands as a living witness to history, chronicling the gentle passage of time and cultural heritage.
This special commemorative release was produced in collaboration with “Yi Shui Mo Xiang,” one of Hong Kong’s top ten revered tea houses, jointly crafted with veteran Hong Kong tea master Zhang Weiyuan. Drawing upon decades of deep connoisseurship and exquisite skill, they brought the refined nuance and complex depth of this tea to its zenith. Every single tea cake crystallizes the craftsman’s devotion and unyielding standard of excellence, expressing heartfelt affection for Hong Kong and its cultural roots.
This commemorative release is strictly limited to 988 tea cakes worldwide, making every single cake a rare and irreplaceable treasure. Each tea cake embodies supreme reverence for historical memory and intangible cultural legacy. In savoring this tea, we traverse time and space, engaging in quiet communion with tea masters of the past, fully appreciating how tea culture improves with age and deepens through history.
On this celebratory 27th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return, let us raise a cup of this rare Yunnan Banzhang Ancient Tree ripe Pu-erh tea. It is far more than a beverage; it is an emotional anchor and a living historic witness. May each cup of tea bring warmth, peace, and auspicious blessings to all tea lovers.
Author: Master Lam Sam (Old Tea Master)
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