Description
2005 Gushu Huang Pian Pillar (Yiwu)
This substantial pillar-pressed tea is made from 100% Yiwu-area Gushu Huang Pian material and has benefited from a long, well-managed ageing journey. It spent approximately 7 years resting in humid Xishuangbanna, followed by 14 years in Guangdong (with balanced storage), allowing the leaf to transform while retaining clarity and structure.
Huang Pian (the larger, mature leaves) are known for their durability and generosity in brewing, and this tea is no exception. It is highly infusable, easily delivering 15 or more infusions, with a smooth, steady profile that makes it deceptively easy to drink.
On the rinse, the aroma is complex and syrupy, showing sweetness alongside subtle ripe Pu-erh–like undertones. As the session develops, the overall character becomes more integrated and cohesive, reflecting its age and settled storage. When pushed slightly—15 seconds or longer—the liquor reveals a pleasing stone fruit character, adding lift and interest to the deeper, aged base notes.
The mouthfeel is smooth and composed rather than aggressive, yet the cha qi is unmistakable—building gradually and asserting itself with time. This is a tea that commands attention without roughness.
An exceptional example of aged Yiwu Gushu Huang Pian, offering depth, endurance, and presence at a level that represents outstanding value for its age and material.
Origin: Yiwu area, Yunnan
Material: Gushu Huang Pian
Year: 2005
Style: Raw Pu-erh (Sheng)
Format: Pillar
Ageing: Banna → Guangdong
Joel Stern –
Bought this tea a year ago (June 2018). At the time it was enjoyable – wood, leather and subtle fruit; strong qi. I have stored it for a year and just tried it again. Seems like a big transformation; more leather and wood, less fruit – like a good shu pu’er. A roasty, but not smokey, aroma lurking in there, a bit like bancha. Quite complex. The soup also seems more viscous than it was a year ago – not sure why that would be. Qi snuck up on me and hit full force after the third or fourth infusion. In all, a nice tea and the better for the storage, particularly if you like your shu pu’ers.