Mountain Rhyme, Original Aroma, and Vital Energy are the three important markers that constitute the identification of pure material from ancient trees. Mountain Rhyme is the individual characteristic identification symbol of ancient tree pure material. Original Aroma is the regional identification symbol of ancient tree pure material. Vital Energy is the life identification symbol of ancient tree pure material.
Mountain Rhyme is the individual characteristic identification symbol of ancient tree pure material.
Internal and external factors, particularly the harmonious and healthy ecological environment of the ancient tea gardens and the well-developed root systems of the ancient tea trees, determine the special Mountain Rhyme of the pure material.
This Mountain Rhyme is something that densely planted tea bushes, i.e., terrace tea, cannot bestow upon us. When we taste Mansong—the authentic Yibang small-leaf variety, or Guafengzhai—one of the most primitive-preserved ancient garden teas from Yiwu, even if it's a new tea just produced a month ago, although the 'watery' taste hasn't fully receded, the thickness of the soup texture, the rock-sugar-like sweetness, the lubricious feeling as it slides down the throat, and even the oily, rich hue that seems almost viscous, directly convey the most natural, ecological, and profound aura and charm from the distant mountains. Ancient tree tea does not bring the impression of harsh bitterness and astringency to the palate. Mountain Rhyme is one of the important characteristics that distinguish ancient tree pure material from terrace tea.
Original Aroma is the regional identification symbol of ancient tree pure material.
In my not-so-extensive tasting experience, the pure material from ancient trees in major tea regions can be distinctly categorized by their aroma types. Yiwu tea has a unique, long-lasting, and elegant honeyed aroma; the aroma of Bulang tea is deep and profound; I often refer to Jingmai's aroma as an 'enchanting fragrance,' not in a derogatory sense, but because Jingmai's scent is unusual and often elusive; whereas the aroma of Jiangcheng material, which is separated from Yiwu by a mountain and is often passed off as Yiwu tea, carries a cloying sweetness.
If fruity, camphor, ginseng, and medicinal aromas more reflect the post-production—storage state—of Pu-erh tea, then the Original Aroma is the best identifier for the initial production—the original ecology—of Pu-erh tea. It is the true meaning of 'recognizing tea by its fragrance.'
Vital Energy is the life identification symbol of ancient tree pure material.
Tea energy, or 'Qi,' refers to the perceptible changes in the human body caused by the intangible energy of the tangible tea acting on relevant parts of the body. Due to differences in both internal and external factors compared to terrace tea, especially because ancient tree tea absorbs the essence of heaven and earth and contains richer trace elements than terrace tea. These trace elements enter the human body with the tea soup, inducing strong physical sensations in the drinker. The tea soup enters from the mouth to the stomach, and the Vital Energy travels along the extraordinary meridians to the heavenly gate, earthly gate, energy gate, and sweat gate, causing noticeable bodily reactions in the drinker such as burping, flatulence, and mild sweating.
From my tasting experience, the higher the age of the ancient tea tree, the lower the stimulation it brings to the palate, and the higher the stimulation to the body's sensations. If aroma and rhyme are still about drinking tea with the mouth, then energy is about drinking tea with the body. Vital Energy is another important characteristic that distinguishes ancient tree pure material from terrace tea.
It needs to be clarified that this is not to negate blended teas. Some famous blended teas from large factories can also bring pleasure, but drinking blended tea is essentially appreciating technique; it cannot convey the unique, personality-rich information from the mountains. Secondly, we believe that not all ancient tree teas are suitable to be made into single-origin pure material. When a characteristic of a certain ancient tree pure material becomes the biggest weakness in the tasting experience (such as the bitter base of Lao Man E), its other advantages are反而 marginalized.
Both internal and external factors determine the unique, singular, and pure aromatic quality belonging to the pure material from ancient trees of this specific mountain.