Before there was Puerh, famous for its tea, there was Liubao.

Liubao has more than 1500 years of tea history. Served to the royal families, Liubao teas were amongst the top teas during the Jaiqing years of the Qing Dynasty. It was renown for its rich betel nut scent.

Tea brought to market where the 3 rivers converge, they are still to this day transported along the rivers.

Where the 3 rivers converge at Liupao March 2019 tea trip.

Although the tea village met with decline after all those years, a fortuitous turn of events occurred. In 2004 a petite, kind, generous and powerful woman, Su Shumei, obtained the rights to the land as a gift to her mother because her mom, who is now 97 years old, loves to drink tea. Since then Su Shumei has revitalized the tea production, restoring Liupao to its former glory.

Under the watchful eye of Su Shumei , she and her family ensure and maintain the ancient traditional tea making processes along with modern day skills. All still suited to capturing the natural magic and essence of the tea. She sets high standards of cleanliness and integrity throughout the processing of the tea.

The teas grow in the mountains and canyons along streams that run horizontal and vertical to the area. The sunshine is short with year round mist, and fertile soil, very suitable for tea growth. Nurtured only by nature, never with the use of any chemicals. They lovingly refer to some of these mountains and canyon areas as tea gardens. And hiking amongst them is exhilarating.

Stone tablet overlooking the tea garden. Tea trip to Liupao, March 2019. — Stone tablet overlooking the tea garden. Tea trip to Liubao, March 2019.

One of the Liupao Tea Gardens from our March 2019 visit. — One of the Liubao Tea Gardens from our March 2019 visit.

Another view of the Liupao Tea Garden from our March 2019 visit. — Another view of the Liubao Tea Garden from our March 2019 visit.

If you are able body and sure footed you can take a 5 hour hike to find hidden tea trees of 1,000-2,000 years old. A 1,000 year old tea tree is once again offering itself to their hand picked efforts. Of which we are so fortunate to have received their Spring 2019 production of this Ancient Red Tea. Unfortunately, we ran out of time and were unable to meet this old tree and give it a hug. But next time we will.

Su Shumei hugging the 1,000 year old Tea Tree. Courtesy of photo taken of a photo at her Tea House and Museum in March 2019

Selecting only a bud and two leaves, Liubao teas contain higher lipase content than other kinds of tea in addition to various kinds of essential amino acids, vitamins and micro elements. Liubao Tea has similar benefits as Puerh Tea such as promoting weight loss, and lowering of blood fat and cholesterol. And moreover, Liubao Teas are oxidized thereby having no negative side effects to our stomach. Tsubfgya University, a research center for modernization of Chinese medicine, and Beijing University Research Center on Aging, together identified and concluded that Liubao tea with its higher lipase content than other teas, has the ability to help lower lipids, lower blood sugar, regulate uric acid, protect the liver, improve digestion, improve beauty rejuvenation, resist radiation and resist inflammation.

Overall Liubao teas are glossy black and brown in dry form. It will taste rich and mellow with a satisfying sweet and nutty scent and aftertaste. In China its known as red, rich and thick, aged and smooth.

At this time, true Liupao Tea from the Liubao Village in Wuzhou China is only available in the U.S. through SonWu Tea.

So please try some. We stand behind it 100%. You’ll find it delicious, healthful and uplifting.

Before there was Puerh there was Liubao