2016 Bingdao Ancient Tree Ripe Pu-erh Tea

From Bingdao Lao Zhai (冰岛老寨);
Each leaf costs $10;
Harvested in 2016 from ancient tea gardens first planted in 1713;
“XO” of teas;
Honey-like sweetness and silky smoothness;
Full-bodied notes of wood and blossoms;
Can be brewed up to 20 times = $0.69 per cup

What is Bingdao Tea?

If you are a true Pu-erh tea enthusiast, the famed Bingdao region is one you’ve probably heard of—a unique region with an extraordinary ecological environment. Within this region lie five sub-villages, each with its own ancient tea gardens, and each producing a distinct flavor. In China, we call this “一山一味 one mountain, one taste.” Because of its rarity and quality, many unscrupulous sellers try to pass off tea from other regions as “Bingdao tea”. In reality, only a handful of people in China have access to the true ancient trees here. So if you ever see “Bingdao tea” being sold for just a few dozen dollars, don’t be fooled—it’s almost certainly fake!

How to drink this tea?

This tea comes in pressed cakes, so the first brew is usually treated as a “rinse.” A quick 10-second infusion is enough to awaken the leaves and pour over your tea pet, which allows the leaves to gently unfurl, gradually revealing their full character. After this, the real tasting begins.

In my experience, the tea reaches its peak flavor on the third infusion, when the leaves are fully unfurled and the taste is at its richest, with all the complex notes coming together perfectly. Even up to the twentieth infusion, the tea continues to develop, becoming increasingly smooth and sweet with each cup.

Why this tea?

This tea has the power to transform your entire Pu-erh experience. Unlike anything else you’ll find online, it redefines what Pu-erh can taste like and will captivate you from the very first sip.

Our tea comes from Bingdao Lao Zhai (冰岛老寨), widely regarded as the best and most expensive village in the region. Fresh leaves here can cost thousands of dollars per kilogram at harvest.To produce one kilogram of finished ripe Pu-erh, it takes 7–8 kilograms or more—of fresh leaves, reflecting the tremendous care and cost involved.

To give more tea lovers the chance to experience top-quality tea and discover Lee’s Cha, we personally leased several of these trees to produce ripe Pu-erh, keeping costs as low as possible while preserving the tea’s exceptional quality.

This tea was harvested in 2016 from ancient tea gardens first planted in 1713, over 300 years ago.

Located in the golden terroir of the Bingdao region, these centuries-old trees are exceptionally scarce, making annual yields very limited and highly sought after by tea enthusiasts and wholesalers alike. The ripe Pu-erh was carefully crafted in 2016, the same year of harvest, with a meticulous process lasting over six months. After production, it was stored for ten years in dry-cellar conditions in Kunming, allowing the tea to mature into what can only be described as the “XO” of teas. For easier brewing, it was pressed into 7-gram mini cakes this August.

What’s the taste?

On the palate, it begins with a honey-like sweetness and silky smoothness, bursting with full-bodied notes of wood and blossoms. A creamy texture envelops the tongue with a subtle velvety tannic grip.A deep breath reveals a subtle cooling sensation in the throat. This refreshing touch is the natural “menthol-like” effect unique to ancient tea trees grown at high altitudes, shrouded in mist—never from additives, but a rare gift of nature itself.

These old trees have roots reaching over 30 meters deep, drawing exceptional nutrients. Just one or two cups reveal what Chinese tea drinkers call “Qi of the tea”(茶气): a warming energy spreading through your body, gently heating your stomach and back. This isn’t heat or agitation, but a comforting warmth you’ve likely never experienced before.

Because this tea is truly exceptional, it’s already in high demand in China. To thank you for visiting our site and to give more people the chance to experience the quality of Lee’s Cha, we’ve reserved around 100 kilograms exclusively for a no-profit promotional release. Once it’s gone, it’s gone. If you’re fortunate enough to get some, I’d love to hear your thoughts after tasting it—please feel free to share your experience, and I’ll be happy to introduce you to even more of our finest teas!