01
Yiwu Forest Tea: Why Is It Often Called "Forest Tea"
When it comes to forest tea, seasoned tea drinkers always think of Yiwu first. Why? Lao Sen talks about Yiwu's ecology, heritage, and the "f…
02
Laosen Answers Tea Questions (1): Beginners Buying Forest Tea Should First Ask These Five Questions
Afraid of being ripped off when buying forest tea in a store? Before you speak, ask these five questions, and the seller will know you're kn…
03
Forest Tea Primer: From Your First Cake to Building Your Own Palate
What should you buy for your first forest tea? Lao Sen's complete guide for beginners: choose your first cake, learn to drink it properly, a…
04
What Does a Ten-Year-Old Forest Tea Taste Like? An Old Tea Brewing Record
Brewing a ten-year-old forest tea: aroma, color, and flavor step by step. Laosen's tea storage notes reveal what time has done to a cake of…
05
Forest Tea Cakes, Loose Tea, or Bricks: Which Is Better for Long-Term Storage
Storing forest tea: pressed cakes or loose? Who are bricks suitable for? Lao Sen helps you choose the right form based on your storage condi…
06
Is Spring Tea Always Better Than Autumn Tea? A Complete Guide to Forest Tea Harvest Seasons
"Pre-Ming Spring Tea" is fragrant, but does autumn tea only serve as a daily drink? Laosen explains the year-round harvesting of forest tea…
07
Drinking Forest Tea Upsets Your Stomach? Mostly These Brewing Details Are Wrong
Feel stomach discomfort every time you drink forest tea? Is the tea bad? Lao Sen says: mostly it's the brewing method. Fix these five detail…
08
Does Forest Tea Hold Up to Many Infusions, and What Does It Tell You?
Some say that a tea that withstands many infusions is good tea, while others say that one that doesn't is rubbish. How many infusions can fo…
09
Why Is "Tea Qi" Always Mystified? Laosen Explains the Truth About Tea Qi
"This tea has strong qi; drinking it makes my whole body warm"—is tea qi real or pseudoscience? Laosen, without hype or criticism, explains…
10
Wild, Semi-Wild, Ancient: Don't Confuse the Three Forms of Forest Tea
Are the 'wild tea,' 'semi-wild tea,' and 'ancient tree tea' that sellers talk about three different things or one? Lao Sen explains it all a…
11
Laobanzhang's Value Lies in Fame, Yiwu's in Heritage? The Pricing Logic of Forest Tea
Both are forest teas, so why do some cost a fortune while others are reasonably priced? Lao Sen breaks down the pricing logic of Laobanzhang…
12
Online Shopping for Forest Tea: Avoiding Pitfalls - Three Comparison Tables for Identification, Origin, and Price
Online shopping for forest tea most commonly goes wrong in three areas: identification, origin, and price. Laosen has condensed twenty years…
13
Yunnan Forest Tea Region Map: Which to Drink Among Jingmai, Bulang, Mengku, and Manzhuan
Jingmai is sweet and soft, Bulang is strong and intense, Mengku is ethereal, and Manzhuan is thick and steady—these four forest tea mountain…
14
About Laosen: A Man Who Has Spent Twenty Years in the Tea Mountains, and Why He Is Willing to Tell the Truth
Who is Laosen? A man who has spent twenty years in the tea mountains of Yunnan. Without boasting about experience or titles, he only explain…
15
The Taste of the Forest
"The Taste of the Forest" is our tasting column. Through five concepts—Rigid, Soft, Distant, Thick, and Warm—we introduce you to the charact…
16
What Makes Forest Tea So Good? A Clear Explanation from Three Dimensions: Ecology, Craft, and Flavor
What makes forest tea good? No mysticism—explained clearly from three dimensions: ecological integrity, restrained craft, and flavor layers.…
17
Terrace Tea vs. Forest Tea: What's the Difference and How to Taste It
The difference between terrace tea and forest tea isn't about price, but about how the trees are grown. Learning to read the infused leaves…
18
Is the "Forest Tea" You Bought Real? Laosen Swaps Twenty Years of Mountain Trails for Three Truths
Having spent twenty years on tea mountains, Laosen explains three things about telling real forest tea from fake: whether the origin can be…
19
Forest Tea, Ancient Tree Tea, Ecological Tea, Organic Tea: Four Terms, One Clear Distinction
Forest tea, ancient tree tea, ecological tea, and organic tea are often used interchangeably. This article uses a comparison table to clarif…
20
What Is Forest Tea? This Article Clarifies Its Origins and Definition
Tea made from fresh leaves of tea trees growing in primeval forests, coexisting with diverse plants, is called forest tea. This article clar…
21
Yiwu's Ecological Tea Gardens and "Forest Tea": One Forest, Two Names
Some call it an ecological tea garden, others call it forest tea. Lao Sen discusses what these two names actually refer to: names may change…
22
Does Yiwu Only Produce Raw Tea? Talking About Yiwu's Ripe Tea
Mention Yiwu and raw tea comes to mind, but can Yiwu actually make ripe tea? Lao Sen calmly discusses the taste and selection of Yiwu ripe t…
23
Buying Yiwu Tea? Check These Three Things First: Origin, Craft, Storage
When buying Yiwu tea, first focus on origin, craft, and storage. Lao Sen explains how to ask and what to look for at each checkpoint.
24
Yiwu's Taidi, Xiaoshu, and Gushu: The Big Price Gap, Where Does It Come From?
All called Yiwu tea, but Taidi, Xiaoshu, and Gushu differ greatly in price. Laosen explains these three categories clearly, teaching you not…
25
How Many Years Should Yiwu Tea Be Aged for Better Taste? A Discussion on Its Aging
It is said that Yiwu tea gets better with age, with deeper aroma, thicker soup, and longer aftertaste. Lao Sen discusses the nuances of agin…
26
Everyone Says Yiwu Has 'Fragrant and Smooth Water'—Where Exactly Is the Smoothness in This Tea?
The four characters 'fragrant and smooth water' are often used to describe Yiwu, but how does the fragrance rise and how is the water smooth…
27
Mahei, Luoshui Cave, Wangong, Guafeng Village: Where the Flavors of Yiwu Villages Differ
It's often said that Yiwu tea is all the same, but Mahei, Luoshui Cave, Wangong, and Guafeng Village each have their own character. Lao Sen…
28
Yiwu's "Seven Villages and Eight Stockades": These Stockade Names Explained at Once
Mahei, Luoshui Cave, Wangong, Guafeng Stockade... What exactly are Yiwu's "Seven Villages and Eight Stockades"? Lao Sen explains them one by…
29
Among the Six Ancient Tea Mountains, Why Yiwu Is Unavoidable
Yiwu is often listed among the six ancient tea mountains, and it is inseparable from tribute tea and the Tea Horse Road. Lao Sen explains it…
30
What is Yiwu Tea? Understanding Yiwu, Starting with This Cup of Tea
What is Yiwu tea? Where is it, why is it famous, and what does it taste like? This article gives new tea enthusiasts an easy-to-understand i…
31
High-Trunk, Single-Tree, Mixed-Picking, Selective-Picking: Laosen Explains the Mountain's "Prestige Terms" at Once
High-trunk, single-tree, mixed-picking, selective-picking—four terms, four price tags. Laosen explains the literal meanings, the insider kno…
32
Pure Material vs. Blended: Which Is Really Better?
Some people only recognize pure material, while others only drink blends. Laosen lays out the ins and outs of both sides: one seeks individu…
33
More White Hairs Means Better Tea? Let's Talk About the 'Fuzz' on Raw Tea
Is tea with buds covered in white hairs necessarily good? Laosen says: hairs are a signal of tenderness, not a verdict on quality. This arti…
34
Can You Tell Sun-Dried and Machine-Dried Tea Apart Just by Taste?
Sun-drying relies on the sun, machine-drying on machines. Both smell fragrant when new, but after a few years, they diverge. This article te…
35
Laosen Answers Tea Questions (5): If Tea Gets Damp, Can It Still Be Saved?
If tea gets damp, don't panic and don't force yourself to drink it. Laosen teaches you to judge the severity of dampness by smell, feel, and…
36
Lao Sen Answers Tea Questions (4): Why Does the Same Tea Turn Bitter and Astringent When I Brew It?
The same tea cake tastes sweet and smooth at the shop, but bitter enough to make you frown when you brew it at home? Lao Sen says it's proba…
37
Lao Sen Answers Tea Questions (3): Should the First Infusion Be Discarded? Talking About "Washing Tea"
Should the first infusion be discarded or not? Lao Sen explains "washing tea" in detail: it's not about washing away dirt, but about awakeni…
38
Lao Sen Answers Tea Questions (2): Is Cloudy Tea Broth a Sign of Bad Tea?
Is cloudy tea broth a sign of bad tea or a brewing mistake? Lao Sen breaks down the different types of cloudiness, helping you tell which is…
39
Before the Frost, What Are Tea Farmers Busy With?
The tea mountains don't rest before frost: rushing to harvest the last autumn tea, preparing firewood, clearing gardens, and repairing roads…
40
Standing by the Wok All Afternoon to Finally Understand 'Shaqing'
I stood by the wok all afternoon, watching the iron pan, the fire, and a pair of hands turning leaves—how the raw green air gradually turned…
41
After the Rainy Season, Visiting Old Zhou's Wooden House to Check Stored Tea
Once the rainy season is over, Lao Sen goes to tea farmer Old Zhou's wooden house to check stored tea: off the ground, ventilated, away from…
42
Entering the Mountains at White Dew: Autumn in the Woods Comes Ten Days Earlier Than in the City
Around White Dew, go into the mountains to see fog, dew, and tea farmers picking leaves before the sun dries them. Autumn in the mountains i…