High Mountain Silver Downy Raw Pu-erh Tea 2014

Tea made from 1 bud and 1 leaf

High Mountain Silver Downy 2014 is produced from tea grown under natural farming conditions. It is a raw pu-erh tea, but with a very unusual characteristic: the plucking standard is “1 bud and 1 leaf.” This is uncommon for pu-erh tea. Typically, pu-erh is harvested using a more relaxed standard such as one bud with two or three leaves. More mature leaves contain higher levels of polyphenols, which contribute positively to flavor development during aging. Most pu-erh teas in HOJO’s lineup follow this conventional standard. Mao-cha of High Mountain Silver Downy The top shows the common plucking standard (1 bud with 2–3 leaves), while the bottom shows the mao-cha of High Mountain Silver Downy consisting of 1 bud and 1 leaf.

Soft mouthfeel thanks to 1 bud 1 leaf

Some tea drinkers prefer a softer mouthfeel. To accommodate different preferences, we apply various plucking standards when producing pu-erh, white, and black teas. For example, Yan Ming Shan raw pu-erh is made using 1 bud and 2 leaves, resulting in a smooth and mellow texture. High Mountain Silver Downy, made with 1 bud and 1 leaf, offers an even softer and creamier mouthfeel. It has a natural sweetness reminiscent of white tea. With fewer mature leaves, amino acids from the bud—especially theanine—play a dominant role in shaping the taste. This results in a softer, sweeter profile. During aging, the tea develops flavors similar to sugarcane or brown sugar. Based on our experience, this sweetness becomes more pronounced after about three years of aging.

Time-consuming tea plucking

Because High Mountain Silver Downy consists only of 1 bud and 1 leaf, it has a fine, silvery appearance. However, this standard requires significantly more time and effort to harvest. Farmers typically prefer to wait until the leaves grow to 1 bud and 2–3 leaves, as this increases daily yield. In contrast, collecting only 1 bud and 1 leaf is far more time-consuming, which is reflected in the higher price. Tea plucked using the 1 bud and 1 leaf standard. Tea plucked using the common standard of 1 bud and 2–3 leaves.

Tea grown near the Myanmar border

High Mountain Silver Downy 2014 is produced in a village in Lincang, Yunnan, located about 20 km from the Myanmar border. The tea is harvested by mountain Thai ethnic communities. The tea garden sits at an altitude of around 1,700 meters. The tea trees are not cultivated in a modern agricultural style but grow as independent bushes. The farming is entirely natural, with no fertilizer or pesticide used. Due to the remote location, traditional agricultural practices are still preserved.

For more on how raw Pu-erh is made, aged, and stored, see What Is Raw Pu-erh Tea?.