The story goes that when Buddha was born, he took seven steps. In the place where his feet met the Earth, a lotus flower sprung up, symbolizing the purity that each of us innately have.

When we found the leaves that we used to create this cake, we were struck by the teas purity and named the cake after that story. Seven Steps - a fitting name for an incredibly clean and smooth sheng pu’er, one that we are proud to offer.

The mao cha (loose raw pu’er) that we used to blend this tea is spring 2013 picked and processed grown in a remote area of the Yunnan province in Simao. The 200+ yr old trees that bore these leaves are all wild grown and no sprays or pesticides have ever been used there.

The mao cha was meticulously stored there over the 7+years and we moved the leaves to our pressing workshop in December of 2020, pressing these lovely cakes on the 15th of that month. These cakes, while recently pressed, already have a semi-aged taste to them!

There is a thick quality to the aroma of the leaves following the rinse. Floral, honey sweetness, apricot, woodsy, just a hint of camphor in the background. Close your eyes and picture being in the middle of a forest.

This, dear friends, is impressive raw tea. Smooth, complex and capable of great strength, you will taste the sweet roundness of the mountain’s minerals thanks to deep roots of the old trees. We recommend starting with lower temps (195/200ºF) and shorter steeps in the beginning so you can really taste the thick sweetness without the astringency that will come about at higher temps and longer steeps. In later steeps, increase water temperature and steeping times to continue coaxing all the flavor and energy these leaves have to give. We love the soft woody notes that meld so nicely with the subtle floral, honey hints.

While you drink, pay attention to the energy that builds in the chest, opening the heart and energizing the body. It’s energetic, but not in a jarring way and definitely sharpens focus and concentration. A suitable drink prior to meditation or yoga.

Definitely worth giving this one a go in the grandpa style of tea brewing, too! Available in 7 cake bamboo-wrapped tong in dropdown menu!