One of the most exquisite pieces of tea porn I’ve come ever across was this compressed mass of large leaf material, formed into seven gourds, sized in ever-descending size to form a large pyramid of vegetal fuel. It was also an homage to how tribute tea was often shaped in the days of trade. This bit of gorgeousness sat in a corner of a tea shop in Simao and I spent long hours debating trying to buy it and ship it home…all 70kg’s of it.
If ever there was a contrasting image of the Tea Horse Road’s daunting and physical Himalayan journey, this was it. And I never did acquire - any - of that statue of gorgeous leaves.