Maker of special blend spends decade on technique

Li began learning the tea-making technique from Kuang when she was 80 years old. The family has passed down the craft for generations. Their craft was recognized by experts after a pumpkin-shape special Pu'er cake of tea was found at the Palace Museum, also known as the Forbidden City, inhabited by royal families in Beijing. It was about the same size, weight and shape of the tea cake usually made by her.

Kuang spent a lot of her money buying the management rights to part of an ancient tea garden, which was used for growing tea plants to make "tribute tea" for the imperial court but deserted later. Kuang wanted her children to protect the tea garden and inherit the craft.

Li was chosen as the inheritor among three offspring and spent 10 years to win Kuang's approval. She was 90 by then.

"My grandmother was very strong. If she wanted to eat mango, she would climb onto the tree to get it by herself even in her old age," says Li Mingjie, daughter of Li Xingchang. "My father's hands are also sensitive when stirring tea leaves. They are better than any machine."