Its leaf was grown in Lin Cang, a region associated with a thick, sweet and full character, with a bold body and strong energy. At this age, Lin Cang sheng is often starting to soften, though storage plays a part. From YinHao — a 2013 sheng (raw) puerh tuo in the Tuo Wang line.
Tea Profile
At a glance: 2013 · Sheng (raw) puerh · 100g tuo · YinHao
- Compression & dry leaf: It is a tightly pressed 100g tuo. The dry leaf shows neat, tight threads and visible buds.
- Liquor: In the cup it is clear and bright, typically golden to amber at this stage.
- Taste: On entry there is only a light bitterness and slight astringency, balanced by a natural sweetness. Further into the session the cup stays sweet and balanced.
- Mouthfeel & body: The texture should feel clean and lively, as sheng usually does.
- Aftertaste: The aftertaste brings a lingering sweetness.
- Best for: everyday drinking, and easy for novices to brew.
Brewing Guide
Water: rolling boil, 100°C (212°F).
- Rinse teaware with hot water; use roughly 5g of tea for each 100ml of vessel.
- Give the leaves one quick rinse, then cover and rest about 10 minutes to wake them up.
- Begin with 10–15 second steeps, lengthening each by about 5 seconds.
- Decant fully into a sharing pitcher each time.
- Enjoy — good sheng keeps giving for many infusions.
Use this as a starting point, not a fixed formula. Play with pour height and speed, and notice how the tea answers in different weather and seasons. Learning to brew one tea well anywhere, anytime is the real craft.
Storage
Store in a cool, dry place with gentle airflow, out of direct light and away from strong smells such as cooking spices or smoke. If you plan to age it for years, breathable paper or clay storage suits puerh better than airtight plastic.
A Note on Appearance
Not every tuo shows these, but they can occur, especially in teas with more years of storage.
- Small dark specks: tiny dark specks may appear on the wrapper or tea edges of naturally stored puerh. They are harmless and can be brushed off before brewing.
- Tea oil spots: yellowish spots may appear and can come from natural tea oils. They are not a flaw.
- Torn wrapper: small tears or holes in the cotton paper may happen during storage and handling. The tea inside is unaffected.
