This tea uses old-tree (gu shu) leaf from Lao Ban Zhang in the Bu Lang range. The area has a reputation for a powerful, bitter-forward character that resolves fast into deep, long-lasting sweetness. Old-tree (gu shu) material generally brews fuller and steeps longer than plantation leaf, with a later, longer hui gan. With age, the tea may develop a rounder, more mellow character, depending on storage. From WanTong — a 2006 sheng (raw) puerh cake in the Lao Ban Zhang - Lao Shu line.
Tea Profile
At a glance: 2006 · Sheng (raw) puerh · 400g cake · WanTong
- Compression & dry leaf: This is a 400g cake with a firm, tight compression. In the dry leaf you can see neat, tight threads.
- Liquor: The liquor is clear and bright, typically amber to orange-amber for sheng of this age.
- Taste: The first steeps bring some bitterness and some astringency, balanced by a natural sweetness. Through the middle infusions, notes of honey come forward over a sweet base.
- Mouthfeel & body: The body comes across as thick. Drinkers who look for cha qi will find it here.
- Aftertaste: After each sip there is a returning sweetness (hui gan), plenty of salivation and a long finish.
- Best for: improving your tea experience; it rewards slower brewing and is a good next step after your first few sheng teas.
Brewing Guide
Water: 100°C (212°F), fully boiling.
- Preheat the vessel; add around 5g per 100ml.
- One rinse to open the leaves, then a covered rest of about 10 minutes.
- Steep 10–15 seconds at first, adding ~5 seconds per round.
- Always pour out completely into a fairness cup before drinking.
- Keep steeping — sheng rewards patience with many rounds.
These are guidelines to start from, not rules to obey. Experiment with your pour, your pace, and the season; the same leaf tastes different on a rainy day. The goal is the skill to brew it well whenever, wherever.
Storage
Give it air, coolness and dryness; keep it out of the sun and clear of potent odors (spices, smoke). For multi-year aging, paper or unglazed clay lets the tea breathe in a way sealed plastic never will.
A Note on Appearance
Not every cake 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.
