This 250g mushroom is XiaGuan's "Bao Yan Jin Cha", a ripe (shou) puerh from 2014.
Tea Profile
At a glance: 2014 · Ripe (shou/shu) puerh · 250g tuo · XiaGuan Tea Factory
- Compression & dry leaf: The leaf is tightly compressed into a 250g tuo. The leaf itself shows visible buds and an even, dark fermentation.
- Liquor: It brews a clear, bright, deep-red liquor.
- Taste: The early infusions show only a light bitterness and slight astringency, balanced by a natural sweetness. As the session goes on, it shows mushroom over a smoky background and a sweet and balanced profile. Later steeps keep their flavor well.
- Mouthfeel & body: On the palate it is full-bodied, smooth and oily.
- Aftertaste: The aftertaste brings a returning sweetness (hui gan), easy salivation and a long finish.
- Best for: everyday drinking, and a comfortable place to start for newcomers.
Brewing Guide
Water: 100°C (212°F), fully boiling.
- Preheat the vessel; add around 5g per 100ml.
- Two quick rinses to wake the leaf, 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 — ripe puerh 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 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.
