Made from leaf grown in Bing Dao on the western slope of Meng Ku, Lin Cang, an area known for a pure, sugar-sweet character with very little bitterness and a long, cooling finish. As a young sheng, it is likely to drink lively and direct for now. From Meng Ku — a 2021 sheng (raw) puerh cake in the Bing Dao line.
Tea Profile
At a glance: 2021 · Sheng (raw) puerh · 200g cake · MengKu RongShi Tea Factory
- Compression & dry leaf: The tea comes as a 200g cake. Look for well-formed threads and visible buds in the dry leaf.
- Liquor: Expect a clear, bright, golden cup.
- Taste: The first steeps are mellow and fresh, with some bitterness. As the session goes on, it shows floral notes with a touch of honey and a sweet and balanced profile. The flavor shifts a little from steep to steep.
- Mouthfeel & body: On the palate it is thick, smooth and oily.
- Aftertaste: Swallow and you notice a strong hui gan and a long finish.
- Best for: improving your tea experience — worth reaching for once you have moved past being a first-time puerh drinker.
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. Kept in dry storage, which preserves a cleaner, brighter character.
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.
