The leaf comes from Lao Ban Zhang in the Bu Lang range, which is known for great strength and depth, with bold bitterness giving way to a quick, sweeping hui gan. A few years of natural storage in Guangzhou may have taken off some of its early sharpness. From ChenShengHao — a 2012 sheng (raw) puerh cake in the Wu Zhou Nian line.
Tea Profile
At a glance: 2012 · Sheng (raw) puerh · 357g cake · ChenShengHao Tea Factory
- Compression & dry leaf: The leaf is tightly compressed into a 357g cake. Look for neat, tight threads and visible buds in the dry leaf.
- Liquor: The liquor is typically golden to amber at this stage.
- Taste: The first steeps are fresh, with some bitterness and some astringency. As the session goes on, it shows floral and fruity notes and a sweet and balanced profile.
- Mouthfeel & body: On the palate it is thick, smooth and oily. It also has cha qi, the body sensation many drinkers look for.
- Aftertaste: It leaves a strong hui gan, plenty of salivation and a long finish.
- Best for: improving your tea experience. Take your time with it — a good choice once you are no longer a newcomer.
Brewing Guide
Water: fully boiling, 100°C (212°F).
- Warm the pot and cups, then add about 5g of leaf per 100ml.
- Rinse the leaves once with boiling water and let them rest, covered, for about 10 minutes.
- Steep the first rounds for 10–15 seconds, adding about 5 seconds with each round.
- Pour every steep into a fairness pitcher before serving.
- Serve. Sheng puerh resteeps well for many rounds.
Treat these as starting points rather than fixed rules. Try high or low pours, fast or slow, and brew in different seasons to find the method that suits you. Brewing the same tea well in any year, season, weather or place takes practice, and that skill is the real goal.
Storage
Keep the tea ventilated, cool and dry, away from sunlight and strong odors (kitchen spices, smoke). For long-term aging, paper or clay containers breathe better than sealed plastic.
A Note on Appearance
Not every cake shows these, but they can occur, especially in teas with more years of storage.
- Bamboo powder (zhu fen): a natural sign of traditional bamboo-husk packing. In Guangdong's warm, humid climate, tiny bamboo insects can make their home in the husk, nibbling the husk and cotton paper wrapper while leaving the tea itself untouched. What they leave behind is a fine powder, seen only on certain teas and more often on aged ones. It is harmless to hygiene; a few strokes with a clean toothbrush or soft brush before brewing is all it takes.
- 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.
