This tea uses leaf from Bu Lang in Meng Hai. The area has a reputation for intensity and weight: high bitterness up front, then a quick, strong returning sweetness. Still young, Bu Lang sheng like this usually shows its character plainly. From XiaGuan — a 2021 sheng (raw) puerh cake in the Bu Lang Shan - Kong Que line.
Tea Profile
At a glance: 2021 · Sheng (raw) puerh · 400g cake · XiaGuan Tea Factory
- Compression & dry leaf: This tea is sold as a 400g cake. The dry leaf shows well-formed threads and visible buds.
- Liquor: Expect a clear liquor, golden yellow, as is usual for young sheng.
- Taste: Once the leaf opens up, expect notes of honey in a sweet cup.
- Mouthfeel & body: The body comes across as thick and rounded.
- Aftertaste: It leaves a quick, clear hui gan and a long finish.
- Best for: improving your tea experience. Take your time with it — a good choice once you are no longer a novice.
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.
- 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.
