Watch the video: unwrapping and breaking down this tea
Made from old-tree (gu shu) leaf grown in Na Ka village in Meng Song, an area known for Meng Hai-style strength, with marked bitterness and a strong hui gan. Old-tree (gu shu) leaf is what sets the "Zhen Cang Kong Que" apart: it typically brews thicker and lasts longer than plantation leaf. At this age, Na Ka village sheng is often starting to soften, though storage plays a part. XiaGuan's 2017 "Zhen Cang Kong Que" (Peacock - Naka Old Tree) comes as a 357g cake of sheng (raw) puerh.
Tea Profile
At a glance: 2017 · Sheng (raw) puerh · 357g cake · XiaGuan Tea Factory
- Compression & dry leaf: It is pressed into a 357g cake.
- Liquor: It brews a clear, bright, golden liquor.
- Taste: The first infusions are soft. The middle infusions are sweet.
- Mouthfeel & body: The body comes across as smooth and soft.
- Aftertaste: After each sip there is a quick, clear hui gan 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: 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.
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.
