Lao Ban Zhang in the Bu Lang range is known for a powerful, bitter-forward character that resolves fast into deep, long-lasting sweetness; this tea is made from its leaf. It has had many years of natural storage in Guangzhou; tea like this may become rounder and more mellow, though results vary. This 357g cake is XingHai's "Lao Ban Zhang" (Old Banzhang), a sheng (raw) puerh from 2006.
Tea Profile
At a glance: 2006 · Sheng (raw) puerh · 357g cake · XingHai Tea Factory
- Compression & dry leaf: The tea comes as a 357g cake.
- Liquor: The liquor is typically amber to orange-amber for sheng of this age.
- Taste: It opens soft, with only a light bitterness, balanced by a natural sweetness. The middle steeps bring out an aged character, with a sweet taste. Each round shows a slightly different side of it.
- Mouthfeel & body: The body comes across as smooth and soft.
- Aftertaste: It leaves a strong hui gan, salivation (sheng jin) and a long finish.
- Best for: improving your tea experience — worth reaching for once you have moved past being a drinker new to puerh.
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.
