From XiaGuan — a 2004 sheng (raw) puerh brick in the Fang Cha line.
Tea Profile
At a glance: 2004 · Sheng (raw) puerh · 200g brick · XiaGuan Tea Factory
- Compression & dry leaf: The leaf is tightly compressed into a 200g brick. Look for neat, tight threads and some stems in the dry leaf.
- Liquor: Expect a clear, bright liquor, typically amber to orange-amber for sheng of this age.
- Taste: It opens fresh, with a strong bitterness and marked astringency, balanced by a natural sweetness. The middle steeps bring out honey over a smoky background, with a sweet and balanced taste. Its layers unfold gradually over the session.
- Mouthfeel & body: On the palate it is smooth.
- Aftertaste: Look for a returning sweetness (hui gan) and a long finish after each cup.
- Best for: improving your tea experience. Take your time with it — a good choice once you are no longer a beginner.
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 brick 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.
