Its leaf was grown in Nan Nuo in Meng Hai, a region associated with the balanced side of Meng Hai, sweet and fragrant with only a light, passing bitterness. At this age, Nan Nuo sheng is often starting to soften, though storage plays a part. From ChenShengHao — a 2014 sheng (raw) puerh brick in the Nan Nuo Shan line.
Tea Profile
At a glance: 2014 · Sheng (raw) puerh · 250g brick · ChenShengHao Tea Factory
- Compression & dry leaf: The leaf is tightly compressed into a 250g brick. Breaking it open reveals neat, tight threads and visible buds.
- Liquor: In the cup it is typically golden to amber at this stage.
- Taste: The first steeps bring only a light bitterness and slight astringency, balanced by a natural sweetness. Through the middle infusions, honey and sugarcane comes forward over a floral background, with a sweet and balanced base. New details keep appearing in the later steeps.
- Mouthfeel & body: On the palate it is thick and smooth.
- Aftertaste: It leaves a strong hui gan, easy salivation and a long finish.
- Best for: everyday drinking, and easy for novices to brew.
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.
- 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.
