De Fu — “lucky” — is DaYi's pocket-sized blessing: a 100g brick of ripe. This is the 2016 first batch.
Tea Profile
At a glance: 2016 · Ripe (shou/shu) puerh · 100g brick · Menghai Tea Factory · 1st batch
- Compression & dry leaf: It is pressed into a 100g brick. Look for an even, dark fermentation in the dry leaf.
- Liquor: It brews a red liquor, with a thick look.
- Taste: The first infusions are mellow and soft. Once the leaf opens up, expect hints of caramel in a rich and balanced cup. The flavor shifts a little from steep to steep.
- Mouthfeel & body: In the mouth it feels thick, smooth and soft.
- Aftertaste: After each sip there is plenty of salivation and a long finish.
- Best for: everyday drinking at home or at work; newcomers will find it approachable.
Brewing Guide
- Water: fully boiling, 100°C (212°F).
- How to brew:
- Add around 5g of tea for every 100ml.
- Give the leaves two quick rinses — cover with boiling water for about 5 seconds and discard. Then put the lid on and leave the leaves to open up for about 10 minutes.
- Start with 10–15 second steeps, lengthening by about 5 seconds each round.
- Pour the liquor into a sharing pitcher.
- Serve and resteep — ripe puerh goes many rounds.
- Think of this as a starting point rather than a rigid method. Try pouring high or low, fast or slow, and adapt to the season until it suits you. Brewing one tea at its best in any year, season, weather or place is a skill built over time — and that is the real goal.
Storage
Keep it in a ventilated, cool, dry spot, shielded from sunlight and strong odors (cooking spices, cigarette smoke). If you plan to age it long-term, paper or clay containers breathe better than airtight plastic.
A Note on Appearance
Not all cakes develop these — the chances simply rise with longer 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 spotting can occur from natural tea oils. This is not a flaw.
- Torn wrapper: minor tears or holes in the cotton wrapper sometimes happen in storage and transit. The tea itself is unaffected.
