Watch the video: unwrapping and breaking down this tea
XiaGuan's 2006 "T8653" comes as a 357g cake of sheng (raw) puerh.
Tea Profile
At a glance: 2006 · Sheng (raw) puerh · 357g cake · XiaGuan Tea Factory
- Compression & dry leaf: The tea comes as a 357g cake, tightly pressed. The leaf itself shows neat, tight threads.
- Liquor: Expect a clear, bright liquor, typically amber to orange-amber for sheng of this age.
- Taste: On entry there is some bitterness and some astringency, balanced by a natural sweetness. Through the middle infusions it shows a smoky character over a sweet and balanced base. The flavor shifts a little from steep to steep.
- Mouthfeel & body: In the mouth it feels thick and mellow.
- Aftertaste: The finish should bring a little returning sweetness (hui gan).
- Best for: everyday drinking without fuss. Suitable for first-time puerh drinkers as well as regular sheng drinkers.
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.
