Here is "Nan Zhao Yu Bing" (Nanzhao Royal Cake) from XiaGuan, a 2008 sheng (raw) puerh in a 500g cake.
Tea Profile
At a glance: 2008 · Sheng (raw) puerh · 500g cake · XiaGuan Tea Factory
- Compression & dry leaf: This tea is sold as a 500g cake.
- Liquor: In the cup it is typically amber to orange-amber for sheng of this age.
- Taste: It opens mellow from the first steep. Once the leaf opens up, expect honey over a smoky background in a sweet and rich cup. It rewards paying attention across a longer session.
- Mouthfeel & body: In the mouth it feels thick and mellow.
- Aftertaste: Look for a returning sweetness (hui gan), salivation (sheng jin) and a long finish after each cup.
- Best for: improving your tea experience. Brew it attentively and follow how it changes; a natural step up for a novice who wants to go further.
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.
