Video: unwrapping and breaking down the cake
This 357g cake is DaYi's "Xiao Long Zhu" (Small Dragon Pillar), a ripe (shou) puerh from 2022.
Tea Profile
At a glance: 2022 · Ripe (shou/shu) puerh · 357g cake · high-grade leaf · Menghai Tea Factory · 1st batch
- Compression & dry leaf: This tea is sold as a 357g cake. Look for visible buds and an even, dark fermentation in the dry leaf.
- Liquor: The liquor is red, clear, with a thick look.
- Taste: From the first steep the taste is mellow. As the session goes on, it shows hints of lotus and a rich profile.
- Mouthfeel & body: In the mouth it feels thick, smooth and silky.
- Aftertaste: A gentle sweetness usually stays after each cup.
- Best for: improving your tea experience, especially if you already know a few ripe puerh teas and want to taste more closely.
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.
- Small dark specks: naturally stored puerh can develop tiny dark specks on its wrapper or edges. They are harmless and brush off easily before brewing.
- 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.
