Overview:
- Year: 2004
- Type: Puerh Sheng Cha (Raw Tea)
- Weight: 357g
- Series: Song He Tie Bing (Pine & Crane Iron Cake)
Description: The 2004 XiaGuan "Song He Tie Bing" is a special variation within the renowned 8653 series, characterized by its distinct packaging featuring the Pine tree and Crane, both symbols of longevity in Chinese culture. This iron cake is crafted using the same recipe as the classic 8653 series, ensuring a consistent and high-quality tea experience.
Characteristics:
-
Tea Materials:
- Selection: Uses the same blend recipe as the 8653 series, utilizing 5th grade tea materials, known for their robustness and quality.
- Appearance: The cake is composed of strong and tight tea threads, exhibiting neatness and clarity.
-
Flavor Profile:
- Fragrance: Thick and lingering fragrance, with a noticeable aged honey-like flavor that becomes more pronounced with time.
- Taste: The tea offers a thick, mellow, and rich taste. The flavor is well-integrated into the water, providing a refreshing experience.
- Texture: The tea has a robust body, with a thick and smooth mouthfeel.
- Aftertaste: The Huigan (returning sweetness) is long-lasting, leaving a pleasant and enduring sweetness in the mouth.
- Storage: Naturally stored in Guangzhou, which contributes to the tea’s maturation and flavor development.
Historical Context:
- 8653 Series: The 8653 series is a benchmark sheng Puerh in the market, originally produced in 1985 for a Japanese buyer. The order was later canceled, and the tea was sold domestically in China. The blend recipe was officially named in 1988, indicating its creation in 1986, using 5th grade tea materials, with XiaGuan being the No. 3 factory in the CNNP group.
Variations of 8653:
- General 8653: Standard version using the original blend.
- T 8653: Iron cake version, very hard-pressed, preserving the original fragrance and developing unique flavors over time.
- FT 8653: Ordered by Fei Tai tea company, sold in Taiwan, using younger and tinier tea leaves for a less rough taste.
- FTT 8653: Iron cake ordered by Fei Tai tea company, combining the qualities of the iron cake with the refined taste of younger leaves.
Conclusion: The 2004 XiaGuan "Song He Tie Bing" is a distinguished iron cake that offers a rich and immersive tea experience. Its strong and neat tea threads, thick and lingering fragrance, and well-balanced flavor profile make it a standout choice for Puerh tea enthusiasts. The symbolic packaging adds a cultural touch, celebrating the themes of longevity and tradition. Naturally stored in Guangzhou, this tea continues to mature gracefully, enhancing its depth and complexity over time.