Old-tree (gu shu) leaf is what sets the "Meng Ku" apart: it typically brews thicker and lasts longer than plantation leaf. Still young, sheng like this usually shows its character plainly. From XiaGuan — a 2025 sheng (raw) puerh tuo in the Meng Ku - Xi Ban Shan - Gu Shu - Long Zhu line.
Tea Profile
At a glance: 2025 · Sheng (raw) puerh · 96g tuo · XiaGuan Tea Factory
- Compression & dry leaf: This is a 96g tuo with a firm, tight compression. In the dry leaf you can see neat, tight threads.
- Liquor: The infusion pours clear, bright and golden yellow.
- Taste: From the first steep the taste is mellow. The middle steeps bring out notes of honey, with a sweet and balanced taste.
- Mouthfeel & body: The texture is smooth, rounded and mellow.
- Aftertaste: Swallow and you notice a strong hui gan, plenty of salivation and a long finish.
- Best for: everyday drinking in relaxed daily sessions, and a good pick for first-time puerh 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 tuo 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.
