This ripe puerh is a blend led by leaf from Lao Man E in the Bu Lang range, with Ban Zhang, and the Lao Man E leaf brings more strength and depth than usual, thick, layered and long-lasting. With storage, ripe puerh often becomes smoother and cleaner, though results vary. From Lao Man E — a 2007 ripe (shou/shu) puerh cake in the Ban Zhang · Fu Xi Wang line.
Tea Profile
At a glance: 2007 · Ripe (shou/shu) puerh · 350g cake · Lao Man E
- Compression & dry leaf: The tea comes as a 350g cake, tightly pressed. Look for visible buds and some stems in the dry leaf.
- Liquor: Expect a clear, bright, reddish-brown to bright-red cup.
- Taste: It opens mellow, with only a light bitterness, balanced by a natural sweetness. Through the middle infusions, woody notes come forward over a sweet and balanced base.
- Mouthfeel & body: Expect a thick, full-bodied, smooth mouthfeel.
- Aftertaste: The aftertaste brings a lingering sweetness.
- Best for: everyday drinking: an uncomplicated cup that first-time puerh drinkers can brew with confidence.
Brewing Guide
Water: fully boiling, 100°C (212°F).
- Warm the pot and cups, then add about 5g of leaf per 100ml.
- Rinse twice with boiling water, then cover and let the leaves rest 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. Ripe 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.
