This 250g tuo is XiaGuan's "Xiao Fa", a ripe (shou) puerh from 2017.
Tea Profile
At a glance: 2017 · Ripe (shou/shu) puerh · 250g tuo · XiaGuan Tea Factory
- Compression & dry leaf: This is a 250g tuo with a firm, tight compression. Look for neat, tight threads and an even, dark fermentation in the dry leaf.
- Liquor: It brews a clear, bright, deep-red liquor.
- Taste: It opens mellow and soft from the first steep.
- Mouthfeel & body: In the mouth it feels thick, smooth and soft.
- Aftertaste: Swallow and you notice a long finish.
- Best for: everyday drinking in relaxed daily sessions, and a good pick for novices.
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 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.
