Nan Nuo in Meng Hai is known for the balanced side of Meng Hai, sweet and fragrant with only a light, passing bitterness; this tea is made from its leaf. Still young, Nan Nuo sheng like this usually shows its character plainly. From ChenShengHao — a 2018 sheng (raw) puerh cake in the Nan Nuo Da Shu line.
Tea Profile
At a glance: 2018 · Sheng (raw) puerh · 357g cake · ChenShengHao Tea Factory
- Compression & dry leaf: Tightly pressed, it comes as a 357g cake. The leaf itself shows neat, tight threads and visible buds.
- Liquor: The liquor is golden yellow, as is usual for young sheng.
- Taste: The first steeps are fresh, with only a light bitterness and slight astringency. Once the leaf opens up, expect honey and sugarcane over a floral background in a sweet and balanced cup. It rewards paying attention across a longer session.
- Mouthfeel & body: The texture is thick and smooth.
- Aftertaste: The aftertaste brings a returning sweetness (hui gan), easy salivation and a long finish.
- Best for: improving your tea experience — worth reaching for once you have moved past being a newcomer.
Brewing Guide
Water: rolling boil, 100°C (212°F).
- Rinse teaware with hot water; use roughly 5g of tea for each 100ml of vessel.
- Give the leaves one quick rinse, then cover and rest about 10 minutes to wake them up.
- Begin with 10–15 second steeps, lengthening each by about 5 seconds.
- Decant fully into a sharing pitcher each time.
- Enjoy — good sheng keeps giving for many infusions.
Use this as a starting point, not a fixed formula. Play with pour height and speed, and notice how the tea answers in different weather and seasons. Learning to brew one tea well anywhere, anytime is the real craft.
Storage
Store in a cool, dry place with gentle airflow, out of direct light and away from strong smells such as cooking spices or smoke. If you plan to age it for years, breathable paper or clay storage suits puerh better than airtight 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.
