2012 250g Shou Puerh Brick
Translation: Pu-erh is a town in Yunnan Provence. The word shou mean “cooked” and 2012 is the year of production
Region: Yunnan Province (Xishuangbanna)
Harvest season: April
Cultivar: “one-bud-two-leaves”, spring, This Pu-erh tea, produce through accelerated fermentation, has been aged since its production in 2012. It is produced by Menghai XiangShan Tea-Production Co. Xishuangbanna Yunnan China. It was produced from leaves picked from large and sun-dried Shaiqinmao tea leaves. The broad leaves have been compressed into brick.
Appearance & Taste
This Pu erh tea brick uses the spring tea leaves plucked from ancient tea trees located inside the primitive deep mountain as raw materials, which brings its pure and natural nature. The taste of the tea is fresh and mellow, with an earthy, woody and floral flavour. It has a very strong, impressive, sweet and lingering aftertaste. Aged for more than seven years, it also has a very special and rich “Chen” fragrance. The tea is clear and has an amber colour.
Brewing Guide
For simple glass vessel/teapot brewing:
You can brew fewer tea leaves with more hot water for a longer brewing time. Use 2 teaspoons of the tea for 125ml teacup, 4 teaspoons for 250ml glass, or 8 teaspoons for 500ml teapot. Using 100°C hot water to infuse tea leaves for around 3-4 minutes. Re-steep for around 6-7 times. Adjust it according to personal taste.
For Gongfu Style: (Recommend using (Yixing) Clay Teapot and Gaiwan)
-Detailed processes:
- Warm the Gaiwan/tiny teapot with hot water; discard the water afterward
- Add 1g Pu’er tea for every 50ml of water (recommend 7g-10g tea leaves, adjust by personal taste)
- Pour hot water (100 °C) into the clay teapot / Gaiwan, tilt it, slowly rotating it two times and quickly discard the water (this step is for waking up tea leaves and stimulating the special aroma of the Pu’er tea)
- Refill clay teapot/Gaiwan with hot water
- Infuse tea for around 10s – 20s for the first brew, extending extra 20s infusion time for the following brew
- Pour the steeped tea into a serving cup and divided into small teacups and serve
Repeat 8-15 times depends on personal taste
My interest in tea is old, but not well exercised. Ordering tea outside of home was a total unknown, but a couple of years ago a trusted friend suggested I try jasmine tea (good quality loose) as a morning sipper and I began paying much more attention. The Pu-erh was an impulse buy, and a lucky one at that. Smells different than it tastes, and tastes both earthy and natural at the same time, a great combination. I'm pretty sure it has found a permanent spot in my cupboard of teas!
