A single-estate ripe pu-erh made entirely from He Kai village tea leaves harvested in 2025 and wet-piled in late 2025, then pressed in 2026 into 357 gram cakes. Each cake comes in a matching gift box.

He Kai is one of the great tea-growing areas of Menghai County, located not far from Bulang Mountain but possessing a character all its own. The area is known for its high elevation, healthy old tea gardens, and a balanced profile that often bridges strength and elegance. In raw form, He Kai teas are prized for their lively energy, sweetness, and structure; in ripe form, that same material transforms into something thick, grounding, and deeply satisfying while still retaining a clear sense of origin.

Why it’s special

• Single-estate He Kai material, something much less common in ripe pu-erh than blended factory-style productions
• Harvested from one of Menghai’s most respected tea regions, giving the tea a distinct regional identity
• Thick, rich, and substantial, but with a sweetness and clarity that keep it from feeling heavy or muddy
• Pressed young, with excellent potential to settle and improve over time

About He Kai Village

He Kai sits in the greater Menghai tea-growing zone and has earned a reputation for producing teas with strong body, good cha qi, and a sweet, lingering finish. Compared with some neighboring areas, He Kai often shows a little more refinement and openness in the cup, with bitterness and strength balanced by returning sweetness and a more graceful texture.

That is what makes a single-estate ripe from He Kai so interesting. Rather than blending away the character of the leaf, this tea allows the He Kai material to speak clearly even after fermentation. You get the dark, comforting richness of shou pu-erh, but with more personality, more structure, and a more specific sense of place than a generic ripe blend.

Tasting notes

• Aroma: cocoa, warm wood, dark sugar, hints of dried fruit
• Liquor: deep reddish-brown, glossy, and thick
• Flavor: rich and smooth with dark chocolate bitterness, date-like sweetness, earthy depth, and a gentle herbal edge
• Mouthfeel: dense, coating, and substantial without becoming murky or rough
• Finish & feel: quick returning sweetness, lingering mouthfeel, and a steady warming cha qi

Origin & processing

• Area: He Kai village, Menghai County, Xishuangbanna
• Harvest: 2025
• Wet pile: late 2025
• Pressing: 2026
• Type: Ripe Pu-erh tea cake
• Weight: 357 grams per cake
• Packaging: matching gift box included

Brewing guide

Gongfu (recommended)

• 6–7 grams per 100 ml
• 100 °C
• Two quick rinses recommended, especially in 2026
• Start with 8–10 second infusions and lengthen gradually
• Expect 8–10 infusions with strong, even character

Western

• 4–5 grams per 300 ml
• 100 °C for 3–4 minutes
• Re-steep 2–3 times

Thermos style

• 1–1.5 grams per 100 ml
• Use boiling water and steep for 30-60 minutes

Aging notes

As a very young ripe, this tea may show some fresh fermentation character during 2026, especially in the earlier part of the year. That will gradually fade, allowing the deeper sweetness, texture, and He Kai character to come more clearly into focus. Store in 50-65% RH and 70-90F, in an odor-free area, with minimal airflow.

In Summary

• Name: 2026 Yunnan Sourcing “He Kai Village” Ripe Pu-erh Tea Cake
• Region: He Kai village, Menghai County
• Harvest year: 2025
• Wet pile: late 2025
• Pressing year: 2026
• Net weight: 357 grams per cake
• Packaging: matching gift box included

In short: this is a rare chance to experience a single-estate He Kai ripe, thick, chocolatey, warming, and full of regional character, with the depth to drink now and the structure to become even more compelling as it ages. Our only other He Kai ripe was pressed in 2019, so it's not often that we are able to press He Kai ripe Pu-erh!

Each cake comes in a free matching gift box that features the full uncropped illustration by the artist. The matching gift box is not available for purchase separately. NOTE: If the gift box arrives with creases or cosmetic blemishes we cannot provide a free replacement.

This tea has been tested in a certified laboratory for 404 pesticides, and is within the EU MRL limits set for those 404 pesticide residues. For a full list of the 404 pesticides we tested for and more information about MRL testing and the EU Food and Safety commission click on this link.