2025 Yunnan Sourcing "Peerless Gold Label" Ripe Pu-erh Tea Cake
Introducing the 2025 Peerless Gold Label, a small-batch blend built from rare, mature-tree leaf (picked in a natural, low-input environment), crafted first as mao cha, then wet-piled (wo dui) in a Menghai-area factory. Pressed into classic 357 g cakes with artwork by Benjamin Denkert, this is a balanced yet robust shou that layers dark-chocolate bitterness into a pungent, sweet aftertaste. The liquor is viscous and soupy, with tons of character from the first pour to the last.
This year we made two Peerless blends!
- Gold Label: more dark-chocolate drive with a sweet after-finish.
- Red Label: a touch less bitter, with a thick, sweet fruit counterpoint.
Both are designed to deepen in complexity as they age.
Why it’s special
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Mature-tree blend: Leaf from older gardens delivers natural sweetness, density, and stamina in the cup.
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Menghai wet-piling: Classic technique for a clean, plush shou profile with satisfying body.
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Flavor architecture: Bitter-sweet cacao core balanced by a lively, pungent sweetness and a stimulating mouthfeel.
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Ages beautifully: Structured now; built to improve and round out over the next several years.
Tasting notes
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Aroma: Cocoa powder, damp wood, brown sugar, a hint of camphor.
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Liquor: Deep mahogany; thick, soupy texture with a smooth glide.
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Flavor: Dark chocolate and roasted barley up front; molasses and jujube sweetness rise mid-cup; faint cedar/camphor coolness.
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Finish & feel: Pungent, sweet aftertaste with a gentle cooling lift; steady, “awake but calm” energy.
Origin & processing
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Blend concept: Rare/unique lots from mature trees, blended for balance and depth
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Primary craft: Mao cha → wet-piled (wo dui) in the Menghai area → rested → pressed (2025)
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Form: 357 g tea cake
Brewing guide
(Shou likes heat, don’t be shy. Great water helps.)
Gongfu (recommended)
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6–7 g / 100 mL
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Boiling (100 °C / 212 °F)
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Two quick rinses (fast in–out), then 10s • 12s • 15s • 20s • 25s…
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8–12 infusions. Expect cacao/bitter-sweet density early; syrupy sweetness and gentle camphor later.
Western
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4–5 g / 300 mL (10 oz)
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96–100 °C • 3–4 min
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2–3 infusions, adding 30–45s each round.
Grandpa style
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1.2–1.6 g / 100 mL, 95–100 °C • 30-60 min
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No rinses; top up as you sip. Plush, chocolatey comfort cup.
Iced / flash-chill
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Brew western a bit stronger, then pour over ice. Smooth cocoa-sweet, zero bite.
Pairing & occasions
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Perfect with dark chocolate (70–80%), roasted nuts, shortbread, or dried figs.
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A cozy nightcap or after-meal cup; great side-by-side with the Peerless Red Label to compare blend intent.
In Summary
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Caffeine: Medium-High
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Storage & aging: Store cool, dry, odor-free, away from light; allow gentle airflow. Over 3–10+ years, look for rounder sweetness, silkier texture, and integrated cacao/wood notes.
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Name: 2025 “Peerless Gold Label” Ripe Pu-erh (Shou)
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Process: Mao cha → wo dui (wet-piled) in Menghai area → pressed (2025)
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Profile: Dark-chocolate bitterness • pungent sweet finish • viscous body
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Net weight: 357 g per cake
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Wrapper: Benjamin Denkert
In short: A robust yet balanced shou with a dark-chocolate core, lively sweet aftertaste, and richly soupy body, ready to drink now and set to gain polish and complexity with time.
Here's a list of the previously released Peerless pressings:
- 2020 Yunnan Sourcing "Peerless" Ripe Pu-erh Tea Cake
- 2020 Yunnan Sourcing "Bronze Label Peerless" Ripe Pu-erh Tea Cake
- 2021 Yunnan Sourcing "Peerless Red Label" Ripe Pu-erh Tea Cake
- 2022 Yunnan Sourcing "Peerless" Ripe Pu-erh Tea Cake
- 2023 Yunnan Sourcing "Peerless" Ripe Pu-erh Tea Cake
- 2024 Yunnan Sourcing "Peerless" Ripe Pu-erh Tea Cake
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.