2026 Yunnan Sourcing "Black Tortoise" Agarwood Leaf & Ripe Pu-erh Tea Cake
A deeply unique blend of old tree ripe pu-erh tea from Lao Man'e Village and agarwood leaf tea (Aquilaria Sinensis) from Menghai, pressed into a cake that is as evocative as its wrapper art. The cover features the Black Tortoise (玄武), symbol of depth, endurance, stillness, and mysterious northern energy, a fitting emblem for a tea with such dark, grounding character.
This blend brings together two very distinctive materials. Lao Man'e ripe pu-erh contributes thickness, strength, bittersweet depth, and the unmistakable power for which Lao Man'e is famous. The agarwood leaves broaden and soften that profile, adding a resinous herbal sweetness, a cooling woody perfume, and a calm, contemplative feeling in the mouth and body. The result is rich and smooth, with notes of dark wood, cacao, forest herbs, and subtle incense-like aromatics.
The brewed liquor is deep and dark, with a thick brown/burgundy hue, and a satisfying thickness and long-lasting finish. The cup begins with a dark bittersweet richness, then opens into woody-resinous sweetness and a gentle medicinal-herbal complexity that lingers in the throat and chest. This is an especially enjoyable tea for when you want something steadying, aromatic, and different from an everyday ripe.
Tasting Notes
Aroma: Old wood, forest herbs, resin, dark cacao, light incense
Liquor: Deep and dark, with a thick brown/burgundy hue.
Flavor: Bittersweet chocolate, aged wood, resinous herb notes, forest floor, returning sweetness
Mouthfeel: Smooth, coating, grounding, and persistent
Cha Qi: Steady, warming, calming, and centering
Origin & Composition
Lao Man'e Village old tree ripe pu-erh tea (Bulang) blended with Agarwood leaf tea (Aquilaria sinensis) from Menghun (also Bulang area).
Brewing Guide
Gong Fu Brewing
- 6-7 grams per 100 ml
- 100°C water
- Quick rinse recommended
- Infuse 8-12 seconds for the first several steeps, increasing gradually
Western Brewing
- 4-5 grams per 250-300 ml
- 95-100°C water
- Steep 2-3 minutes
- Re-steep 2-3 times
Thermos style
- 1–1.5 grams per 100 ml
- Use boiling water and steep for 30-60 minutes
About the Wrapper Art (by Anna Malec)
The wrapper features Xuan Wu (玄武), the Black Tortoise, one of the Four Symbols of Chinese cosmology. Associated with the north, winter, depth, and endurance, the Black Tortoise reflects this tea’s dark, steady, and introspective nature beautifully.
Storage & Aging
Store in 50-65% RH and 70-90F, in an odor-free area, with minimal airflow.
While this tea is enjoyable now, it should continue to settle and integrate with time, with the woody-resinous notes becoming even more harmonious as the cake rests.
In Summary
A distinctive and atmospheric blend of Lao Man'e old tree ripe pu-erh and Xishuangbanna agarwood leaf tea, offering a cup that is thick, bittersweet, woody, resinous, and deeply calming. This is an excellent choice for drinkers who enjoy ripe pu-erh with strong character, but want something more unusual, contemplative, and aromatically layered.
- Name: 2026 Yunnan Sourcing "Black Tortoise" Agarwood Leaf & Ripe Pu-erh Tea Cake
- Region: Lao Man'e Village in Menghai (Ripe Pu-erh Tea) and Menghun in Menghai (Agarwood Leaf)
- Ripe Pu-erh Tea Harvest year: Spring 2025
- Wet pile: 2025
- Pressing date: February 26th, 2026
- Net weight: 250 grams per cake
- Total production: 100 kilograms (400 cakes)
- Packaging Design: Anna Malec
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.
