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2022 Yunnan Sourcing "Lao Cha Tou" Ripe Pu-erh Tea Brick

Sold out
Original price $8.50 - Original price $47.25
Original price
$8.50
$8.50 - $47.25
Current price $8.50

Cha Tou is a kind of tea nugget that forms naturally from the pressures of compression and heat that occurs during the fermentation process. Typically during the fermentation process to make ripe pu-erh there is a pile of tea about 1 meter high. It is kept wet to allow the fermentation process and the pile is turned every few days to allow for an even degree of fermentation, moving the tea from the bottom of the pile (where it is hotter and wetter) to the top of the pile where it is cooler and drier. The "Cha Tou" are the leaves that ball up and get stuck together. The best Cha Tou are ones that have not been over-fermented and are smaller in size.

Our "Lao Cha Tou" brick is composed of a wet pile batch that was produced in Jinggu from a blend of Jinggu and Mengku harvested tea leaves in 2015. These two different source regions blended together makes for a nice full mouth-feel. Smooth, but with a lingering mouth-feel and cha qi. An excellent ripe tea that can be brewed many times and still retain an engaging flavor!

125 kilos in total were produced.

Net Weight: 250 grams per brick

 

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.

Overall rating: 4.6666665 / 5 from 9 reviews.

AI Generated Review Summary

Summary topics

Review topics: ["smell","aroma","tea"].

Review highlights

Reviews

2 smooth

"Very smooth , very drinkable"

Charles P. (5/5)

Best

"This was one of the best ripes ever. One of the most creamy and milky. Obvious why it sold out so quick."

Thibaud (5/5)

Fishy scent

"Got this as part of the Next Steps sampler and it was my first shou pu'er (so this review is definitely from a newcomer's perspective). I was ready for different fermenty flavors, but immediately after adding water all I could smell was fish. Gave it two washes and it mellowed enough to try a sip, and I could tell there were flavors I might like underneath, but I couldn't get through the smell, even after another wash or two. Not sure if that kind of aroma is normal or even desired, but for me it was enough to really not enjoy this tea."

Andy (2/5)

delicious!!

"got this in the next steps sampler pack and i'm pleasantly surprised! was initially worried when there was a fishy aroma on the first steep but it definitely tastes better than how it smells, very smooth sip as well as a very tasty fruity vanilla flavor that definitely gets more complex with multiple steeps. would definitely like to have a full sized brick at some point."

Juan M. (5/5)

Yum

"Bought with other samples. This one is going fast, and not just because of its price. Very good. Very drinkable. Warming and uplifting on cold windy days."

Keith S. (5/5)

Vanilla Pound Cake and Sugar Berries

"Wet leaf smells of vanilla pound cake and berries, the taste is that of what I might describe as sugar berries. I am a fan of sweet shou and I don't think you could pull any bitterness out of this if you tried. Probably the sweetest shu/shou I have drank, tastes incredibly clean, and produces a thick brew. I am huge fan of this and will probably be buying more."

David S. (5/5)

Amazing, and sweet.

"Amazing, and sweet."

Marcus Y. (5/5)

Fabulous

"I liked this tea so much I ordered two bricks. These "Lao Cha Tuos" seem to be very potent indeed, sitting as the do at the bottom of the pile, soaking up the vital life forces of the whole pile. YUM! . Even with an initial 4 minute infusion time it re-infuses exceptionally well. Thank you, Scott!"

Frank M. (5/5)

Star lao cha tou

"This is the best lao cha tou I've had. Its incredibly deep and almost milky. So earthy and luxurious."

Keelan M. (5/5)

Q&A

Just a quick question for my understanding about the year: in the title it is 2022 (i assume the brick was pressed?). But in the description the leaves are 2015. So when it was wet piled and when the cha tou were formed? Btw, the tea is delicious! Unbelievably smooth
It was wet piled at the end of 2015, then pressed in 2022. Thanks!
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