{"title":"Dark Tea","description":"Chinese dark teas (commonly called black tea in China), these teas all undergo some form of natural fermentation, and are all very unique based on their region of origin.  Here you will find all our fermented, semi-fermented, and can-be-fermented teas!","products":[{"product_id":"2019-anhua-heicha-dragonball","title":"2019 Wild Harvest Anhua Heicha","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTea:\u003c\/strong\u003e 2019 Anhua Heicha Longzhu  (安化黑茶\u003cmeta charset=\"UTF-8\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e龙珠\u003c\/span\u003e） \u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eType: \u003c\/strong\u003eHuangye Anhua Heicha 荒野安化黑茶\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFermentation Level\u003c\/strong\u003e: Medium\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHarvest:\u003c\/strong\u003e Spring 2019\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePress Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e Summer 2019\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePress Size\u003c\/strong\u003e: ~6g balls\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRegion: \u003c\/strong\u003eDafu Village, Anhua, Yiyang, Hunan\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProducer:\u003c\/strong\u003e Mrs. Huang\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTasting Notes: \u003c\/strong\u003eCracked Black Pepper, Pine Sap, Spinach, Camphore, Honey\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eIntroduced to us by a Tujia Minority mutual friend, Mrs. Huang with her small village factory, Xianle, is reinventing high-quality Anhua Heicha.  While nearly all of Anhua Heicha production is being carried out by mega-factories and huge companies, Mrs. Huang represents the small minority doing things the old-fashioned way.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eHer mountain is in Dafu Village of Anhua, Hunan, and the tea she harvests comes from hidden groves within, all of which have been nearly forgotten and left to grow wild.  This tea is the careful production of a small team, and the attention to cleanliness, quality, and detail is unparalleled in anything we have seen in Anhua thus far.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eWhen the dragonball is placed into the warmed gaiwan, we are greeted with the sharp spice of freshly cracked black pepper backed by something richly vegetal.  The medium to light fermentation can be seen immediately after the first rinse, the green leaves give off a deeply umami aroma of pinesap and cedar wood.  The resinous wood fragrance of the leaves persists through the entire session, perfuming the tea table every time we lift the lid to add more water.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eThis tea brews up a deep viscous gold, and is incredibly thick and pleasant on the tongue.  After only a few infusions it can produce a profound huigan, and lingers in the back of the throat.  The infusions ride an interesting line between deeply earthy textures of wood, leather, and tobacco and a greener side of vegetal notes, such as spinach and nettle.  While this tea is pleasantly soft when brewed fast, it has the power to become strong and slightly astringent if it is overstepped.  This slight astringent edge is both reason for the deep huigan, and a characteristic of Anhua Heicha.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eWe tend to give this tea a double rinse, just to give the dragonball enough time to open up and brew more evenly.  We hope to visit Mrs. Huang in the mountains of Anhua next year, so stay tuned for more information about her small village factory!\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"One River Tea","offers":[{"title":"Single (~6g)","offer_id":43675893170410,"sku":"","price":2.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Set of 5 (~30g)","offer_id":43675893137642,"sku":"","price":10.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0007\/9681\/9516\/products\/wrappedclean.png?v=1666753740"},{"product_id":"2017-wild-harvest-anhua-heicha","title":"Wild Fuzhuan Anhua Heicha | 2017","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTea:\u003c\/strong\u003e 2017 Anhua Heicha (安化黑茶） \u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eType: \u003c\/strong\u003eHuangye Fuzhuan Anhua Heicha 荒野茯砖安化黑茶\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFermentation Level\u003c\/strong\u003e: Medium\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHarvest:\u003c\/strong\u003e Spring 2017\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePress Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e Summer 2017\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePress Size\u003c\/strong\u003e: 780g\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRegion: \u003c\/strong\u003eGaoma Teroir Region, Anhua County.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProducer:\u003c\/strong\u003e Mrs. Huang\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTasting Notes: \u003c\/strong\u003eCedar Wood, Sea Salt, Honey Smoked Ham, Fresh Sage, Pine Sap\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eIntroduced to us by a Tujia Minority mutual friend, Mrs. Huang with her small village factory, Xianle, is reinventing high-quality Anhua Heicha.  While nearly all of Anhua Heicha production is being carried out by mega-factories and huge companies, Mrs. Huang represents the small minority doing things the old-fashioned way.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eHer mountain is in Dafu Village of Anhua, Hunan, and the tea she harvests comes from hidden groves within, all of which have been nearly forgotten and left to grow wild.  This tea is the careful production of a small team, and the attention to cleanliness, quality, and detail is unparalleled in anything we have seen in Anhua thus far.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eAdditionally, this tea brick is pressed rather loosely by Anhua Heicha standards, making the breaking up of leaves very easy to do and preserve whole leaf sessions.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs soon as the dry leaves are placed in a warm gaiwan, they begin to exude an interesting fragrance of sea salt and cedar wood.  This transforms to something much more savory like honey smoked ham when rinsed with boiling water.  When brewed in a gaiwan as we tend to do, the liquor is a rich amber very fragrant yet surprisingly smooth and clean on the tongue.  There isn't much astringancy as we have encountered with other Anhua Heicha teas.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe liquor is sweet with a complex mineral mouthfeel.  Although it is only 7 years old (young for Anhua Heicha) it is remarkably mellow and smooth.  The first half of the session is dominated by strong brews that are full in the mouth, enlivening to the palate, and leaving a tingling sensation on the tongue.  This calms down as the flavor of the leaves shine through the fermented process and becomes much more vegetal and sweet towards the end of the session, though the\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e resinous wood fragrance of the leaves persists through the entire session, perfuming the tea table every time we lift the lid to add more water.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe leaves lose some of their meaty notes and the fragrances transform into something more akin to incense and camphor as the session progresses.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"One River Tea","offers":[{"title":"~50g Chunk","offer_id":44300142936298,"sku":"","price":17.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"~100g Chunk","offer_id":44300145033450,"sku":"","price":30.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Full Brick (790g)","offer_id":44300142969066,"sku":"","price":196.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0007\/9681\/9516\/files\/CoverClean_f4ca8fe3-bd7c-4892-b90c-76db544c622d.png?v=1704083261"},{"product_id":"2018-seven-bowls-tian-jian","title":"Seven Bowls Heavenly Tips | 2018","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTea:\u003c\/strong\u003e 2018 Anhua Heicha (安化黑茶） \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eType: \u003c\/strong\u003eTian Jian Anhua Heicha 天尖安化黑茶\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFermentation Level\u003c\/strong\u003e: Medium\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHarvest:\u003c\/strong\u003e Spring 2018\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePress Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e Autumn 2018\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePress Size\u003c\/strong\u003e: 500g\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRegion: \u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eJiulongchi Terroir Region, Anhua County.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProducer:\u003c\/strong\u003e Seven Bowls Tea House\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTasting Notes:\u003c\/strong\u003e Pine Smoke, Cured Meat, Kitchen Smoke, Pepper, Taffy\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSteamed and packed into bamboo woven baskets, this is a Tianjian grade tea from Old Bushes on a 'wild mountain'.  T\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003ehe compression is light, and the leaves are easy to pry out of the basket with relatively few broken bits.  The leaves themselves are very dark with a lot of large stems, supposedly adding sweetness to the aging tea.  Breaking up some of this tea, we saw little to no 'golden flowers' as is common in the more famous fuzhuan bricks and Qianliang tubes.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eWhen brewed, the first few infusions are a thick cloudy amber almost opaque when held to the light.  The smell off the warmed leaves is one of pine smoke and kitchen spices. When brewed the smoke gives way to camphor and the herbal fragrances of sage and marjoram intensify.  \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eOn the tongue this tea is thick and meaty with a very bold body.  It cuts its way though any lingering flavors in the mouth and leaves behind a tingling sensation on the tongue.  When drunk in quick succession, this powerful tea can deliver a fast and long-lasting huigan with very little bitterness on the tongue.  \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"One River Tea","offers":[{"title":"~50g Chunk","offer_id":44369509974250,"sku":null,"price":10.25,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"~100g Chunk","offer_id":44369510007018,"sku":null,"price":17.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Whole Basket","offer_id":44702250205418,"sku":"","price":85.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0007\/9681\/9516\/files\/Front_0d91ed24-74bd-4f7e-8007-338fc09e2b43.png?v=1707804194"},{"product_id":"easy-tea-dark-brick-2017","title":"Easy Tea Dark Brick | 2017","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTea:\u003c\/strong\u003e 2017 Anhua Heicha (安化黑茶） \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eType: \u003c\/strong\u003eHei Zhuan Anhua Heicha 黑砖安化黑茶\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFermentation Level\u003c\/strong\u003e: Heavy\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHarvest:\u003c\/strong\u003e Spring 2017\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePress Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e Autumn 2020\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePress Size\u003c\/strong\u003e: 390g\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRegion: \u003c\/strong\u003e Dafu Township, Furong Region, Anhua County.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProducer:\u003c\/strong\u003e Liao Xian Family\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTasting Notes:\u003c\/strong\u003e Honey Glazed Ham, Smoked Meat, Sarsaparilla, Burdock Root, Pepper\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis tea, initially tightly compressed into 390 gram bricks has been sawn into smaller pieces to facilitate an easier brewing experience.  Trace patterns which were pressed into the original brick can be seen in these small checker-board pieces, a Chinese character here, the elevation there, the rigid fingerprint of a topographical map.  We have yet to buy a full cake, so are unsure as to their original pattern when pressed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis cake has been described by Mrs. Huang as a tea that is good for people who don't like Anhua Heicha.  We feel however, that it is fairly characteristic of the style, the only difference is that it has significantly less bitterness than other Anhua Dark Teas.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhen warmed in water, the leaves exude a deeply meaty aroma.  We are reminded of honey glazed ham, smoked meat, and general sweet barbecue.  The liquor however is a clear light amber (much cleaner than the Seven Bowls' Huazhuan counterpart).  After a few infusions, this meatiness transforms into a deep vegetation.  There is still a pleasant amount of bitterness which will fade with time, though this tea is undeniably bright, with notes not found in a lot of other Anhua Dark Teas. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"One River Tea","offers":[{"title":"~25g","offer_id":44370930991338,"sku":"","price":6.38,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"~50g","offer_id":44370931024106,"sku":"","price":11.25,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Full Brick (390g)","offer_id":44370931056874,"sku":"","price":74.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0007\/9681\/9516\/files\/DryLeaves_9eb72a1e-6bfd-478b-8817-f077dad43bb2.png?v=1707823214"},{"product_id":"anhua-heicha-starter-deck","title":"2025 Heicha Starter Deck","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eYour Starter Deck\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLike our 2024 Anhua Heicha Starter Deck, this is meant to be a comprehensive introduction into Anhua Heicha. Six samples, four styles, and three producers are included.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis time we have rotated in four new teas at the same great price. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAltogether, at least 7 grams of the following teas are included:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e-2017 Fuzhuan (Easy Tea)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e-2017 Straight Brick (Xia-Shang-Zhou)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e-2013 Straight Brick (Xia-Shang-Zhou)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e-2018 Heavenly Tips (Xia-Shang-Zhou)\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e-2019 Flower Brick (Qingyun)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e-2017 Dark Brick (Easy Tea)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe want you to experience the full spectrum of Anhua Heicha over three sessions. In the first session, you will try three brick samples of the same vintage, both from certified producers within the nominal Anhua production region. The gap between the two samples shows the impact of their different production philosophies.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e The second session showcases the different aging potential of Heavenly Tips as opposed to two wrongly maligned bricked variants. After trying all of these samples, you can say definitively whether or not you like Anhua Heicha and what processing styles most interest you.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt the very least, you will be able to say you got a fair sense of the variety that exists within Anhua Heicha.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe recommenced you space out these two sessions, and at the absolute minimum try a 30 second rinse and one minute infusion for each sample through a gongfu style infusion before you boil them, should you be so inclined.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cb\u003eSession 1: Fuzhuan \u0026amp; Fu By Other Names\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese are three of the most representative and middle-of-the-road Heicha you could try. Fuzhuan has been the most well known and best selling style of Anhua Heicha for a century now. Past the seven year mark, two of these teas are mellowed but still affordable, while the 2013 brick shows what premium Fu tastes like without its usual sharp edge. The three variations we are offering here, from Easy Tea and Xia-Shang-Zhou, represent two different production philosophies. Easy Tea puts a greater emphasis on more consistent source materials and premium appearance, while Xia-Shang-Zhou emphasizes a natural storage at high elevation without any interest in maximizing the growth of Jinhua fungus. They market their unadorned  Fu as \"原生砖” literally meaning natural brick, describing it as almost closer to Huazhuan in profile. Regardless of the fungus content, all three of these teas have a smoky aroma and refreshing citrus notes.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cb\u003eSession 2: Dark Horses \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHeavenly Tips’ relative obscurity is completely undeserved. The dismissal of Flower and Dark Bricks are unequally unfair. Heavenly Tips, the most lightly packed and carefully picked processing style, is usually stored in 50 pound cube-shaped chests called\u003cem\u003e\u003ci\u003e lou\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003cem\u003e\u003ci\u003e \u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/em\u003eIt is not bricked, and as a result it can age more quickly and completely than other processing styles. The resulting flavor profile is the closest thing in Anhua to Ripe Puer. Whatever citrus, sour notes that can come out in the Fuzhuan aren’t here. Instead one gets a thick, chocolaty liquor, and a lingering huigan without overwhelming or immediate sweetness.\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDark Brick and Flower Brick bricks by definition both tend to be tightly packed, and are fully dried before packaging, leaving little time for the famous “jinhua” fungus to grow. The former is usually made from lower-grade shredded leaves, while the latter is made from the higher grade “huajuan” material that used to be made into cylindrical Qianlong tea. Both styles, but Dark Brick especially, are the sturdy bricks that have often made their way onto the international market alongside Hubei’s Laoqingzhuan and Sichuan’s Zangcha. Dark Brick and Flower Brick are the most suited to be boiled and enjoyed as Mongolian style milk tea, but both of the samples we have included can also be enjoyed Gongfu style. The 2019 Flower Brick has some sharpness alongside its woody aroma and watery mouthfeel. The 2017 Dark Brick, which Easy Tea calls “heicha for people who aren’t in the mood for heicha” - is consistently sweet and mellow. It can be enjoyed in the same way that hojicha can, before bed and in quantity.  \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"One River Tea","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44371332694250,"sku":"","price":30.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0007\/9681\/9516\/files\/Untitled_Artwork2_f1a91544-60d8-4b3e-9aed-9b84a55655e6.jpg?v=1708319746"},{"product_id":"2009-easy-tea-heavenly-tips","title":"2009 Easy Tea Heavenly Tips","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"UTF-8\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTea:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e 2009 Anhua Heicha (安化黑茶） \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eType: \u003c\/strong\u003eTian Jian Anhua Heicha 天尖安化黑茶\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFermentation Level\u003c\/strong\u003e: Medium\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHarvest:\u003c\/strong\u003e Spring 2009\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePress Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e Unpressed\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRegion: \u003c\/strong\u003e Gaoma Terroir Region, Anhua.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProducer:\u003c\/strong\u003e Liao Xian Sisters\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTasting Notes:\u003c\/strong\u003e Maple Syrup, Old Books, Wet Pine Needles, Meat Broth\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhile we have had a lot of Anhua Heicha before, we haven't had anything quite as refined as this.  The fragrance is enchanting, rich deep with layer upon layer of savory herbal notes that twist through a background of old wet wood.  We found our selves absentmindedly smelling the teapot between infusions until the tea in the cup was cold.   \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe tea itself is a perfect example of what excellent source material, ideal storage conditions, and proper aging can create in the space of Anhua Heicha.  It is rich, thick, meaty, textured, and deeply complicated.   For us, the energy of this tea after the first few infusions really transported us into a blissful contemplative state, truly a tea worth the time and space it deserves.  While Anhua Heicha can be dirt cheap in huge quantity, the small amount of excellently produced aged tea is rare and well worth the rather high price we paid for it.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"One River Tea","offers":[{"title":"25g","offer_id":44378002522346,"sku":"","price":15.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"50g","offer_id":44378002555114,"sku":"","price":27.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"100g","offer_id":44378002587882,"sku":"","price":46.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0007\/9681\/9516\/files\/Untitleddesign.jpg?v=1708318121"},{"product_id":"2017-anhua-natural-brick","title":"2017 Anhua Natural Brick","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTea\u003c\/strong\u003e: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial;\"\u003e2017 Natural Brick (\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 宋体;\"\u003e原生砖\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial;\"\u003e)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eStyle: \u003c\/strong\u003eFuzhuan\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProducer:\u003c\/strong\u003e Xiashangzhou Factory (Xia Family)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRegion\u003c\/strong\u003e: Jiulongchi, Anhua, Hunan\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSeason:\u003c\/strong\u003e Late Spring 2017\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNotes:\u003c\/strong\u003e Pine Needle, Smoke, Sharp. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp align=\"justify\" class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial;\"\u003eComing from the core, high elevation Jiulongchi production area, this is unique but perfectly representative Fuzhuan. The production area is known for its damper storage, rich smoky flavor, and historic pedigree. What makes this brick special is that the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial;\"\u003e“\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial;\"\u003egolden flower\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial;\"\u003e”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial;\"\u003efungus necessary in Fuzhuan has been allowed to grow without \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial;\"\u003e”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial;\"\u003einoculating\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial;\"\u003e”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial;\"\u003ethe bricks with any spores or cocktail of edible fuel. The modest amount of golden flowers on these bricks are instead the descendants of the fungus that has been growing in the Xia Family\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial;\"\u003e’\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial;\"\u003es workshop for decades, making for a slightly less sweet, cleaner taste.  \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp align=\"justify\" class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial;\"\u003eThis 2017 brick is still a little green, but just on the verge of reaching that optimal yellow-orange color most desired for Fuzhuan. The pick on this brick is ideal. You will find mostly whole greenish brown leaves, and few stems. This tea still has a nice mix of fresh sharpness and thicker smoky notes that would be perfect for Gongfu style brewing. If you want to buy a balanced but traditional Fuzhuan.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"One River Tea","offers":[{"title":"25g","offer_id":45080882872554,"sku":"","price":9.2,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"100g","offer_id":45080882905322,"sku":"","price":29.9,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"790g","offer_id":45080882938090,"sku":"","price":180.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0007\/9681\/9516\/files\/2_021a7101-3245-45e9-a7bd-b2770e6f9fc4.png?v=1749971807"},{"product_id":"2013-anhua-natural-brick","title":"2013 Anhua Natural Brick","description":"\u003cp align=\"justify\" class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTea\u003c\/strong\u003e: 2013 Natural Brick (\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 宋体;\"\u003e原生砖\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial;\"\u003e)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp align=\"justify\" class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eStyle\u003c\/strong\u003e: Fuzhuan\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp align=\"justify\" class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProducer\u003c\/strong\u003e: Xiashangzhou Factory (Xia Family)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp align=\"justify\" class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRegion\u003c\/strong\u003e: Jiulongchi, Anhua, Hunan.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp align=\"justify\" class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSeason\u003c\/strong\u003e: Late Spring 2013\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp align=\"justify\" class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNotes\u003c\/strong\u003e: Bark, Butter, Popcorn. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp align=\"justify\" class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial;\"\u003eComing from the core, high elevation Jiulongchi production area, this is unique but perfectly representative Fuzhuan. The production area is known for its damper storage, rich smoky flavor, and historic pedigree. What makes this brick special is that the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial;\"\u003e“\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial;\"\u003egolden flower\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial;\"\u003e”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial;\"\u003efungus necessary in Fuzhuan has been allowed to grow without \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial;\"\u003e”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial;\"\u003einoculating\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial;\"\u003e”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial;\"\u003ethe bricks with any spores or cocktail of edible fuel. The modest amount of golden flowers on these bricks are instead the descendants of the fungus that has been growing in the Xia Family\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial;\"\u003e’\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial;\"\u003es workshop for decades, making for a slightly less sweet, cleaner taste.  \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp align=\"justify\" class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial;\"\u003eThis brick is rough in pick yet mellow in taste. More than a decade of aging, loose pressing, and a fair amount of stems has made for a very comfy, rich, and creamy brew. Its golden orange color and ample fungus have the marks of a ripe Fuzhuan brick, yet the stringy venation suggests a piling that extended beyond the norm, giving the finished tea an extra earthy quality. This is a brick you could boil, brew Gongfu style or even enjoy grandpa style in a filtered tumbler.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"One River Tea","offers":[{"title":"25g","offer_id":45080883298538,"sku":"","price":8.7,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"100g","offer_id":45080883331306,"sku":"","price":26.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"790g (Full Brick)","offer_id":45080883364074,"sku":"","price":162.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0007\/9681\/9516\/files\/5_7902bfd2-1e41-4e46-9b09-f1eb5a62ae97.png?v=1749972179"},{"product_id":"psychopomp","title":"Psychopomp | Shou Puer","description":"\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTea:\u003c\/strong\u003e Psychopomp Cooked Puer\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eType:\u003c\/strong\u003e Shou Puer (熟普洱）\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRegion\u003c\/strong\u003e: Lincang, Yunnan\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHarvest:\u003c\/strong\u003e April 2021\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePress Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e July 2025\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e2025 Tasting Notes\u003c\/strong\u003e: Old Wood, Pine Sap, Chocolate, Malt, Mesquite\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eCooked Puer, or Shou Puer, is a huge staple in the tea world here in China and abroad, from Beijing to Guangzhou, from East to West, it is common to encounter this tea in teashops around the world.\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003eWe have never carried a cooked puer before because the water here can get very deep.\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003eThere are a lot of nuances in this dark tea that brews up blacker than coffee.\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003eHowever, it has been a tea on our list for ages, so we called in a favor from our Tea Master in Jiangsu, and brought a dozen potential samples to him to help us taste test and assess the best quality.\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003eThrough the intensive tasting, we found which ones were worth our time, which ones were visually superior, which ones were blended poorly, which leaves were the most tender, and eventually, which one was the one we wanted to press.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThis tea was made back in 2021, and has been stored loose in Lincang, Yunnan until we pressed it.\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003eAs a result, there is little to no ‘duiwei’ or pile fragrance, the more dank and musty or at worst fishy aromas one finds in fresh cooked puer.\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003eInstead, what you get in the warm gaiwan when you add the dry leaves is something still musky, but distinctly savory and slightly chocolatey. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eAs soon as the leaves are brewed with hot water, they transform into their more full palate fragrances of old wood, pine sap, and petrichor.\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003eThe fermentation on this tea is less heavy than others, but still deep enough to brew up black if pushed.\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003eWe prefer this lighter fermentation as it leaves more fragrances in the cup.\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003eThe tea is pleasantly thick in the mouth and oily on the tongue, providing a pleasant chaqi or tea energy when drunk in quick succession.\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003eThe tea gets incredibly sweet as the session progresses, with notes of mesquite and pine wood.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThe art for this tea cake was done by the talented Anj of Gushu Studios.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e*Note for the those interested in purchasing a whole Tong of this tea, it is not wrapped in bamboo leaves, but processed as five individual tea cakes, though they are still offered at 10% off!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eWe recommend brewing this tea gongfu style in a gaiwan or Chinese teapot.  We use 6 grams of tea in a 100ml brewing vessel with boiling water, steeping 5 second for the first few infusions and adding 5 seconds after ever subsequent infusion.  Most of these puer teas can be re-infused over 15 times, when brewing in this gongfu style.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eNever bought a cake before, learn how to break it up with a tea pick on \u003ca title=\"How to Break up a tea cake with a screwdriver\" href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/zv60za17AjA\"\u003eour YouTube\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"One River Tea","offers":[{"title":"Full Cake (200g)","offer_id":45120801046762,"sku":null,"price":32.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Sample (25g)","offer_id":45120801079530,"sku":null,"price":4.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Tong (5 individual cakes)","offer_id":45120801112298,"sku":null,"price":140.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0007\/9681\/9516\/files\/FrontWrapped_5f4a3d64-f17a-4a0e-af1c-db50a3876c27.png?v=1753363636"},{"product_id":"psychopomp-shou-puer-coin","title":"Psychopomp | Shou Puer Coin","description":"\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTea:\u003c\/strong\u003e Psychopomp Cooked Puer\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eType:\u003c\/strong\u003e Shou Puer (熟普洱）\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRegion\u003c\/strong\u003e: Lincang, Yunnan\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHarvest:\u003c\/strong\u003e April 2021\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePress Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e July 2025\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e2025 Tasting Notes\u003c\/strong\u003e: Old Wood, Pine Sap, Chocolate, Malt, Mesquite\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eCooked Puer, or Shou Puer, is a huge staple in the tea world here in China and abroad, from Beijing to Guangzhou, from East to West, it is common to encounter this tea in teashops around the world.\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003eWe have never carried a cooked puer before because the water here can get very deep.\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003eThere are a lot of nuances in this dark tea that brews up blacker than coffee.\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003eHowever, it has been a tea on our list for ages, so we called in a favor from our Tea Master in Jiangsu, and brought a dozen potential samples to him to help us taste test and assess the best quality.\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003eThrough the intensive tasting, we found which ones were worth our time, which ones were visually superior, which ones were blended poorly, which leaves were the most tender, and eventually, which one was the one we wanted to press.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThis tea was made back in 2021, and has been stored loose in Lincang, Yunnan until we pressed it.\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003eAs a result, there is little to no ‘duiwei’ or pile fragrance, the more dank and musty or at worst fishy aromas one finds in fresh cooked puer.\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003eInstead, what you get in the warm gaiwan when you add the dry leaves is something still musky, but distinctly savory and slightly chocolatey. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eAs soon as the leaves are brewed with hot water, they transform into their more full palate fragrances of old wood, pine sap, and petrichor.\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003eThe fermentation on this tea is less heavy than others, but still deep enough to brew up black if pushed.\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003eWe prefer this lighter fermentation as it leaves more fragrances in the cup.\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003eThe tea is pleasantly thick in the mouth and oily on the tongue, providing a pleasant chaqi or tea energy when drunk in quick succession.\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003eThe tea gets incredibly sweet as the session progresses, with notes of mesquite and pine wood.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThe art for this tea cake was done by the talented Anj of Gushu Studios.\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eWe recommend brewing this tea gongfu style in a gaiwan or Chinese teapot.  We use 6 grams of tea in a 100ml brewing vessel with about 90 degree Celcius water, steeping 5 second for the first few infusions and adding 5 seconds after ever subsequent infusion.  We have found this tea able to be re-infused up to a dozen times when brewing in this gongfu style.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"One River Tea","offers":[{"title":"1 Coin (~7g)","offer_id":45120834011370,"sku":null,"price":1.25,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"3 Coins (~21g)","offer_id":45120834109674,"sku":null,"price":3.75,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0007\/9681\/9516\/files\/MiniPhotos_4f1da434-b538-437c-9077-287efffe1531.png?v=1753363770"},{"product_id":"dock-fuel-raw-liubao-sampler","title":"Dock Fuel：Raw Liubao Sampler","description":"\u003cp\u003eIn the 19th and early 20th Century, Liubao teas helped keep the porters, miners, rickshaw pullers, sailors, and plantation workers of the Chinese diaspora refreshed and energized. It fueled the docks of Indo-China and Malaya as much as whale oil, kerosene, or coal.  The tea they drank was, however, very different from the modern ripe Liubao tea we drink today.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn this sampler, you can get a taste of four of the best raw Liubao teas avaiable on the market. All were sourced from farmers in Wuzhou's core growing region. These samplers will come in a custom box, and will also include a \"ripe\" 2023 factory-made tea from Guangxi Province's\u003cem\u003e Land Reclamation Group\u003c\/em\u003e so Liubao newbies can also get a sense of the difference between raw and ripe, traditional and modern production. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLearn more about Liubao teas \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/onerivertea.com\/blogs\/tea-making\/raw-liubao-deep-dive-what-is-it-what-s-to-love\"\u003ehere\u003c\/a\u003e, and dark tea tasting \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/onerivertea.com\/blogs\/tea-brewing-tips\/chinese-tea-assessment-dark-tea\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003eher\u003c\/span\u003ee\u003c\/a\u003e. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBelow are more details on our chosen champions: \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e2010 Yao Aroma (Wei Family, Gongping Village)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a thick aged tea with smoky, pine, and tobacco notes that is the best that is representative of the \"Yao Aroma\" flavor profile we could find. Although not from the core \"Yao\" minority growing region, it is easy to see why a tea like this could be a life saver on a damp hot day, and a welcome accompaniment to rich, oily food. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e2019 Yao Aroma (Liang Family, Shuangchong Village)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWith barky, mossy, and some smokey notes, this tea is not as thick or mature as the 2010 variant, but it does come with ample yellow fungus. More tightly packed and slightly more stem heavy, this tea does not have any of the unpleasant bitterness than can be found in less aged teas. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e2022 Roasted Liubao (Liang Family, Shuangchong Village)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is the best fresh Liubao you can find. It brews up with notes of raspberry and dark chocolate. Charcoal roasted, this energizing tea has a slightly vegetal aftertaste and leaves behind dark green dregs. As this is a new tea,  there is some sharpness, but it  is such a robustly full flavor tea that the pleasure far outweighs the pain. This is a tea intended to be had with mild Cantonese dim-sum.  \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e2013 Purple Bud (Wei Family, Gongping Village)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe now see why some of you specially requested this tea. With notes of malted chocholate, vanilla, powdered milk, and betel nut, it is not at all what we expected. This is a tea made from anthocyanin rich bushes that were selected out from the heirloom cultivar.\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor $15 dollars, you can get a 7 gram sample of these four teas and the ripe freebie, for a total of 35 grams. Those wanting an extra session can choose to get two boxes for a discounted rate.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIndependent products will be released in future months once we get get feedback on these teas. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"One River Tea","offers":[{"title":"Single Box (35 grams)","offer_id":45774024933610,"sku":null,"price":15.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Double Portion (70 grams)","offer_id":45774024966378,"sku":null,"price":27.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0007\/9681\/9516\/files\/95_de5e0899-4234-4753-ba8d-e3c8c97b8a64.png?v=1767369738"},{"product_id":"mothballed-laochapo-comparison","title":"Mothballed: Laochapo Comparison","description":"\u003cp\u003eLaochapo, meaning \u003cem\u003eOld Tea Granny\u003c\/em\u003e, is a catch-all term for the most mature pick of tea in Liubao Township. These older, thicker, tougher leaves are similar to what may be called \"Huangpian\" in other regions.  Processed as a Liubao tea, they start out as would any late season green tea, but can traditionally undergo steps like scalding, piling, and sundrying that produce final flavor unlike anything else.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn this box, we give a comparison of two Laochapo in very different stages of aging.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e25 grams of both the following tea, for a grand total of 50 grams, will be provided in this comparison.\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLearn more about Liubao teas \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/onerivertea.com\/blogs\/tea-making\/raw-liubao-deep-dive-what-is-it-what-s-to-love\"\u003ehere\u003c\/a\u003e, and dark tea tasting \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/onerivertea.com\/blogs\/tea-brewing-tips\/chinese-tea-assessment-dark-tea\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003eher\u003c\/span\u003ee\u003c\/a\u003e. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e2025 Winter Pick (Chen Family, Liubao Village)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is freshly picked, processed, and dried tea that was finished around December 15th in Liubao Village. It has not to develop the molds or insect presence that usualy help age the tea. This tea is still largely green, crisp, and a little medicinal, brewing up like the weirdest cucumber you have ever eaten.  It is refreshing, a little energizing, and pleasantly strange. Although it is fresh, we still recommend rinsing it twice.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e2007 Aged Chongshicha (Wei Family, Gongping Village )\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis tea absolutely deserves the double rinse. It is the final goal of all Laochapo:  earthy but not mildewy, medicinal, and sweet in ways that tea seldom is,  as if someone has spiked some dark tea with root beer or licorice.  It has also been partially consumed and re-exereted by a particularly tea-loving variety of local moth. Although not as devoured as finest Chongshicha or \"bug shit tea,\" the moths' little contributions to the final product is obvious at first glance. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"One River Tea","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45769128345834,"sku":null,"price":10.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0007\/9681\/9516\/files\/93_9cee0fd0-3082-4c54-b936-b84f2e16c18b.png?v=1767369684"},{"product_id":"2013-liubao-purple-bud","title":"2013 Liubao Purple Bud","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTea\u003c\/strong\u003e: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e2013 Purple Bud Liubao (2013年紫芽六堡茶)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eStyle: \u003c\/strong\u003eRaw \/ Farmer Tea.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProducer:\u003c\/strong\u003e Wei Family\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRegion\u003c\/strong\u003e: Gongping Village, Wuzhou, Guangxi.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSeason:\u003c\/strong\u003e Late Spring 2013\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNotes:\u003c\/strong\u003e Leather, Malted Chocolate, Powdered Milk,  Betel Nut.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis was a specially requested tea and one of the two most favorably reviewed entries in our raw Liubao sampler. Like most of the \"farmer tea\" variants of Liubao, it is a rustic treat best enjoyed with care in an extended Gongfu brewing session.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMaster Wei and his mother picked the tea that went into this tea more than a decade ago. One specific plot of their land has a section of heirloom bushes that grow with a distinctly red or purple tinge. While not as rich in \u003cspan\u003eanthocyanin as Zijuan red teas or puer teas, these bushes offer up tea that is first punchy and astringent when fresh, but then ages into something uniquely sweet and creamy. This tea has had plenty of time to transform into a mellow and yummy thickness you can get nowhere else in Liubao. It sat for more than ten years in a wicker basket up in the Wei Family's attic. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe musty condition of traditional liubao storage demands one do two quick rinses prior to enjoying this tea. While a danker dimension of it is never absent, over multiple infusions one is also rewarded with a viscious thickness on the tongue and lingering sweetness that is most prized in this sub-genre of Liubao tea.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor an independent take on this tea, see PathLessTaken's blog review \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/pathlesstaken.substack.com\/p\/one-river-tea-dock-fuel-raw-liubao\"\u003ehere\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"One River Tea","offers":[{"title":"25g","offer_id":46005826224362,"sku":null,"price":11.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"50g","offer_id":46005826257130,"sku":null,"price":20.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"100g","offer_id":46005826289898,"sku":null,"price":37.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0007\/9681\/9516\/files\/109_c4e83c0b-d494-4988-8d14-55100280066f.png?v=1776179193"},{"product_id":"2013-liubao-purple-bud-1","title":"Charcoal Roasted Liubao","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTea\u003c\/strong\u003e: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e2022 Roasted Liubao (明前炭焙六堡茶)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eStyle: \u003c\/strong\u003eRaw \/ Farmer Tea.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProducer:\u003c\/strong\u003e  Liang Family\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRegion\u003c\/strong\u003e: Shuangchong Village, Wuzhou, Guangxi.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSeason:\u003c\/strong\u003e Early Spring 2022\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNotes:\u003c\/strong\u003e Berry, Dark Chocolate, Toasted Barley, Hazelnut, Vegetal Aftertaste. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHere is a Liubao tea that is outside of the box, even for farmer tea. This is a first-pick Spring tea from Shuangchong Village, on the edge of the core growing region. While this high mountain hamlet is more associated with the Yao minority and the smokier teas that they produce, this is a strangely fruity treat. Thoroughly baked over smokeless charcoal, this tea does not have any of the sharp greenness you would expect from a relatively young Liubao tea. The heavy roast allows for some initial aromas of almost raspberry jam chocolate that develop into toasty, nutty flavors. Occasionally, a heavily roasted vegetal note closest to Lu'an Guapian can also be perceptible.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a tea intended to be had with mild Cantonese dim sum.  You could likewise brew this tea in a large teapot and enjoy it with an extended meal, but you should still rinse it at least once prior to drinking. It \u003cem\u003ecan\u003c\/em\u003e also be enjoyed gongfu style,  but expect a more limited range of flavors between infusions. Look to this Liubao for comfy sipping. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor an independent take on this tea, see PathLessTaken's blog review \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/pathlesstaken.substack.com\/p\/one-river-tea-dock-fuel-raw-liubao\"\u003ehere\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"One River Tea","offers":[{"title":"25g","offer_id":46005833892074,"sku":null,"price":11.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"50g","offer_id":46005833924842,"sku":null,"price":20.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"100g","offer_id":46005833957610,"sku":null,"price":37.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0007\/9681\/9516\/files\/111.png?v=1776179227"},{"product_id":"mongolian-storage-dark-brick","title":"Mongolian Storage Dark Brick","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eType:\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHei Zhuan - Hubei Dark Tea 黑砖湖北黑茶\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHarvest\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e: Spring 2010\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProduction Region:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Chibi, Hubei\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eStorage Region:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Ulanqab (ᠤᠯᠠᠭᠠᠨᠴᠠᠪ), Inner Mongolia\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProducer\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e: Zhaoliqiao Factory \/ Master Zhang\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTasting Notes:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Jujubes, Dates, Chinese Herbal Medicine, Cedar. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis is one of the most unique dark teas out there: the first run domestically-marketed premium brick tea from Hubei Province, stored since 2012 in the place that most enjoys brick tea: Inner Mongolia. After more than a decade sitting in an extremely dry warehouse in Ulanqab, it has aged in a very peculiar way: slowly and cleanly. There is none of the funk that Hubei-produced dark teas sometimes accumulate after a few damp summers sitting on a Wuhan teahouse shelf. Despite now being 16 years of age, It has also not taken on the more empty and woody profile of some pressed teas at the end of their life cycle. A tightly packed tea to begin with, this dark brick has just gotten a little sweeter and thicker, without the astringent sharpness that often lingers in Hubei dark teas.  \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis is a tea meant to be boiled, offering up a thick, syrupy sweet dark tea that is as clean as it is rich. We would not reccomend using this to make Mongolian-style milk tea due to its more delicate flavor, while the compression of the tea brick makes it a poor candidate for Gongfu or Grandpa Style brewing.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDark Brick (Heizhuan) was a style of production more associated with Anhua, known most for a mild flavor and pleasant sweetness that is welcoming to those new to dark teas. The Zhaoliqiao Factory in Hubei chose this processing style as their first attempt to win over more premium domestic Chinese consumers who were wary of the massive, rough Qingzhuan that the factory usually sold to Mongolia.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMaster Zhang, who has stored this tea for over a decade, is a Hohot local with a dark tea factory in Anhua, Hunan, and a storage warehouse in Ulanqab. In his own words, he is now the only tea shop left in the provincial capital that still specializes in dark tea, and is certainly the only tea seller in the city who also makes his own dark tea every year. Zhang still has several hundred tea bricks of this batch, left over from the speculative bubble around dark tea in the mid 2010's.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEach Order of this tea (chunk or full brick) will receive a free sample of the Black Honeysuckle dark tea bricks that Master Zhang has made from Mongolian wild flowers and Hunanese tea stems. \u003c\/strong\u003eThis tea has also been priced to encourage as many people as possible buy the full brick. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"One River Tea","offers":[{"title":"Sample Chunk (~25 grams)","offer_id":46028065439978,"sku":null,"price":8.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Whole Brick (~650 grams)","offer_id":46028065472746,"sku":null,"price":43.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0007\/9681\/9516\/files\/129_4f656fbc-5243-43ca-93c8-a8f503cc8e42.png?v=1779519425"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0007\/9681\/9516\/collections\/0357AC8F-4E2F-415A-8B57-80D17E41E81B.jpeg?v=1708667994","url":"https:\/\/onerivertea.com\/collections\/the-dark-river\/anhua.oembed","provider":"One River Tea","version":"1.0","type":"link"}