YONG DE ZAO XIANG ZHUAN CHA
SHU (RIPE) PU'ER
★ PESTICIDE-FREE
Yong De, Lincang, Yunnan, China
2009 Yong De Zao Xiang Zhuan Cha is a mature Shu Pu'Er tea produced in traditional brick form from tea material originating in the Yong De region of Lincang, Yunnan. Carefully fermented and naturally matured for years, this tea reflects the combination of classic Shu Pu'Er craftsmanship, balanced mountain character, and the deep aromatic warmth associated with aged brick-style ripe tea. The infusion is smooth, dense, and richly comforting, offering woody and creamy nuances, dried fruit and sweet grain notes, mineral warmth, and a long, mellow aftertaste with mature character and refined structural depth. MORE
250 g brick
AROMA
Spice, woody, herbal
TASTE
Woody, medicine
Hong Kong Natural Storage
PRODUCTION: 2009
The fermentation process significantly alters the chemical composition of the tea, creating a mellow infusion with reduced bitterness and astringency, a smooth texture, and earthy, woody, and sweet aromatic notes. It is believed that regular consumption of Shu Pu'Er may support digestive health, contribute to healthy cholesterol metabolism, promote the balance of beneficial intestinal microflora, and assist the body's natural antioxidant defenses. Traditionally, Shu Pu'Er has also been appreciated for its warming and grounding nature, its ability to aid digestion after meals, reduce feelings of heaviness and fatigue, and create a calm, stable, and balanced state of physical and mental well-being.
Learn more about the BIOCHEMISTRY OF A TEA LEAF
SEED-GROWN TEA PLANT
This tea refers to a Qunzi Zhong, a "seed-grown tea plant". Unlike cloned or asexually propagated cultivars, which are created by cuttings or grafting from a single "mother" plant, Qunzi Zhong tea trees are grown from seeds. This results in a genetically diverse population of plants. Each seed-grown tea tree is unique, with slightly different characteristics. This genetic variety helps improve the resilience of the tea garden, making it more resistant to pests, diseases, and environmental stress. Seed-grown trees usually develop stronger and deeper roots than cloned plants, allowing them to draw nutrients and minerals from deeper soil layers, often giving the tea a more complex and rich flavor profile. Qunzi Zhong represents the traditional way of tea cultivation. Because of the genetic diversity, teas made from Qunzi Zhong plants tend to offer more layered and nuanced flavors, reflecting a richer expression of the local terroir (soil, climate, and environment).
PESTICIDE-FREE GARDENING
Pesticide-free gardening refers to a cultivation method in which no synthetic chemical pesticides are used at any stage of plant growth. Instead, this approach relies on biodiversity, ecological balance, and cultural practices to manage pests and diseases. Unlike conventional farming, which often depends on chemical intervention to control infestations, pesticide-free gardening emphasizes prevention through healthy soil, companion planting, and natural predators. This method fosters a more resilient and adaptive garden ecosystem. Without chemical inputs, beneficial insects such as ladybugs, lacewings, and native bees thrive, contributing to pollination and pest control. Untouched by harsh agents, the soil remains alive with microbial activity, supporting deeper root systems and more vigorous plant development. Over time, this results in produce with purer, more expressive flavors, reflecting the health of the environment and the grower's intention.
Learn more about Pesticide-Free Gardening
EASTERN (PIN CHA) ★
Temperature: 100 °C
Amount: 3-5 grams per 120 ml of water
Steeping: 10-30 sec x 7+
WESTERN (INFUSION)
Temperature: 100 °C
Amount: 2-3 grams per 250 ml of water
Steeping: 1-2 min x 3
Learn more about TEA BREWING METHODS
BEST BEFORE: 2 years since production date!
*Suitable for long-term aging. Under proper storage conditions, the tea may gradually develop increased depth, smoothness, and complexity.
Learn more ABOUT TEA STORAGE
2009 Yong De Zao Xiang Zhuan Cha is a mature Shu Pu'Er tea produced in traditional brick form from tea material originating in the Yong De region of Lincang, Yunnan. Carefully fermented according to classic Shu Pu'Er methods and gradually matured under Hong Kong natural storage conditions, this tea reflects the combination of traditional brick-style production, balanced mountain material, and deep aromatic integration developed through long-term aging. Years of maturation softened and refined the tea while preserving its dense texture, woody depth, mineral warmth, and comforting mature character.
The Yong De region of Lincang is traditionally respected for producing tea material with balanced structure, pronounced sweetness, and strong aging potential. Compared to more aggressive regional profiles, teas from this area are often appreciated for combining body and mineral depth with smoother texture and harmonious mouthfeel. These characteristics make Yong De material especially suitable for Shu Pu'Er production and long-term maturation under traditional storage conditions.
Hong Kong natural storage played a defining role in shaping the final character of this tea. The warm and humid storage environment gradually softened sharper fermentation characteristics while encouraging the development of deeper woody, creamy, resinous, earthy, herbal, and dried fruit nuances associated with mature aged Shu Pu'Er. Compared to younger or dry-stored productions, this style of storage often creates greater smoothness, aromatic integration, and a more comforting mature atmosphere while preserving structural clarity and balance.
TERROIR
The Yong De region of Lincang, Yunnan, is one of the historically important mountain tea-growing areas within the broader Pu'Er tea landscape, known for producing teas with balanced structure, pronounced sweetness, and strong maturation potential. Tea gardens in this region develop under warm subtropical mountain conditions shaped by abundant rainfall, humid air, mineral-rich soils, and dense forest vegetation. These environmental conditions contribute directly to the tea’s dense texture, layered complexity, mineral warmth, and smooth mouthfeel.
The mountain soils of Yong De are rich in minerals and organic matter, with stable moisture retention and excellent natural drainage. Tea plants growing in these environments develop strong root systems capable of interacting deeply with multiple soil layers accumulated through long ecological development. This mineral interaction contributes to the balanced body, persistent sweetness, refined structure, and comforting energetic character characteristic of tea material from the region.
The traditional brick compression format also influences the gradual evolution of the tea during maturation. Compared to looser compression styles, tightly compressed Zhuan Cha bricks often mature more slowly and evenly, preserving structural depth while allowing aromatic characteristics to integrate gradually over time. This slow transformation contributes to the smooth, rounded, and deeply mature character especially appreciated in aged brick-style Shu Pu'Er teas.
Hong Kong natural storage became an especially important stage in the development of the tea after production. The warm and humid storage environment gradually softened sharper fermentation characteristics while encouraging the development of woody, creamy, resinous, herbal, earthy, and dried fruit nuances associated with mature aged Shu Pu'Er. Combined with balanced Yong De mountain material and traditional brick compression, these conditions created a tea with exceptional smoothness, aromatic integration, and long-lasting mature depth.
ORGANOLEPTICS
The dry leaves are dark, mature, and tightly compressed in traditional brick form, displaying deep brown, dark copper, and aged earthy tones characteristic of naturally matured Shu Pu'Er tea. Their appearance reflects careful fermentation, gradual Hong Kong natural storage, and the dense structure typical of aged Zhuan Cha productions. The aroma of the dry leaf is deep, warm, and highly comforting, combining notes of aged wood, sweet grains, dried fruits, warm minerals, resin, forest honey, and soft earthy nuances. In a preheated gaiwan or teapot, the aroma becomes smoother and increasingly expressive, revealing additional layers of cocoa, roasted nuts, humid forest tones, medicinal herbs, tree bark, creamy sweetness, and subtle incense-like woodiness. After the rinse, the leaves fully awaken and the aromatic profile becomes highly integrated, balancing woody maturity, creamy softness, mineral warmth, and refined sweetness.
The liquor is clear and bright, with a deep ruby-brown tone reflecting years of gradual maturation under Hong Kong natural storage conditions. The aroma of the infusion is dense, smooth, and highly persistent, combining warm wood, creamy chocolate-like notes, dried fruits, sweet grains, warm minerals, resinous nuances, forest honey, and subtle herbal complexity. The texture is exceptionally smooth, dense, and coating, filling the palate with deep warmth and remarkable softness while maintaining balanced structure and mature depth characteristic of aged brick-style Shu Pu'Er. The taste is mellow and highly refined, with almost no roughness, gradually developing into pronounced mineral sweetness and long-lasting warming sensations throughout the mouth and throat. Layers of aged wood, cocoa, dried fruits, roasted nuts, sweet grains, minerals, resin, dark honey, humid earth, and soft medicinal nuances continue evolving throughout the session while maintaining remarkable harmony between maturity, smoothness, depth, and comforting aged character.
The aftertaste is long, warm, and deeply comforting, with sweet mineral and creamy sensations remaining in the throat and mouth long after drinking. As the tea continues to open, the structure becomes increasingly rounded and integrated while preserving the balanced Yong De mountain foundation and mature brick-style character developed through years of natural storage. In the empty cup, the aroma remains warm and expressive, revealing lingering notes of aged wood, cocoa, dark honey, dried fruits, sweet grains, humid forest tones, medicinal herbs, resin, and subtle earthy undertones.
