LAO TONG ZHI
OLD COMRADE BRAND
SHU (RIPE) PU'ER
Menghai, Xishuangbanna, Yunnan, China
Lao Tong Zhi is a semi-aged Pu'Er tea produced by the respected Haiwan Tea Factory under the famous Lao Tong Zhi brand, known for preserving classic factory-style Pu'Er traditions. Naturally matured for years, this tea reflects the combination of traditional Yunnan tea craftsmanship, balanced factory blending, and gradual aromatic transformation developed through long-term aging. The infusion is deep, smooth, and richly layered, offering woody and mineral nuances, dried fruit and herbal notes, refined sweetness, and a long, warming aftertaste with mature character and balanced structural depth. MORE
250 g brick
AROMA
Woody, Tobacco
TASTE
Woody, nutty
Hong Kong Natural Stprage
HARVEST: Spring, 2006
SHU (RIPE) PU'ER
Menghai, Xishuangbanna, Yunnan, China
Lao Tong Zhi is a semi-aged Pu'Er tea produced by the respected Haiwan Tea Factory under the famous Lao Tong Zhi brand, known for preserving classic factory-style Pu'Er traditions. Naturally matured for years, this tea reflects the combination of traditional Yunnan tea craftsmanship, balanced factory blending, and gradual aromatic transformation developed through long-term aging. The infusion is deep, smooth, and richly layered, offering woody and mineral nuances, dried fruit and herbal notes, refined sweetness, and a long, warming aftertaste with mature character and balanced structural depth. MORE
250 g brick
AROMA
Woody, Tobacco
TASTE
Woody, nutty
Hong Kong Natural Stprage
HARVEST: Spring, 2006
SHU PU'ER is a post-fermented tea produced through a controlled microbial fermentation process that transforms sun-dried tea leaves into a rich, smooth, and deeply complex beverage. As a result of this unique production method, Shu Pu'Er develops a distinctive composition of polyphenols, amino acids, minerals, beneficial microbial metabolites, and other bioactive compounds that contribute to both its characteristic flavor and traditionally valued properties.
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.
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
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
Tea absorbs surrounding aromas and moisture. This type of tea oxidizes when it comes into contact with oxygen and loses its properties, including taste and aroma. Store it in a dry and cool place in airtight packaging. Avoid direct exposure to the sun and high temperatures.
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.
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
ABOUT
2006 Lao Tong Zhi is a semi-aged Shu Pu'Er tea produced by the respected Haiwan Tea Factory under the famous Lao Tong Zhi brand, known for preserving classic factory-style Pu'Er traditions and balanced mature profiles. Naturally matured under professional Hong Kong natural storage conditions, this tea reflects the combination of traditional Yunnan tea craftsmanship, careful long-term aging, and the deep integrated character associated with professionally stored aged Shu Pu'Er. Years of maturation gradually softened and rounded the tea while preserving its dense texture, mineral warmth, woody depth, and refined mature complexity.
This particular tea was sourced directly from a Hong Kong tea collector, where it spent years developing under traditional storage conditions historically associated with the culture of aged Pu'Er tea appreciation. Hong Kong natural storage played a defining role in shaping the final profile of the tea, allowing the woody, resinous, herbal, mineral, and dried fruit characteristics to become increasingly smooth, deep, and integrated over time. Compared to younger or dry-stored Shu Pu'Er teas, professionally stored Hong Kong teas often develop greater softness, aromatic maturity, and a more comforting, rounded texture highly appreciated among experienced collectors and old tea lovers.
The Lao Tong Zhi brand itself became respected for maintaining stable factory production standards and producing teas with strong aging potential and reliable character. Combined with careful Hong Kong storage and more than a decade of natural maturation, this tea developed into a particularly refined and expressive example of aged factory-style Shu Pu'Er. Today, it represents a very special tea for lovers of mature ripe Pu'Er seeking depth, smoothness, traditional storage character, and authentic aged tea atmosphere.
TERROIR
The tea material used for 2006 Lao Tong Zhi originates from the mountain tea-growing regions of Yunnan, the historical birthplace of Pu'Er tea and one of the most important tea-producing environments in the world. Tea gardens in this region develop under warm subtropical mountain conditions shaped by abundant rainfall, humid air, mineral-rich soils, and dense forest biodiversity. These environmental conditions contribute directly to the tea’s dense texture, mineral warmth, layered complexity, and long-term aging potential.
Like many classic factory-style Pu'Er teas, Lao Tong Zhi productions traditionally rely on blending technology combining tea material from different mountain regions, elevations, and leaf grades to create a stable and recognizable flavor profile. This production philosophy became one of the defining characteristics of large Yunnan tea factories, where blending allows producers to balance texture, sweetness, fermentation depth, aroma, body, and structural strength within one tea. Rather than expressing a single terroir in isolation, such recipes aim to create harmony, consistency, and strong aging capacity over time.
An especially important part of this tea’s final character comes from its professional Hong Kong natural storage. The warm and humid climate of Hong Kong gradually transformed the tea over many years, softening sharper structural elements while encouraging the development of deeper woody, resinous, herbal, mineral, dried fruit, and mature earthy characteristics associated with traditionally stored aged Shu Pu'Er. Compared to younger or dry-stored productions, this style of storage often produces a smoother, deeper, and more integrated profile with exceptional softness and mature aromatic complexity.
The interaction between Yunnan mountain material, traditional factory blending methods, careful fermentation, and long-term Hong Kong storage became the defining expression of this tea’s mature character. Gradual transformation over time created a Shu Pu'Er with deep warmth, balanced structure, aromatic integration, and the comforting mature atmosphere especially appreciated among experienced old tea lovers and collectors.
ORGANOLEPTICS
The dry leaves are dark, mature, and tightly compressed, displaying deep brown, copper, and golden tones characteristic of professionally stored aged Shu Pu'Er tea. Their appearance reflects careful fermentation, traditional factory craftsmanship, and years of gradual maturation under Hong Kong natural storage conditions. The aroma of the dry leaf is deep, warm, and highly integrated, combining notes of aged wood, resin, dried fruits, dark honey, warm minerals, medicinal herbs, and soft earthy nuances. In a preheated gaiwan or teapot, the aroma becomes smoother and increasingly expressive, revealing additional layers of cocoa, humid forest tones, roasted nuts, sweet grains, incense-like woodiness, tree bark, and subtle camphor-like freshness. After the rinse, the leaves fully awaken and the aromatic profile becomes exceptionally rounded, balancing woody maturity, creamy softness, mineral warmth, and refined sweetness.
The liquor is clear and bright, with a deep ruby-brown tone reflecting careful fermentation and long-term Hong Kong natural storage. The aroma of the infusion is dense, smooth, and highly persistent, combining warm wood, dried fruits, creamy chocolate-like notes, sweet grains, warm minerals, resinous nuances, dark honey, and subtle herbal complexity. The texture is exceptionally smooth, velvety, and coating, filling the palate with deep warmth and remarkable softness while maintaining balanced structure and mature energetic depth. 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, forest honey, humid earth, and soft medicinal nuances continue evolving throughout the session while maintaining remarkable harmony between maturity, smoothness, depth, and traditional Hong Kong storage 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 elegant mature character associated with professionally stored old Shu Pu'Er. In the empty cup, the aroma remains warm and expressive, revealing lingering notes of aged wood, dark honey, cocoa, dried fruits, sweet grains, humid forest tones, medicinal herbs, resin, and subtle camphor undertones.
2006 Lao Tong Zhi is a semi-aged Shu Pu'Er tea produced by the respected Haiwan Tea Factory under the famous Lao Tong Zhi brand, known for preserving classic factory-style Pu'Er traditions and balanced mature profiles. Naturally matured under professional Hong Kong natural storage conditions, this tea reflects the combination of traditional Yunnan tea craftsmanship, careful long-term aging, and the deep integrated character associated with professionally stored aged Shu Pu'Er. Years of maturation gradually softened and rounded the tea while preserving its dense texture, mineral warmth, woody depth, and refined mature complexity.
This particular tea was sourced directly from a Hong Kong tea collector, where it spent years developing under traditional storage conditions historically associated with the culture of aged Pu'Er tea appreciation. Hong Kong natural storage played a defining role in shaping the final profile of the tea, allowing the woody, resinous, herbal, mineral, and dried fruit characteristics to become increasingly smooth, deep, and integrated over time. Compared to younger or dry-stored Shu Pu'Er teas, professionally stored Hong Kong teas often develop greater softness, aromatic maturity, and a more comforting, rounded texture highly appreciated among experienced collectors and old tea lovers.
The Lao Tong Zhi brand itself became respected for maintaining stable factory production standards and producing teas with strong aging potential and reliable character. Combined with careful Hong Kong storage and more than a decade of natural maturation, this tea developed into a particularly refined and expressive example of aged factory-style Shu Pu'Er. Today, it represents a very special tea for lovers of mature ripe Pu'Er seeking depth, smoothness, traditional storage character, and authentic aged tea atmosphere.
TERROIR
The tea material used for 2006 Lao Tong Zhi originates from the mountain tea-growing regions of Yunnan, the historical birthplace of Pu'Er tea and one of the most important tea-producing environments in the world. Tea gardens in this region develop under warm subtropical mountain conditions shaped by abundant rainfall, humid air, mineral-rich soils, and dense forest biodiversity. These environmental conditions contribute directly to the tea’s dense texture, mineral warmth, layered complexity, and long-term aging potential.
Like many classic factory-style Pu'Er teas, Lao Tong Zhi productions traditionally rely on blending technology combining tea material from different mountain regions, elevations, and leaf grades to create a stable and recognizable flavor profile. This production philosophy became one of the defining characteristics of large Yunnan tea factories, where blending allows producers to balance texture, sweetness, fermentation depth, aroma, body, and structural strength within one tea. Rather than expressing a single terroir in isolation, such recipes aim to create harmony, consistency, and strong aging capacity over time.
An especially important part of this tea’s final character comes from its professional Hong Kong natural storage. The warm and humid climate of Hong Kong gradually transformed the tea over many years, softening sharper structural elements while encouraging the development of deeper woody, resinous, herbal, mineral, dried fruit, and mature earthy characteristics associated with traditionally stored aged Shu Pu'Er. Compared to younger or dry-stored productions, this style of storage often produces a smoother, deeper, and more integrated profile with exceptional softness and mature aromatic complexity.
The interaction between Yunnan mountain material, traditional factory blending methods, careful fermentation, and long-term Hong Kong storage became the defining expression of this tea’s mature character. Gradual transformation over time created a Shu Pu'Er with deep warmth, balanced structure, aromatic integration, and the comforting mature atmosphere especially appreciated among experienced old tea lovers and collectors.
ORGANOLEPTICS
The dry leaves are dark, mature, and tightly compressed, displaying deep brown, copper, and golden tones characteristic of professionally stored aged Shu Pu'Er tea. Their appearance reflects careful fermentation, traditional factory craftsmanship, and years of gradual maturation under Hong Kong natural storage conditions. The aroma of the dry leaf is deep, warm, and highly integrated, combining notes of aged wood, resin, dried fruits, dark honey, warm minerals, medicinal herbs, and soft earthy nuances. In a preheated gaiwan or teapot, the aroma becomes smoother and increasingly expressive, revealing additional layers of cocoa, humid forest tones, roasted nuts, sweet grains, incense-like woodiness, tree bark, and subtle camphor-like freshness. After the rinse, the leaves fully awaken and the aromatic profile becomes exceptionally rounded, balancing woody maturity, creamy softness, mineral warmth, and refined sweetness.
The liquor is clear and bright, with a deep ruby-brown tone reflecting careful fermentation and long-term Hong Kong natural storage. The aroma of the infusion is dense, smooth, and highly persistent, combining warm wood, dried fruits, creamy chocolate-like notes, sweet grains, warm minerals, resinous nuances, dark honey, and subtle herbal complexity. The texture is exceptionally smooth, velvety, and coating, filling the palate with deep warmth and remarkable softness while maintaining balanced structure and mature energetic depth. 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, forest honey, humid earth, and soft medicinal nuances continue evolving throughout the session while maintaining remarkable harmony between maturity, smoothness, depth, and traditional Hong Kong storage 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 elegant mature character associated with professionally stored old Shu Pu'Er. In the empty cup, the aroma remains warm and expressive, revealing lingering notes of aged wood, dark honey, cocoa, dried fruits, sweet grains, humid forest tones, medicinal herbs, resin, and subtle camphor undertones.
SHU (RIPE) PU'ER
Explore more Shu (Ripe) Pu'Er from AN SHIM TEA Collection.