2019 Xiaguan "Jin Bang Gan Pu Er" Ripe Pu-erh

Rich, smooth, clean flavor + superb value = win-win!

These 2019 “Jin Bang Gan” cakes are 357 grams each, but one can purchase a cake from King Tea Mall for only $16.99 (at the time of posting). What a steal!

In its early steeps, this tea is sweet, velvety, thick, and satisfying in the stomach, without an apparent central flavor. The infusions then evolve with a floral character that reminds me of clean laundry (detergent, dryer sheets, etc.). Finally, the last steeps gradually become woodier and more herbal, reminiscent of petrichor.

I typically use 5 to 8 grams of tea leaves in a 100 mL gaiwan. Brewing with 5 grams yields a light, refreshing brew with less “core” to the flavor; using 8 grams brings out more spiciness with medicinal notes. I start with flash steeps the first three or four rounds and then increase by approximately 5 seconds for each subsequent brew. I enjoy this tea several times a week and love it more each time.

An unbelievable deal for the price! Not the most complex puerh, but still incredibly rich, satisfying, and perfect for a cold rainy day.

Basically impossible to draw any bitterness out of it, even if you steep it for like 20 minutes.

I either brew it gong fu style if I have the time and energy, or I steep it in a infuser or teapot with room to expand. With gong fu I get maybe 15 or 20 steeps out of it (eventually I just have to give up), and with western style I get about 3 strong steeps and one mellow one.

For the price, this cannot be beat. This is a daily drinker for me, almost exclusively grandpa style. This is quite approachable and, while not having a lot of complexity, brews up richly and smoothly.

This is a very basic pu-erh: wood, decay, a bit sour, a bit sweet. No complexity and the flavors do not blend well. I can’t find anything outright bad, but also nothing good or just memorable. Also, I failed to see any signs that it will get better with time. Well, at least it lacks any fishiness.

There are many inexpensive shous that are more interesting and enjoyable. I still have an almost entire cake of it left and it will probably be a slog to finish.