Hunan Dark Tea: Tasting a 14-Year-Old, 3.5 kg Tea Brick

A 3.5 kg column of Chinese dark tea, produced in Hunan in 2012. What does a tea like this taste like after almost 14 years of aging? In this video, I'm joined by Jo, also known as Tiny Teapot, for a tasting of an unusual Hunan hei cha that I recently brought back from China. This tea comes in three different formats: a smaller 350 g column, a 3.5 kg column, and a massive 35 kg version. I've tasted the smaller format and previously offered slices from the largest one, but this is my first time opening and tasting the size in between. The tea was produced on September 8, 2012, and has been stored in China until recently. Its tightly compressed leaves and branches make the inside particularly interesting. We also discuss whether the different column sizes might affect how evenly the tea ages. For the tasting, we use around 5.3 grams of tea in an 80 ml brewing vessel. The first impression is surprisingly smooth. Despite its dark liquor, the tea isn't particularly aggressive or astringent. Instead, we find honey-like sweetness, aromatic complexity, and a gentle woody character. Jo and I also compare our experiences with different types of hei cha, including Liu Bao and Shou Pu-erh, and discuss how fermentation, storage, and aging can influence the final result. One interesting observation is that although the tea has almost 14 years of age, it doesn't show the heavy wet-storage character that some people might associate with aged dark tea. Instead, the aging seems to have brought a certain roundness and smoothness to the cup. We also talk about Sheng Pu-erh, different aging phases, tea brewing preferences, and why some teas are better enjoyed lightly while others benefit from a stronger brew. This is a conversation about an unusual Chinese tea, its aging potential, and the pleasure of discovering something new together. Featuring Jo / Tiny Teapot. If you enjoy Chinese dark tea, hei cha, Liu Bao, Pu-erh, and comparative tea tastings, let us know what you think in the comments. Music: Moments by Olexandr Ignatov ‪@Aemeralds 👉 JOIN DISCORD:   / discord   👉 LINK TO OUR ONLINE SHOPS: 🇺🇸 https://us.nannuoshan.org 🇪🇺 https://nannuoshan.org 🎬 If you are looking to improve your tea knowledge and brewing skills, make sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel:    / @nannuoshan   📖 For even more insights into the tea world and to access bonus material and special offers, join our newsletter: 🇺🇸 https://us.nannuoshan.org/pages/newsl... 🇪🇺 https://nannuoshan.org/pages/newsletter 🫖 TEAWARE • Gaiwan of all shapes and sizes 🇺🇸 https://us.nannuoshan.org/collections... 🇪🇺 https://www.nannuoshan.org/collection... • Yixing and other teapots 🇺🇸 https://us.nannuoshan.org/collections... 🇪🇺 https://www.nannuoshan.org/collection... 👉 FOLLOW US • 🇺🇸 American online shop: https://us.nannuoshan.org • 🇪🇺 European online shop: https://nannuoshan.org • Instagram:   / nannuoshan   • Facebook:   / nannuoshan   #tea #gongfucha #gaiwan #HunanTea #HeiCha #ChineseDarkTea #AgedTea #TeaTasting #LiuBao #PuErh #ChineseTea #TeaCulture #TeaAging #TinyTeapot #Nannuoshan