Shu Pu'er 2020 "Yin Gui" Xing Yang Cha plant 357 g

Shu Pu'er "Yin Gui" (音歸) 2020 from Xing Yang Cha: A Clear, Everyday Essential

This 2020 Shu Pu'er (Shú pǔ'ěr) tea is produced by the Xing Yang Cha (Xìng yàng chá) factory under the intriguing name "Yin Gui" (音歸, Yīn guī). The tea originates from Yunnan Province and is presented in the classic 357-gram Bing Cha (饼茶, Bǐng chá) cake form. It is a classic, reliable, understandable, and functional Shu Pu'er for everyday use. Xing Yang Cha produces various types of Pu'er, and "Yin Gui" is one of their moderately aged Shu Pu'er products.

The name "Yin Gui" (音歸, Yīn guī ) : the return of sound

The name "Yin Gui" (Yīn Guī) can be translated from Chinese as "Return of Sound" or "Return of Music." It's a rather poetic name that doesn't directly refer to the taste, but hints at a harmonious or returning sensation in the tea's aftertaste.

Vintage 2020: Youth and Stability

The tea was made from 2020 tea leaves. It's currently about 4.5 years old—an age when shu pu-erh has already softened significantly after the fermentation process (vodui), but hasn't yet acquired the deep notes of years of aging. This age often provides a good balance between the mature flavor and the lingering energy of the tea, which meets the expectations of a "clear base."

Taste and aroma: a clear base with character

Yin Gui is a straightforward, working shu, or base tea. This means you can expect a classic, recognizable shu pu-erh profile without any extreme or unusual notes. However, it does have its own unique characteristics:

• Pleasant, round bitterness: Unlike the sharp bitterness of young sheng, this tea has a pleasant, round bitterness that adds structure and balance to the flavor.
• Light tobacco aroma: A light tobacco note in the aroma is a fairly common note for shu pu-erhs, adding brutality and warmth to the profile.
• Base: As a base shu, it has the standard woody, earthy, and nutty notes characteristic of this type of tea.

Work shoes for every day

This tea is ideal for regular consumption, especially as an accompaniment to work or study. It's a cake that won't sit on the shelf for long, as it will be regularly consumed while working. Its clear profile and good price-quality ratio make it a reliable choice for everyday tea drinking when you simply need a good, functional shu pu-erh.

Brewing recommendations

Standard method for shu puer:

1. Preparation: Chip off 5-8 grams of tea from the pancake.
2. Rinsing: Rinse the tea 1-2 times with boiling water (95-100°C), quickly draining the water.
3. Brewing: Use boiling water. Start with short infusions (10-15 seconds), gradually increasing the time for subsequent infusions. Given its "working" nature, it also works well for steeping in a thermos or mug.

The 2020 Shu Pu'er Yin Gui from Xing Yan Cha is a reliable, straightforward, and functional representative of its class. It doesn't strive to impress with exotic notes, but offers a stable basic Shu Pu'er profile with interesting accents in the form of a pleasantly rounded bitterness and a slight tobacco aroma. This is an ideal working tea for everyday consumption, suitable for work, study, or simply for enjoying a good cup of quality Shu Pu'er without unnecessary complications.