-
0 Saturation
-
0 Aftertaste
-
0 Aroma
-
0 Effect
-
0 Balance
-
0 Body
Shu Pu'er "Wu Jin Gong Bing" (乌金贡饼) 2020 from Zhoushi: the radiance of "Black Gold"
Wu Jin Gong Bing (乌金贡饼, Wūjīn gòng bǐng) translates as "Black Gold Tribute (or Palace) Cake"—a name that speaks volumes about the high quality and premium nature of this tea. This shu pu'er (熟普洱, Shú pǔ'ěr) was produced in 2020 by the Zhoushi factory (周氏, Zhōu shì) from raw materials harvested in Yunnan Province and pressed into a classic 357-gram Bing Cha (饼茶, Bǐng chá) cake. The Zhoushi family brand presents this product, positioning it as a high-quality shu pu'er.
Name and concept: "Black Gold" and "Tax Pancake"
The name "Wu Jin Gong Bing" contains several important layers of meaning:
- Gong Bing (贡饼, Gòng bǐng ): Literally "tax cake" or "palace cake." Historically, the term "Gong Cha" (贡茶, Gòng chá) referred to tea supplied to the imperial court as tribute. In the modern context, "Gong Bing" or "Gong Ting" (宫廷 - palace) refers to the use of high-quality raw materials – tender, young leaves and a large number of golden tea buds (金芽 - jīn yá). This tea is distinguished by its exceptional softness, smoothness, sweetness, and purity of flavor.
- Wu Jin (乌金, Wūjīn ): Translated as "black gold," the "wu" (乌) refers to the deep, dark color of the tea itself (leaves and infusion), characteristic of shu pu'er. "jin" (金 - gold) emphasizes the product's value and hints at the presence of golden buds in the raw material, which impart not only flavor but also a beautiful appearance.
Vintage 2020: A Balance of Youth and the Beginning of Maturity
The 2020 tea (aged approximately 4.5 years) is at an interesting stage. It's aged enough to shed the potential harsh notes of fresh fermentation ("dui wei"), but still retains sufficient freshness and vibrant flavor. This age is often considered a good compromise for shu pu-erh—it's already pleasant to drink, but also has potential for further development.
Appearance
The classic 357-gram cake is a convenient and traditional form for storing and gradually drinking pu-erh tea. The cake's surface is attractive: a mixture of dark brown and black fermented leaves with noticeable golden-red buds (Jin Ya). The pressing is moderate, allowing for a clear view of the raw material.
Taste and aroma: smooth and sweet
- Aroma: Clean, sweet, warm. Notes of dark chocolate, dates, caramel, fudge, light nutty or woody undertones (sandalwood, aged wood).
- Taste: Exceptionally smooth, soft, velvety, and dense. Sweetness dominates – chocolate, date, and caramel. Woody notes are refined and well-integrated. Bitterness or astringency are virtually absent.
- Infusion: Thick, clear, rich chestnut color.
- Finish: Long, sweet, warming and comfortable.
Brewing recommendations
For shu pu-erh from delicate raw materials:
- Preparation: Carefully chip off 5-7 grams of tea.
- Water: Boiling water (95-100°C).
- Rinsing: 1-2 quick rinses to clean and awaken the leaf.
- Brewing: Steeping. Start with short steeping times (10-15 seconds), as budded tea leaves may release their flavor more quickly. Gradually increase the steeping time. This tea can withstand multiple steepings.
The 2020 Wu Jin Gong Bing Shu Pu'er from the Zhoushi factory is positioned as a premium product, as reflected in its name. This exceptionally smooth, soft, sweet, and pure Shu Pu'er is made from high-quality raw materials with an abundance of golden buds. Its moderate age makes it ready to drink immediately, offering a rich chocolate-date profile and velvety texture. It's an excellent choice for those seeking a refined, comfortable, and high-quality Shu.
|
Name in Chinese
|
乌金贡饼 |
|
Pinyin
|
Wūjīn gòng bǐng |
|
Country
|
China |
|
Provinces
|
Yunnan (云南) |
|
Manufacturer
|
Чжоуши (周氏) |
|
Date of raw material production
|
2020 |
|
Year of pressing
|
2020 |
|
Pressing form
|
Bing Cha (Cake Tea) |
- Reviews
- Vkontakte
The question often arises: how to brew puerh correctly? Sometimes the phrase "to get high" is added to it. Moreover, everyone has their own understanding of this phrase. Some mean vigor, and some - intoxication. So how to brew puerh tea correctly? Let's consider several options.
Well, finally we got to the Zhoushi puer factory, which is located in Menghai, Yunnan Province. We first purchased their cakes remotely several years ago and they were to the taste of Russian tea people. Now it's time to personally meet the owners and expand the range of this brand on the shelves of ChL. In this video, you will see the production process of the already familiar cakes, rare shots of the nuances of packaging and the atmosphere of such places.
The tea ceremony occupies a special place in the centuries-old Eastern tradition. And although the essence of this phenomenon remains constant, the nature and external manifestations of the tea ceremony in different nations have their own national characteristics. In each Chinese province, the tea ceremony and the tea used in it are varied: for example, residents of the southern provinces prefer green tea, and residents of the northern provinces - red tea, in Fujian province they more often use Oolong tea, and in Yunnan province Puer tea is widely known.
