D-CN-012
Pu-erh Tuocha
普洱沱茶
Compressed bowl-shaped pu-erh, from Yunnan, China.
Dark tea (post-fermented)
Pu-erh Tuocha is strongest on earthy, body and smoothness. Typical tasting words: damp earth, forest floor, bark, dark chocolate, malt. The bowl-like tuocha shape was created in late Qing-dynasty Yunnan to facilitate sturdy pack-mule transport along the Ancient Tea Horse Road. A classic everyday compression style in southwestern China and Hong Kong, frequently ordered in dim sum restaurants to aid digestion.
Also known as Tuo Cha, Bowl Tea and Bird's Nest Pu-erh.
The profile
Taste, 0 to 5
Flavour families, 0 to 5
Facts
- Origin
- Yunnan, China
- Plant
- Camellia sinensis var. assamica
- Harvest
- summer or autumn crop
- Elevation
- mixed
- Oxidation
- 95 to 100%
- Roast
- unroasted
- Leaf
- compressed
- Price band
- affordable
- Availability
- common
- Ageing
- worthwhile
- Forgiving to brew
- 5 of 5
- L-theanine
- low
Made by: fermentation, then drying, then steaming, then moulding into bowl form, then drying.
Caffeine
A cup of Pu-erh Tuocha carries a typical estimate of 45 mg of caffeine, within a range of 30 to 60 mg depending on leaf amount, water temperature and steeping time. Figures are estimates for a 240 ml cup. Better earlier in the day if you are sensitive to caffeine. The caffeine planner turns this into a daily total.
How to brew it
| Method | Leaf | Water | Steeps |
|---|---|---|---|
| Western, 250 ml | 3 g | 95 to 100 °C | 3 min, 4 min, 5 min |
| Gongfu, 100 ml | 6.5 g | 98 to 100 °C | Rinse, then 15 s, 15 s, 20 s, 25 s, 30 s, 40 s |
Up to 8 infusions. Scale for your own pot with the brew calculator.
Drinking it
- morning
- afternoon
- after_meal
- cold_weather
Pairs with dim_sum, red_meat and fried_food. Milk: yes. Iced: no. Sweetener: no. Good for beginners: yes.
Tasting words explained
Similar teas
- D-CN-013Pu-erh Mini Nest
shares earthy and body - D-CN-003Shou Pu-erh (Ripe)
shares earthy and body - D-CN-023Liu Bao (Young)
shares earthy and body - D-CN-031Sichuan Kang Zhuan
shares body and smoothness - D-CN-032Hubei Qing Zhuan
shares body and smoothness - D-CN-030Ya'an Tibetan Brick (Zang Cha)
shares body and smoothness
More: all dark tea (post-fermented) teas, teas from Yunnan, China, or filter the whole drawer.