D-CN-004
Shou Pu-erh Palace Grade
宫廷普洱
Fine-grade wet-piled, from Yunnan, China.
Dark tea (post-fermented)
Shou Pu-erh Palace Grade is strongest on smoothness, sweetness and body. Typical tasting words: cocoa powder, caramel, malt, forest floor, leather. Historically designated for high-grade tribute teas made exclusively from tiny golden buds rather than coarse leaves. Favoured for its smooth, refined mouthfeel and rapid extraction compared to coarser brick or cake teas.
Also known as Gong Ting Pu-erh, Tribute Ripe Pu-erh and Imperial Grade Shou.
The profile
Taste, 0 to 5
Flavour families, 0 to 5
Facts
- Origin
- Yunnan, China
- Plant
- Camellia sinensis var. assamica
- Harvest
- spring flush
- Elevation
- mid
- Oxidation
- 95 to 100%
- Roast
- unroasted
- Leaf
- compressed
- Price band
- mid-range
- Availability
- fairly common
- Ageing
- worthwhile
- Forgiving to brew
- 5 of 5
- L-theanine
- low
Made by: sun-drying, then wet-piling, then sorting fine buds, then steaming, then compressing.
Caffeine
A cup of Shou Pu-erh Palace Grade carries a typical estimate of 55 mg of caffeine, within a range of 40 to 70 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 | 2 min, 3 min, 4 min |
| Gongfu, 100 ml | 6 g | 98 to 100 °C | Rinse, then 5 s, 10 s, 15 s, 20 s, 30 s, 45 s |
Up to 7 infusions. Scale for your own pot with the brew calculator.
Drinking it
- morning
- afternoon
- breakfast
- after_meal
- relaxing
Pairs with dim_sum, chocolate and dessert. Milk: yes. Iced: no. Sweetener: no. Good for beginners: yes.
Tasting words explained
Similar teas
- D-CN-003Shou Pu-erh (Ripe)
shares smoothness and sweetness - D-CN-022Liu Bao (Aged)
shares smoothness and sweetness - D-CN-025Hunan Fu Zhuan Brick
shares sweetness and body - D-CN-012Pu-erh Tuocha
shares body and smoothness - D-CN-024Liu Bao Basket
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.