Jingyang Genshe 2014 Vintage Fu Brick Tea | Golden Flower Dark Tea

Appearance & Aroma (Dry Leaf)

• Brick Compression: Moderately tight with visible stem inclusion—Fu Brick Tea's relatively loose compression and its required amount of stems are also favourable for their development. Traditional structure allows Golden Flower proliferation while maintaining decade-long structural integrity.
• Surface Color: Deep umber-brown with visible golden-yellow spore clusters (Jin Hua) scattered throughout cross-section.
• Dry Aroma: Good Fu Brick should have a clean, pleasant smell. Look for sweet, fruity, and that special fungal flower fragrance. Notes of aged teak wood, dried jujube, subtle tobacco leaf, and a distinctive warm bread-like yeastiness characteristic of thriving Golden Flowers.

Wet Leaf

• Color: Deep chocolatey-brown with patches of golden spores still visible.
• Leaf Integrity: Mixed whole leaves and stems; expected for authentic Anhua Hei Mao Cha processed in traditional fashion.
• Wet Aroma: Opens with a rush of fermented grain, toasted walnut, and a hint of vanilla-like sweetness—hallmark of active Eurotium cristatum.

Liquor Color

• Visual: The tea should be clear, deep amber or reddish-brown. This vintage pours a brilliant ruby-amber with excellent clarity—a sign of clean dry storage and proper fermentation.

Mouthfeel

• Texture: When you taste it, notice how it isn't bitter or harsh.
• Hui Gan (Returning Sweetness): Slow-building, finishing with clean dried fruit sweetness persisting 30+ seconds.
• Astringency: Negligible; the decade of aging has rounded all harsh edges—Unlike ordinary brick tea, good quality Fu Tea is not astringent at all.

Core Flavor Notes

• Primary: The good quality Fu Tea gives a hint of Chinese dates like flavor, combined with a mild woody scent. Dried jujube, cedar, caramelized malt.
• Secondary: Roasted barley, beeswax, dark honey, subtle leather.
• Tertiary (Developing with Steeps): Hints of aged fig, antique wood, mild ginseng-like herbal undertones.
• Fermentation Character: Think natural wine or funky Belgian ale—earthy complexity balanced by clean fruit notes.

Empty Cup & Finish

• Cup Aroma: Lingering sweet grain, distant honey, warm baked bread.
• Finish: Long and evolving; initial savory-woodiness gives way to persistent dried fruit and a whisper of camphor. Exceptionally clean aftertaste reflecting quality dry storage.

Body Sensation (Chaqi)

• Physical Effect: Gentle warming radiating from the core; subtle perspiration may occur after multiple steeps. Relaxing rather than stimulating.
• Intensity: 3.5/5 — Moderate and sustained; ideal for afternoon or evening drinking.
• Digestive Comfort: Fu Brick Tea is more than just a flavorful beverage Many drinkers report a settling, comfortable feeling post-meal.

This aged Fu Brick performs exceptionally well with both Gongfu method and stovetop boiling—the two approaches we recommend for unlocking its full complexity.

Gongfu Method (Recommended for Connoisseurs)

• Tea Amount: 5–7g per 100ml water
• Water Temperature: 95°C–100°C (205°F–212°F); full boiling is appropriate
• Vessel: Gaiwan, Yixing clay teapot, or ceramic pot
• Rinse: One quick rinse (5 seconds) to awaken the leaves; discard liquid
• First 3 Infusions: 10–15 seconds each
• Subsequent Infusions: Add 5–10 seconds per round; this tea can easily yield 15+ quality infusions
• Notes: Watch the color develop—early steeps are brighter amber, deepening to mahogany. This tea rewards patience; the later steeps often reveal the most interesting complexity.

Stovetop Boiling (Recommended for Maximum Body)

• Tea Amount: 3–5g per 500ml water
• Water Temperature: Bring to full boil, then maintain gentle simmer
• Method: Add tea to cold or room-temperature water in a heat-safe pot. Bring to boil, then reduce to low simmer for 5–10 minutes.
• Notes: Boiling extracts the full viscosity of the tea-oil process, producing an exceptionally rich, almost syrupy liquor.

Grandpa Style (Simple Daily Drinking)

• Tea Amount: 2–3g per 300ml mug or tall glass
• Water Temperature: 90°C–100°C
• Method: Place leaves directly in drinking vessel.
• Notes: Less refined than Gongfu, but perfectly acceptable for casual enjoyment. The tea's low astringency means oversteeping is rarely a problem.

French Press (Western Method)

• Tea Amount: 4–5g per 350ml
• Water Temperature: 95°C–100°C
• Steep Time: 3–5 minutes (adjust to taste)
• Method: Add tea, pour water, steep, press, pour. Can resteep 2–3 times with extended timing.
• Notes: Produces a clean, moderately rich cup suitable for those new to dark tea.

Thermos Flask Infusion (Grandpa's Grandpa Method)

• Tea Amount: 3–5g per 500ml thermos
• Method: Add tea and hot water in the morning; drink throughout the day. Refill as needed.
• Notes: Traditional method for workers and travelers. The sustained heat gently extracts flavor over hours.

Quick brewing guide

• 
  French press or teapot: 4–5g per 350ml water at 95–100°C / 203–212°F. Steep for 3–5 minutes and adjust to taste.
• 
  Gongfu: 5–7g per 100ml water at 95–100°C. Rinse for about 5 seconds and discard. Start with 10–15 seconds for the first three infusions, then add 5–10 seconds per round.

Store your tea in a cool, dry, dark place away from strong smells like spices or coffee. Don't use airtight containers for long storage because the tea needs to breathe.

Essential Guidelines:

• Environment: Store at room temperature (15°C–25°C / 59°F–77°F) with moderate humidity (50–70% RH). Avoid direct sunlight and heat sources.
• Ventilation: Fu Brick tea benefits from gentle air circulation—do not vacuum-seal. A cardboard box, paper wrapping, or unglazed ceramic container works well.
• Odor Isolation: Keep away from kitchens, spices, perfumes, or any strong-smelling items. Dark tea readily absorbs ambient odors.
• AVOID REFRIGERATOR STORAGE: Never store Fu Brick tea in the refrigerator or freezer. The enclosed moisture environment invites mold rather than the desired Eurotium cristatum.
• The Golden Flowers remain stable and beneficial throughout the aging process.

Can age for 60+ years; currently entering optimal drinking window with significant complexity remaining to develop

Storage: keep cool, dry and away from strong odors, in breathable wrapping or another suitable container.