{"product_id":"silk-road-black-pearl-jin-hua-raw-pu-erh-fu-tea","title":"On Taoism Silk Road Black Pearl Jin Hua Raw Pu-erh Fu Tea","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/orientaleaf.com\/collections\/on-taoism-fu-brick-tea\"\u003eOn Taosim\u003c\/a\u003e has long focused on crafting Fu tea (茯茶) using quality raw leaves from southern China. The Silk Road Black Pearl is an interesting expression of that approach — Yunnan raw Pu-erh material from Lincang, sent to Jingyang in Shaanxi province for the traditional Jin Hua (golden flower) fermentation process, bringing two distinct tea cultures together in a single tea.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"Silk Road\" references Xi'an's historical identity as the starting point of the ancient Silk Road. \"Black Pearl\" is simply a straightforward description of what this tea looks like — tightly hand-rolled dragon pearls, dark and round, each one genuinely resembling a small black pearl.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin \u0026amp; Material\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTea Region\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBai Ying Shan, Yunnan Lincang\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHarvest\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSpring 2024 Blended Material\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJin Hua Processing Location\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eJingyang, Shaanxi\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eStorage\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDry warehouse, Xi'an\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBai Ying Shan (White Eagle Mountain, 白莺山) sits in Yun County, Lincang, along the middle reaches of the Lancang River. It's a tea area known for a relatively diverse range of tea tree varieties. This tea is a blend of several cultivars from the area, including:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eEr Ga Zi\u003c\/strong\u003e (二嘎子): A wild hybrid transitional variety. Known for its smooth, soft liquor, naturally high sweetness, and low bitterness or astringency.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMengku Da Ye Zhong\u003c\/strong\u003e (勐库大叶种): The classic large-leaf Mengku variety.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMengku Xiao Ye Zhong\u003c\/strong\u003e (勐库小叶种): A smaller-leaf counterpart from the same area.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBai Ying Shan is not a hyped or speculative single-origin mountain. The material cost is honest, and so is the price. This tea is designed to be a reliable, everyday Pu-erh — something you can drink without second thoughts.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow It's Made\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLight Wet Piling (Wo Dui):\u003c\/strong\u003e The raw Pu-erh leaves are moistened to a damp level, then lightly piled for approximately 10 hours of mild fermentation.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSteaming \u0026amp; Rolling:\u003c\/strong\u003e The leaves are steamed until soft, then hand-rolled into individual dragon pearl shapes.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eJin Hua Fermentation \u0026amp; Drying:\u003c\/strong\u003e The pearls are placed in a climate-controlled fermentation room, where temperature and humidity are carefully managed over approximately 28 days to allow the Jin Hua (冠突散囊菌, \u003cem\u003eEurotium cristatum\u003c\/em\u003e) to naturally develop.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne thing worth noting: \u003cstrong\u003eno external inoculants of any kind were used in this process\u003c\/strong\u003e — no flour, grain, or any other commonly used additives. The golden flower culture develops entirely through natural environmental control. We consider this an important mark of production integrity for any Fu tea.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBecause of the dragon pearl shape, \u003cstrong\u003ethe Jin Hua grows primarily inside the pearl, not on the surface.\u003c\/strong\u003e The outside of each pearl will appear dark and smooth. Once you break a pearl open, you'll be able to see the golden flower colonies inside. Compared to Fu bricks or cakes, the Jin Hua visibility in pearl-shaped tea is inherently more limited — this is simply a result of the form, and is completely normal.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAppearance\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDragon pearl (long zhu) shape, dark and round\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eApproximately 7g per pearl\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTightly rolled with hints of silver tips visible\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eJin Hua visible on the interior when broken open\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTaste \u0026amp; Aroma\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAlthough the source material is from the 2024 spring harvest, the combination of light wet piling and 28 days of Jin Hua fermentation has meaningfully transformed the character of the tea. \u003cstrong\u003eThis does not drink like a typical young raw Pu-erh.\u003c\/strong\u003e The fresh, sharp, and sometimes astringent quality you'd expect from a 2024 sheng is largely gone. In its place is something noticeably smoother and rounder — it drinks older than its age suggests.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAroma:\u003c\/strong\u003e Clean and refreshing, with sweet and floral notes, alongside the distinctive earthy, mushroom-like character typical of Fu tea\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTaste:\u003c\/strong\u003e Smooth and mellow, naturally sweet, low bitterness and astringency, with a pleasant lingering finish\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLiquor Color:\u003c\/strong\u003e Bright yellow\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLeaf Base:\u003c\/strong\u003e Fine and tender, soft with a resilient texture\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSteeps:\u003c\/strong\u003e Approximately 10 steeps\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecifications \u0026amp; Packaging\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNet Weight\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e200g per tin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePer Pearl\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eApproximately 7g\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePearls per Tin\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eApproximately 28\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOuter Packaging\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eIron tin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eInner Packaging\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSealed plastic bag + individual foil wrap per pearl\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBrewing Guide\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBrew this tea the same way you would brew any raw Pu-erh (sheng Pu-erh).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBasic Parameters:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWater temperature:\u003c\/strong\u003e 100°C (fully boiling)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRatio:\u003c\/strong\u003e 1 pearl (approx. 7g) per 100–150ml gaiwan or teapot\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePour style:\u003c\/strong\u003e Pour and pour out immediately — do not let the tea sit in the water\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eStep-by-Step:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eStage\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eNotes\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFirst 1–2 steeps\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eThe pearl hasn't fully opened yet. Extend your steep time to \u003cstrong\u003e30–50 seconds\u003c\/strong\u003e to allow the leaves to loosen and unfurl.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOnce the pearl has opened\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSwitch to \u003cstrong\u003eimmediate pour-off\u003c\/strong\u003e — no steeping. Boiling water in, straight back out.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLater steeps (7+)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAs the flavor gradually lightens, you can extend the steep time by 10–20 seconds to draw out the remaining taste.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you're brewing in a mug or an infuser cup, we'd suggest using less leaf or reducing the steeping time to avoid over-concentration.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eStorage at Home\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo special conditions are needed. Just follow these basic guidelines:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePlace the pearls back in the iron tin and \u003cstrong\u003eseal the inner plastic bag\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eKeep in a \u003cstrong\u003ecool, dark location\u003c\/strong\u003e away from direct light\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eKeep dry\u003c\/strong\u003e — avoid humid environments and moisture exposure\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eKeep away from strong odors\u003c\/strong\u003e — tea readily absorbs surrounding smells, so keep it away from spices, soaps, cooking fumes, or anything with a strong scent\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePearls still in their individual foil wrapping can simply stay in the tin as-is. No refrigeration needed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eAll information above reflects the actual product as accurately as we can describe it. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Orientaleaf","offers":[{"title":"3-Pearl Sample","offer_id":58398458347823,"sku":null,"price":4.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"200g Tin","offer_id":58398458380591,"sku":null,"price":40.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0848\/4854\/1999\/files\/01-silk-road-black-pearl-jin-hua-raw-pu-erh-fu-tea-tin-front.jpg?v=1788145662","url":"https:\/\/orientaleaf.com\/de\/products\/silk-road-black-pearl-jin-hua-raw-pu-erh-fu-tea","provider":"Orientaleaf","version":"1.0","type":"link"}