Auténtico Té de Ladrillo Fu YXT de Dabashan – 900g

• Tea Category: Fu Brick Tea (茯砖茶, Fuzhuan Cha) / Post-Fermented Chinese Dark Tea (黑茶, Heicha)
• Leaf Harvest Seasons: Spring 2016 and Spring 2017
• Brick Completion Date: 2018
• Current Age: 6+ Years (as of 2024)
• Leaf Origin: Dabashan 大巴山 region, southern Shaanxi Province — high-altitude gardens owned and operated by YXT along the Qinba mountain range (Nanzheng and Ziyang counties, bordering Sichuan and Hubei)
• Geographic Significance: Daba Mountains (大巴山) form the natural boundary between the Sichuan Basin and Hanzhong Basin, creating unique microclimates for tea cultivation
• Manufacturing Location: Jingyang County, Shaanxi — the documented birthplace of Fu Brick Tea production
• Producer: YXT (Yongxingtai / 永兴泰) Tea Factory — Jingyang Manzi Fucha Co., Ltd., established 2012; production facility exceeds 5,000 sqm with both artisan and mechanized lines; ranked among Xianyang's Top 10 Fu Tea Brands (2020)
• Official Certification: Authorized bearer of China's Geographic Indication for Jingyang Brick Tea (泾阳砖茶地理标志), granted 2015
• Construction Method: Traditional artisan brick-building (手工筑制, Shougong Zhuzhi) — manual tamping creates visible stratification and ideal porosity for golden flower development
• Net Weight: 900g per brick
• Format: Large-format compressed brick suited for extended cellaring, generous sharing, or sustained daily enjoyment
• Golden Flower Condition: Robust and flourishing — abundant Eurotium cristatum colonies visible throughout interior cross-sections; optimal brick density supports continued fungal vitality
• Leaf Composition: Select spring-picked leaves with balanced stem inclusion (茶梗, Chageng) to enhance natural sweetness and promote golden flower propagation
• Processing Environment: Hygienic modern facility meeting food-safety standards, ensuring clean fermentation free from off-flavors
• Flavor Character: Distinctively smooth and sweet, reflecting the high-elevation Dabashan terroir combined with extended post-fermentation maturation

Dry Brick Appearance & Aroma

The exterior presents a handsome deep umber tone with subtle oil sheen—evidence of proper post-fermentation processing (渥堆, Wodui). Breaking into the brick reveals the artisan construction: clear horizontal stratification from the traditional tamping method, with golden flower colonies distributed generously across each exposed surface. The dry fragrance evokes aged wooden library shelves, toasted oat groats, and distant hints of molasses, underscored by the characteristic sweet mustiness of thriving Eurotium cristatum.

Infused Leaf Appearance & Aroma

Once steeped, the leaves expand to display clean, glossy material in shades of deep olive and chestnut—entirely free of debris or foreign matter. The wet leaf bouquet intensifies considerably: warm baked bread, roasted almond skin, dried persimmon, and an inviting fungal sweetness reminiscent of quality aged cheese rind.

Liquor Appearance

The brew pours a luminous amber-orange to burnished copper, demonstrating exceptional clarity and brilliance without any haziness or particulate matter—a signature of expertly processed, well-matured Fu Brick.

Palate & Texture

The initial impression is remarkable softness—this tea has shed any rough edges through its years of transformation. The six-plus years of maturation reveal themselves immediately in the rounded, integrated character. Flavor impressions include:

• Dominant notes: Butterscotch, malted grain, lightly caramelized date sugar
• Supporting notes: Toasted pecan, ripe fig, whispers of dark cocoa
• Textural quality: Plush, enveloping, almost creamy—the liquor coats the mouth with substantial body yet remains utterly clean

The golden flower influence manifests as a distinctive mellow warmth and cereal-like sweetness impossible to replicate through other means.

Empty Cup Fragrance (杯底香, Beidi Xiang)

The drained vessel holds a captivating residual perfume: warm honey on toast, dried jujube, and gentle spice notes that linger and invite continued exploration.

Finish & Returning Sweetness (回甘, Huigan)

A satisfying wave of clean sweetness emerges from deep in the throat, building gradually and persisting remarkably long. The finish carries suggestions of dried apple, light caramel, and a subtle warming spice.

Physical Sensation (体感, Tigan)

This brick delivers a settling, grounding warmth that radiates gently from the center. Many drinkers notice a calm, focused alertness rather than stimulation—excellent for contemplative moments or digestive support after substantial meals. The clean processing ensures comfortable drinking without any heaviness or unease.

Steeping Longevity

Outstanding durability—anticipate 12-18 rewarding infusions via gongfu technique, with the sweetness and body evolving gracefully rather than diminishing abruptly.

Q1: What flavor profile can I expect from this Dabashan Fu Brick Tea?

This generously aged brick delivers a taste experience that Western palates often liken to comfort foods: think warm butterscotch pudding, malted milkshakes, or freshly baked oatmeal cookies with hints of dried fruit. The dominant impressions center on toasted grains, caramelized sugars, and gentle nuttiness, with supporting notes of dried fig and subtle dark chocolate undertones. Six-plus years of maturation have eliminated any harshness—you will find zero bitterness, zero astringency, and absolutely no musty or "fishy" off-flavors that sometimes plague poorly processed dark teas. The abundant golden flowers contribute their signature mellow sweetness and rounded warmth. The texture stands out particularly: plush and almost creamy, coating your palate with satisfying body while finishing completely clean. The aftertaste builds slowly with honeyed sweetness that persists for several minutes. Whether you are transitioning from other tea styles or exploring Chinese dark tea for the first time, this brick offers an exceptionally approachable and rewarding introduction to the category.

Q2: What makes Dabashan tea leaves special compared to other origins?

The Daba Mountains (大巴山) represent one of China's most distinctive tea-growing regions, straddling the border where Shaanxi, Sichuan, and Hubei provinces converge. This mountain range serves as the geographic divide between the Sichuan Basin to the south and the Hanzhong Basin to the north, creating remarkable microclimatic conditions. The high elevation—combined with abundant rainfall, persistent mist cover, and dramatic day-night temperature swings—encourages tea bushes to develop slowly, concentrating flavor compounds and natural sweetness within each leaf. The soil composition, rich in minerals from ancient geological formations, contributes additional complexity to the finished tea. YXT established their own gardens in this region specifically to secure consistent access to this distinctive terroir. Unlike blended products sourcing leaves from anonymous suppliers, this brick contains exclusively Dabashan material from YXT's proprietary cultivation areas—ensuring full traceability and authentic regional character. The result is a noticeably sweeter, more refined base leaf that transforms beautifully through Fu Brick processing.

Q3: Why is the 900g format advantageous for collectors and serious enthusiasts?

The generous 900g brick format offers several practical benefits beyond simply providing more tea. First, larger bricks age more gracefully over extended periods because the greater mass maintains more stable internal conditions, buffering against environmental fluctuations that can disrupt smaller pieces. The interior remains protected and continues its slow transformation optimally. Second, the substantial size provides excellent value—cost per gram typically decreases with larger formats, making this an economical choice for regular drinkers who appreciate Fu Brick's health benefits and mellow character. Third, the 900g brick offers versatility: you can break off portions for daily brewing while the majority continues aging undisturbed in your storage. Fourth, this format invites sharing—whether hosting tea sessions with friends or gifting portions to fellow enthusiasts, you have ample quantity to spread the experience. Finally, for serious collectors building a cellar, the 900g brick represents a meaningful acquisition rather than a sample, worthy of documentation and tracking over years or decades. The traditional hand-pressed construction ensures this particular brick will continue developing beautifully for many years ahead.

Q4: How can I identify genuine hand-pressed construction versus machine-pressed bricks?

Authentic artisan-built Fu Bricks (手工筑制, Shougong Zhuzhi) display several telltale characteristics that distinguish them from mechanized production. The most obvious indicator appears when you break into the brick: hand-pressed bricks show distinct horizontal layering or stratification running lengthwise through the tea mass, created as craftsmen tamp each successive portion into the mold from the narrow end. Machine-pressed bricks, compressed from the broad face, lack this visible lamination and appear more uniformly dense throughout. Second, hand-pressed bricks feel slightly less compact overall—the moderate compression allows you to pry off portions without excessive force, whereas machine-pressed bricks often require considerable effort to break. Third, this looser internal structure directly benefits golden flower development: the beneficial Eurotium cristatum fungus requires air circulation to colonize thoroughly, achieving denser and more widespread coverage in hand-pressed bricks than in their tightly machine-compressed counterparts. Examining the cross-section when you break off tea should reveal abundant golden colonies distributed throughout—not just concentrated in pockets. Finally, hand-pressing represents significant additional labor compared to mechanical efficiency, typically reserved for premium products where quality justifies the investment.

Fu Brick Tea rewards various brewing approaches—from concentrated gongfu sessions to leisurely boiled pots. The following techniques will help you extract optimal flavor from this aged Dabashan brick.

Approach 1: Gongfu Technique (功夫茶泡法) — Ideal for Appreciating Complexity

Vessel: Porcelain gaiwan or seasoned clay pot, 120-180ml capacity

Leaf Quantity: 6-8 grams (roughly a walnut-sized chunk)

Water Quality: Fresh filtered or natural spring water, brought to vigorous boil (100°C / 212°F)

Procedure:

1. Employ a tea pick or sturdy blade to separate your desired portion, following the brick's natural lamination to preserve leaf structure.
2. Warm your brewing vessel and drinking cups with hot water; pour off completely.
3. Deposit the tea portion into the heated vessel.
4. Fill with boiling water to the brim.
5. Execute a brief awakening rinse of approximately 8-12 seconds; discard this liquid to open the leaves and wash away any surface dust.
6. For your initial drinking infusion, pour boiling water and decant after 12-18 seconds into a serving pitcher, then distribute.
7. Extend subsequent infusions progressively, adding roughly 5-8 seconds per round as the leaves exhaust.
8. Anticipate 12-18 satisfying rounds before the tea fades noticeably.

Suggestions: Maintain slight ventilation between pours to prevent inadvertent over-extraction. Notice how early rounds emphasize the golden flower sweetness while later rounds reveal deeper grain and wood tones.

Approach 2: Boiling Technique (煮茶法) — Optimal for Rich Extraction & Gatherings

Vessel: Tempered glass pot, glazed ceramic kettle, or food-grade metal pot, 600ml-1.5L capacity

Leaf Quantity: 6-10 grams per 600ml; adjust proportionally for volume

Water Quality: Fresh filtered or spring water

Procedure:

1. Separate your tea portion and place directly into the pot.
2. Fill with cool or room-temperature filtered water.
3. Position over medium flame and bring gradually to boiling.
4. Upon reaching full boil, lower heat and maintain gentle simmer for 4-6 minutes.
5. Strain into cups or serving vessel.
6. The depleted leaves tolerate 2-3 additional boiling cycles; extend simmering duration accordingly.

Suggestions: Simmering unlocks the deepest, most robust expression of this tea—particularly suited to cold-weather drinking or accompanying hearty cuisine. The resulting brew will exhibit darker color and fuller body than quick-infusion methods.

Approach 3: Extended Steeping / Thermos Method (闷泡法) — Effortless All-Day Drinking

Vessel: Vacuum flask, insulated travel mug, or substantial lidded cup, 400-600ml capacity

Leaf Quantity: 4-6 grams

Water Quality: Freshly boiled (100°C / 212°F)

Procedure:

1. Deposit tea into your vessel.
2. Optionally conduct a brief rinse: add minimal hot water, agitate, drain.
3. Pour freshly boiled water to fill; seal tightly.
4. Permit 25-40 minutes steeping before initial consumption; the brew will continue releasing flavor for hours.
5. Top up with fresh hot water as you drink throughout the day.

Suggestions: This unfussy approach produces consistently gentle, approachable liquor perfect for workplace or travel scenarios. Fu Brick's forgiving disposition prevents bitterness buildup even during prolonged contact—simply enjoy at your pace.

Approach 4: Western Infusion (Large Mug or French Press) — Accessible Introduction

Vessel: Generous ceramic mug (400-500ml) or glass French press

Leaf Quantity: 4-6 grams

Water Quality: Boiling (100°C / 212°F)

Duration: 4-6 minutes

Mug Procedure:

1. Position tea at vessel bottom.
2. Pour boiling water directly over leaves.
3. Cap with small plate or saucer to conserve heat.
4. Steep 4-6 minutes.
5. Sip directly—leaves will settle naturally—or decant through strainer.
6. Reinfuse 2-3 additional rounds, extending time modestly.

French Press Procedure:

1. Add tea to empty press.
2. Pour boiling water; stir briefly.
3. Position plunger assembly atop without depressing.
4. Steep 4-6 minutes.
5. Press plunger steadily; pour immediately.

Suggestions: Western-style preparation offers straightforward entry for those unfamiliar with gongfu ritual. The extended steep and generous water volume yield balanced, smooth results. Increase leaf dosage for bolder character.

Environmental Parameters:

• Temperature Range: 18-28°C (64-82°F) — avoid extreme heat or cold
• Relative Humidity: 55-70% — neither excessively arid nor damp
• Light Exposure: Eliminate direct sunlight; interior cupboard or dedicated tea cabinet preferred
• Air Exchange: Ensure modest ventilation; avoid hermetically sealed containers
• Odor Protection: Isolate from pungent materials including aromatics, cooking fumes, household chemicals, and fragranced products

Recommended Containment:

Retain the brick within its original wrapping, or house in breathable materials such as cotton cloth, bamboo basket, or unglazed stoneware. Plastic bags, vacuum pouches, and airtight vessels impede necessary air circulation and may compromise golden flower vitality over time.

Aging Potential:

Under appropriate conditions, this Dabashan brick will continue evolving favorably for decades. The active golden flower population and well-constructed brick structure support ongoing transformation toward ever-greater smoothness and complexity. Conduct periodic inspections—healthy golden flowers manifest as golden-yellow granules; any discoloration, unusual textures, or off-odors warrant investigation of storage conditions. Well-maintained bricks become treasured possessions, developing profound depth that commands premium appreciation among collectors.