{"product_id":"the-little-brick-2018-golden-flower-fu-brick-tea","title":"The Little Brick - 2018 Golden Flower Fu Brick Tea (100g)","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis is a collaboration between OrientaLeaf and Genshe Fu Tea — a 100g brick cut from Master Jia Genshe's 2018 production, aged over eight years. Fu brick tea is one of China's oldest compressed dark teas, defined by the natural growth of golden-yellow probiotic colonies inside the brick during fermentation. Genshe's version is aged a minimum of four years at the factory before release — this brick has had more than twice that. Woody, smooth, and deeply mellow. The Little Brick exists for one reason: to make a genuinely high-quality aged fu brick accessible at a price that doesn't require a big commitment.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhy This Collab Exists\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGenshe fu bricks are sold whole — typically 350g to 1,000g per brick. For someone new to fu tea, or someone who wants to try aged fu before buying a full brick, that's a meaningful ask.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Little Brick solves that. We worked with Genshe to cut their 2018 production into 100g portions, wrap them individually, and offer them at a price that removes the barrier. Same tea, same aging, same craft — just a smaller entry point.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout Genshe Fu Tea\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJia Genshe has been making fu brick tea in Jingyang, Shaanxi since 1980, using traditional hand-built methods that trace back over 600 years to when Jingyang was the center of fu brick tea production in China. His craft has been recognized as part of the \u003cstrong\u003eJingyang Fu Brick Tea Making Technique\u003c\/strong\u003e, listed as a \u003cstrong\u003eNational Intangible Cultural Heritage of China\u003c\/strong\u003e — the highest level of craft designation in the country.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGenshe's production follows a strict internal standard: every brick is aged in-factory for a minimum of four years before it leaves. This isn't common practice in the industry. Most fu brick tea is sold young. Genshe's position is that four years is the minimum required for the flavor to properly develop — and the teas reflect that patience.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYou can explore the full Genshe range \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/orientaleaf.com\/collections\/genshe-vintage-fu-brick-tea\"\u003ehere\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat Fu Brick Tea Is\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFu brick tea is a compressed dark tea (\u003cem\u003eheicha\u003c\/em\u003e) made in Jingyang, Shaanxi. Its defining feature is the \u003cstrong\u003eGolden Flower\u003c\/strong\u003e — colonies of \u003cem\u003eEurotium cristatum\u003c\/em\u003e, a naturally occurring beneficial mold that develops inside the brick during a controlled fermentation process called \u003cem\u003efahua\u003c\/em\u003e (发花, literally \"flowering\"). The Golden Flowers are visible as tiny bright yellow spores when you break open the brick.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eNo external inoculants are used at any point in this brick's production — no flour, no grains, no starter cultures of any kind. Only tea leaves and water.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis isn't a defect or spoilage. It is the point. The presence of well-distributed Golden Flowers is the primary quality indicator for fu brick tea — more flowers, better distribution, higher grade. The \u003cem\u003efahua\u003c\/em\u003e fermentation process that produces them is climate-dependent and was historically only achievable in Jingyang's specific continental climate, which is why this tea's origin matters.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEight Years of Aging\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis brick was produced in August 2018. It spent its first four years aging in Genshe's factory in Jingyang — the standard minimum the brand holds to before releasing any tea. By the time it left the factory, the initial roughness of young fu brick had already settled considerably.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt has now been aging for over eight years in total. What that time has produced:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDry brick:\u003c\/strong\u003e Dark brown, dense, with visible golden-yellow spore colonies distributed through the brick. Clean — no off-smell, no mustiness.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAroma:\u003c\/strong\u003e Woody and earthy, with a gentle sweetness underneath. The characteristic pine-wood note of well-aged Jingyang fu brick is clear.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSoup:\u003c\/strong\u003e Deep amber to reddish-brown, clear and bright.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTaste:\u003c\/strong\u003e Smooth and mellow from the first sip. The woody character leads, rounded by a quiet sweetness that builds through the session. The texture is full and substantial — eight years of aging has added a cohesion and depth that younger fu bricks don't have. No bitterness, no astringency. Clean finish.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDurability:\u003c\/strong\u003e Multiple steepings. Fu brick is notably durable — the flavor holds across a long session, shifting gradually from woody complexity toward a quieter, sweeter finish.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFormat\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne 100g brick, individually wrapped in kraft paper with the OrientaLeaf × Genshe co-branded label. The wrapping is part of the presentation — compact enough to fit in a pocket, sturdy enough to travel. Cut from a full Genshe 2018 production brick.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eProduced in compliance with Chinese national food safety standards (GB standard).\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eJingyang Fu Brick Tea Making Technique recognized as National Intangible Cultural Heritage of China.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBrewing Guide\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBreaking the brick\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUse a pu-erh pick or the blunt edge of a knife to gently pry the brick apart along natural seams — don't try to cut straight through. You want loose, open pieces rather than a compressed slab. A 5–7g portion is a good starting amount.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRinse first\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne quick rinse with boiling water, 5–10 seconds, discard. This opens the leaves and activates the Golden Flowers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eVessel\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA porcelain gaiwan or a small clay pot. Fu brick tea is forgiving — most vessels work well. A clay pot that's been used for other dark teas is ideal.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWater\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFiltered or spring water. Full boil — \u003cstrong\u003e95–100°C (203–212°F).\u003c\/strong\u003e Fu brick tea handles high heat well; don't drop the temperature.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRatio\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eApprox. \u003cstrong\u003e5–7g per 100ml.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSteeping Times (Gongfu)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003cthead\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eSteepings\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eTime\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/thead\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1–2\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e15–20 seconds\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3–5\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e20–30 seconds\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e6 onward\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eExtend gradually\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCasual brewing\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e5–7g in a 400ml teapot or large mug, boiling water, steep 3–4 minutes. Fu brick tea is one of the more forgiving teas to brew casually — it doesn't turn bitter easily.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eStorage\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eKeep cool, dry, and away from strong odors\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe kraft paper wrapping is adequate for short-term storage; for longer storage, place in a clean paper bag or cardboard box\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNo airtight sealing — fu brick benefits from some air exchange\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThis brick does not need further aging, but will continue to develop slowly with time\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eExplore the full range:\u003c\/strong\u003e Return to the \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/orientaleaf.com\/collections\/genshe-vintage-fu-brick-tea\"\u003eGenshe Vintage Fu Brick Tea collection\u003c\/a\u003e to see all aged fu brick teas from Master Jia Genshe's Jingyang factory.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"根社茯茶","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":58644934197551,"sku":null,"price":22.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0848\/4854\/1999\/files\/01-the-little-brick-fu-brick-tea-kraft-wrapped-bricks.jpg?v=1791944277","url":"https:\/\/orientaleaf.com\/es\/products\/the-little-brick-2018-golden-flower-fu-brick-tea","provider":"Orientaleaf","version":"1.0","type":"link"}