Bingdao Aged Ripe Pu-erh (2026 · Coin Cakes) — Mengku Rongshi

Ripe pu-erh from the Bingdao growing area in Yunnan — one of the most regarded tea regions in China — fermented using Mengku Rongshi's box fermentation method and aged before release. The tea is ready to drink now, packaged in individual tins of five 8g coin cakes. Available as a single tin (40g) or a full box of eight tins (320g).

Bingdao

Bingdao is a tea-growing area in Shuangjiang County, Lincang, Yunnan — the same county where Mengku Rongshi has been based since the family began making tea in 1935. It is one of the most sought-after origins in Chinese pu-erh, known for material with a distinctive character: clean, sweet, with a cooling finish and strong salivation that lingers after the cup is empty. These qualities are not common in ripe pu-erh, where fermentation often softens or masks the character of the raw material. Getting them to carry through into a finished shou pu-erh requires both good material and careful process.

The Process

Mengku Rongshi ferments this tea using their box fermentation method — a controlled approach in which the tea is managed in enclosed fermentation units rather than open large-pile wodui. The result is a cleaner, more precise fermentation with less of the off-notes that conventional large-pile processing can introduce.

This method is part of the Mengku Rongshi tea-making tradition, which has been recognized as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage — the highest level of craft designation in China.

Aged, Ready Now

The tea was fermented and then aged under controlled dry storage conditions before this 2026 release. That aging period matters: the initial roughness of a newly fermented ripe pu-erh has fully settled.

If you've bought aged pu-erh before and had to wonder whether it was ready, this one answers that question clearly. It is.

The Coin Format

Each cake weighs 8g and is scored with a cross, dividing it cleanly into four 2g quarters. Gongfu brewing typically calls for 5–7g per 100ml, so one coin is roughly right for a standard gaiwan session — but if you want to adjust up or down, you can break the coin rather than trying to pry apart a compressed cake.

The format also makes this tea easy to share, travel with, or give.

Packaging

Each tin holds five coins (40g). The tins are designed to be kept — they're a reasonable storage vessel after you've opened them. A full box contains eight tins (320g total) in presentation packaging, which makes it a straightforward gift for someone who appreciates good tea.

Produced in compliance with Chinese national food safety standards (GB standard).

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Scan the QR code on the label for tea details and brewing instructions.

Session estimates use a fresh portion of dry tea each time. Each portion can be infused repeatedly.