{"product_id":"xian-dry-stored-shou-puerh-discovery-box","title":"Xi'an Dry-Stored Shou Pu-erh Discovery Box - 6 Teas, 250g","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eOne storage. Six teas. You judge the difference.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEvery tea in our Xi'an Dry-Stored collection shares the same storage — the same low-humidity, naturally ventilated room in northwestern China, the same slow, unaccelerated timeline. That's an easy claim to make. It's a harder one to prove.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSo instead of asking you to trust nine separate product pages, we put six of them in one box.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis isn't a random assortment. It's a controlled comparison: six ripe pu-erhs, all resting in the same Xi'an facility, chosen to span the variables that actually separate one shou from another — vintage, leaf grade, fermentation style, and format. Because the storage is held constant, whatever differences you taste in the cup come from the leaf itself, not from six warehouses with six different humidity levels. That's the fastest way we know to actually understand what dry storage does — by tasting six versions of the same variable, side by side.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e250g total (5 × 30g samples + 1 × 100g brick) — free worldwide shipping included.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat's Inside\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003cthead\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eTea\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eAging\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eMaterial \u0026amp; Grade\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eFermentation\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eFormat\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eWhat to Expect\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/thead\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/ko\/collections\/xian-aged-ripe-shou-puerh\/products\/gongting-lincang-ripe-puerh-dry-stored\"\u003e2017 Lincang Gongting\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eXi'an dry storage since 2017, right off the press\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGongting grade — one-bud-one-leaf, early spring\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eStandard wet-pile\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e30g cake sample\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBright amber liquor, caramel, ancient wood — the most refined, tender-sweet entry point\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/ko\/collections\/xian-aged-ripe-shou-puerh\/products\/gold-bud-ripe-puerh-tea-cake-menghai-first-spring\"\u003eMisty Gold Bud — Menghai First-Spring\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e2022 harvest, Xi'an dry storage since pressing\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e100% golden first-spring buds, high-mountain Menghai (~1,400m)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eStandard wet-pile\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e30g cake sample\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHoneycomb, cacao, roasted chestnut — the softest, most velvety cup in the box\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/ko\/collections\/xian-aged-ripe-shou-puerh\/products\/mengku-rongshi-muye-chun-aged-ripe-puerh-series\"\u003eMengku Rongshi Mu Ye Chun — 2014, 3yr Pre-aged Brick\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFermented 2011, pressed 2014, Xi'an dry storage since 2014\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRongshi house material, off-ground fermentation (离地发酵)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLight-to-medium (轻发酵) — \"Zero Pile Odor\"\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e100g chocolate-bar brick\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eThe benchmark of the box: caramel sweetness, rapid huigan (回甘), silky thick body\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/ko\/collections\/xian-aged-ripe-shou-puerh\/products\/dry-stored-aged-lao-cha-tou-ripe-puerh-tea-nuggets\"\u003eDry-Stored Lao Cha Tou — 2016\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eXi'an dry storage since 2016\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNaturally-formed tea nuggets — under 1–2% of any fermentation batch\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eByproduct of wo dui, dense pile-core material\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e30g loose nuggets\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eChen Xiang (aged aroma), dried longan, dates — thick, red, unusually smooth\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/ko\/collections\/xian-aged-ripe-shou-puerh\/products\/2013-dry-aged-lincang-ripe-pu-erh-tea-brick\"\u003e2013 Lincang Ancient Tree Brick\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eXi'an dry storage since 2013\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAncient-tree material, Lincang, 100+ year-old trees\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eStandard wet-pile\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e30g compressed brick\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSignature walnut oil aroma — clean, warm, oil-smooth body\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/ko\/collections\/xian-aged-ripe-shou-puerh\/products\/ancient-grove-2018-aged-ripe-puerh-tea-cake-lincang-old-tree-357g\"\u003eAncient Grove 2018 — Lincang Old Tree\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHarvested 2015, pressed 2018, Xi'an dry storage since 2018\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOld-tree material, multiple Lincang groves (1,600–1,800m)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eStandard wet-pile\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e30g cake sample\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAntique rosewood, dark cocoa, dried jujube — a cooling, camphor-edged finish\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhy None of These Taste Fishy\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you've had ripe pu-erh that smelled like a wet basement or old pond water, that note didn't come from the leaf — it came from what happened to the tea after fermentation. Stack fermented pu-erh in a hot, humid warehouse at 80%+ relative humidity, often on a concrete floor with little airflow, for years, and the tea absorbs it completely. Ripe pu-erh is porous; it takes on whatever surrounds it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eXi'an doesn't have that problem. The city sits inland, far from Yunnan's subtropical humidity — relative humidity typically runs 40–55% year-round, no humidifiers or artificial climate control needed. All six teas in this box have rested in that same naturally dry, ventilated storage since the year they left the factory. That's why what you'll taste across all six is dried date, cocoa, wood, and caramel — never pond, never damp, never fishy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow This Box Is Priced\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis box costs exactly what its six samples add up to individually — we don't add anything for the format, and we don't discount the tea. The only thing that changes is shipping: every order on this site carries a flat $9.5 worldwide shipping fee, and this box waives it. You get the same six teas, at the same price you'd pay picking them one by one, without that fee at checkout.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePer gram, this box sits closer to our aged\/collector pricing than our everyday line — that gap is years of Xi'an storage and higher leaf grades, not markup. If you're looking for a lower-cost, drink-now sampler instead, our \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/orientaleaf.com\/collections\/everyday-shou-ripe-puerh\/products\/everyday-shou-discovery-box\"\u003eEveryday Shou Discovery Box\u003c\/a\u003e is the other end of that spectrum.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow to Taste Them Side by Side\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTo actually compare six teas fairly, brew them the same way:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e5g per tea, 100–120ml gaiwan, boiling water (100°C \/ 212°F).\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRinse first — pour water on, five seconds, pour off. This wakes the leaf and clears compression dust; skipping it will make an unrelated tea taste \"off.\"\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSteep in rounds: 10s, 15s, 20s, 30s, 45s — extend from there. Stop when the cup thins out.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRinse your gaiwan between teas with hot water — pu-erh residue carries over and will muddy your next cup.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe Mengku Rongshi 100g brick is denser than the other five loose\/cake samples — break off your first piece 3–5 days before brewing and let it air. This is normal for aged compressed shou, not a defect.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTry one a day, or run all six in one afternoon if you're patient. Either way, tasting them back-to-back — same storage, same water, same hands — is the fastest way to learn what you actually prefer in a shou pu-erh.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKeep a Tasting Note\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEach box includes a simple tasting card: six rows, space to rate body, sweetness, and aroma for each tea. Most people find one or two clear favorites by the third cup. When you do, every tea in this box is also sold in full size in our \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/orientaleaf.com\/collections\/xian-aged-ripe-shou-puerh\"\u003eXi'an Dry-Stored collection\u003c\/a\u003e — cakes, bricks, and loose format — so you can go straight to more of what you liked, not what you guessed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat This Box Is — and Isn't\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is dry-stored, not heavily aged wet-stored shou. If you're used to the dense, overtly \"old\" character of Hong Kong or Guangdong wet storage, this collection will taste quieter and cleaner by comparison — that's the point of dry storage, not a shortcoming of it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a tasting box, not a long-term aging box. These samples are for drinking now, not cellaring. If a tea in this box turns out to be your favorite, the full-size cake or brick is what you age further.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is aged, not everyday. These six teas are pulled from our aged\/collector shelf. If you're looking for a lower-cost thermos tea for daily use instead, see our \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/orientaleaf.com\/collections\/everyday-shou-ripe-puerh\"\u003eEveryday Shou Pu-erh collection\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFAQ\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhy is storage more important than the year on the label?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTwo teas from the same year can taste completely different depending on how they were stored. A \"2013\" tea that sat in a damp warehouse can taste worse than a properly stored tea half its age. We control for storage in this box specifically so you can judge the leaf on its own terms.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhy buy the box instead of picking six samples myself?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYou'd pay the same for the tea either way — a single order on this site is always a flat $9.5 shipping fee, whether it holds one sample or six. This box simply waives that fee. The real reason to buy the box rather than build your own cart is the pairing: these six were chosen specifically to span vintage, grade, and fermentation style, not picked at random.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCan I mix and match instead of getting all six?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEach tea is also listed individually as a standalone 30g sample in the \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/orientaleaf.com\/collections\/xian-aged-ripe-shou-puerh\"\u003eXi'an Dry-Stored collection\u003c\/a\u003e. This box exists for people who want the full comparison in one order.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDo I need any special equipment?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo — a mug and boiling water work. A gaiwan or small pot will show you more nuance if you have one.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCan this box be returned once opened?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTaste is subjective, which is exactly why this box exists — as a low-commitment way to find your direction before buying a full-size tea. Unopened boxes fall under our standard 14-day return policy; opened samples are not returnable, in line with our shipping and returns policy across the shop.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhich one should I try first?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStart with the Misty Gold Bud or the Ancient Grove 2018 — both are the most immediately approachable. Save the Mengku Rongshi Mu Ye Chun brick for when you want to taste what over a decade of Xi'an storage on premium material actually delivers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eExplore the full range:\u003c\/strong\u003e Return to the \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/orientaleaf.com\/collections\/discovery-box\"\u003eDiscovery Box collection\u003c\/a\u003e to see all our curated tea samplers, every one shipped free worldwide.\u003c\/p\u003e\n","brand":"Orientaleaf","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":58526924505391,"sku":null,"price":79.8,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0848\/4854\/1999\/files\/xian-dry-stored-ripe-puerh-discovery-box.jpg?v=1790129937","url":"https:\/\/orientaleaf.com\/ko\/products\/xian-dry-stored-shou-puerh-discovery-box","provider":"Orientaleaf","version":"1.0","type":"link"}