{"product_id":"bojun-ripe-puerh-2020-xian-dry-storage","title":"Bojun Ripe Pu-erh 2020 (500g Cake) — Mengku Rongshi","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThis is the 2020 edition of Bojun, Mengku Rongshi's flagship ripe pu-erh — stored since production in a private collection in Xi'an, in northwest China's naturally dry climate. Years of clean, unhurried aging. The signature Bojun character is intact; the edges have softened. One format: a single 500g compressed cake.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eAbout This Tea\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBojun was first released in 2017 as Mengku Rongshi's first departure from conventional ripe pu-erh. The core idea was to ferment batches separately — sorted by material grade, each controlled precisely for temperature, humidity, turning schedule, and duration — then blend after fermentation, rather than doing everything in a single large pile. The result is a ripe pu-erh where the aromatic compounds that drive floral and fruity character are preserved at a high proportion, and the \"pile smell\" associated with conventional wodui fermentation is minimized.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 2020 cake was produced during a significant year for the product: Bojun was selected as one of Yunnan's Ten Famous Teas that year, and the brand released a full range of formats to mark the occasion. This 500g cake is the standard-size format from that release — same raw material specification as the Bojun sheng (raw) pu-erh, one bud plus two leaves from vine-trained Mengku large-leaf trees.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eAged in Xi'an\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSince leaving the factory, this cake has been stored in Xi'an — a city in northwest China with a climate that sits at the other end of the spectrum from Yunnan or Guangdong. Annual average humidity is low. Temperatures are seasonal but moderate. There is no monsoon.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn pu-erh terms, this is a textbook dry storage environment. Aging in these conditions is slower and more gradual than in humid southern storage, but the trade-off is cleanliness: no mustiness, no warehouse smell, no off-notes. What you get is a tea that has evolved on its own terms, without the intervention of high ambient humidity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOver the years, the sharper edges of a young ripe pu-erh — the rawness, any residual heat from fermentation — have settled. The soup has become more cohesive and smooth. The Bojun character, the floral and caramel notes, is still clearly present.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat It Tastes Like Now\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAroma:\u003c\/strong\u003e Floral and caramel lead. No pile smell. There's a sweetness to the cup aroma — some drinkers also pick up a faint chestnut or dry-wood note that wasn't there at production.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSoup:\u003c\/strong\u003e Red, clear, with good clarity. The texture is thick and smooth — noticeably softer and more cohesive than when this cake was new. Sweetness is high.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFinish:\u003c\/strong\u003e There's a clean, lingering sweetness after each sip, and a light salivating quality that carries through. This is not something you find in most ripe pu-erh.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDurability:\u003c\/strong\u003e Six or seven steepings without effort. The first few bring the most aromatic expression; later steepings shift toward a quieter sweetness and wood.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOne thing to know:\u003c\/strong\u003e Bojun is fermented lighter than most conventional ripe pu-erh, and gallic acid content is relatively high. This means some drinkers will notice a mild fruit-acid quality, particularly in the first steepings. This is a characteristic of the tea, not a defect. A short awakening period (see brewing below) softens it if it's not to your taste.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eThe Brand\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMengku Rongshi has been making tea in Shuangjiang, Lincang since 1935. The brand was formally established in 1999 when second-generation Rong Jiasheng acquired the local state-run factory. Today the third generation leads production. The company is recognized as a National Key Agricultural Industrialization Leading Enterprise by the Chinese government. Their focus has always been on Mengku large-leaf material — Bojun is where they've done their most technically ambitious work.\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\n\u003ch2\u003eBrewing Guide\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAwaken the tea first\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis cake has been compressed for years. Before your first session, break off the amount you plan to use and let it sit loosely in an open container — a small bowl, an unglazed clay jar, or any breathable vessel — for one to two weeks. This isn't required, but it allows the leaves to open up and the aroma to become more expressive. If you're brewing the same day, even a few hours helps.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eVessel\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA Yixing clay pot or a porcelain gaiwan. The pot holds heat well and tends to round out the texture; the gaiwan gives you a clearer read on the tea. Either works.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWater\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFiltered or spring water, full boil — \u003cstrong\u003e95–100°C (203–212°F).\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRatio\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eApprox. \u003cstrong\u003e5–6g per 110ml\u003c\/strong\u003e (roughly 1:20 by weight). Scale up or down to taste.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRinse\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOne rinse, 5–10 seconds. Discard. Opens the leaves, removes surface dust.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSteeping Times (Gongfu)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eSteepings\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eTime\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1–3\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5–10 seconds (fast pour)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e4–6\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e15–25 seconds\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e7 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\u003eThe early steepings are where the fruit-acid brightness and floral character are most pronounced. If you find the first two steepings sharp, pour them out faster. As the session continues, the character softens into sweetness and quiet depth.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eStorage After Purchase\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePu-erh continues to change in the cup and in the tin. To keep this cake in good condition:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStore somewhere cool, dry, ventilated, and away from strong odors — coffee, spices, cleaning products\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWrap in the original cotton paper, then place in a clean cardboard box or unglazed ceramic jar\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAvoid completely airtight containers; the tea needs some air exchange\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIf you're in a very dry climate (similar to Xi'an), seal loosely rather than leaving fully open — you don't want the cake to lose moisture too quickly\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCheck the cake every six months if you're storing long-term: confirm it's dry, no off-smell, no visible mold\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis cake can be enjoyed now. It can also continue aging. Both are reasonable choices.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eThe Bojun Series\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBojun is currently available in three editions, each pressed as a 500g cake. Click through to compare:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eEdition\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eProfile\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/bojun-ripe-puerh-2019-xian-dry-storage\"\u003e2019 Bojun\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eThe vintage that established Bojun's reputation, aged in Xi'an dry storage.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/bojun-ripe-puerh-2020-xian-dry-storage\"\u003e2020 Bojun\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eProduced in the year Bojun was named one of Yunnan's Ten Famous Teas.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/bojun-ripe-puerh-7-0-2026-spring\"\u003eBojun 7.0 (2026 Spring)\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eThe latest iteration, from spring 2026 Mengku large-leaf material.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e","brand":"戎氏","offers":[{"title":"30g Sample","offer_id":58365990207791,"sku":null,"price":15.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"500g Cake","offer_id":58365990240559,"sku":null,"price":195.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"5-Cake Wooden Box (2500g)","offer_id":58365990273327,"sku":null,"price":950.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0848\/4854\/1999\/files\/01-2020-bojun-ripe-puerh-500g-front-wrap.jpg?v=1787652669","url":"https:\/\/orientaleaf.com\/products\/bojun-ripe-puerh-2020-xian-dry-storage","provider":"Orientaleaf","version":"1.0","type":"link"}