Bojun Ripe Pu-erh 2017 (Original Edition) — Mengku Rongshi

This is where Bojun began. Released in the summer of 2017, this was Mengku Rongshi's first ripe pu-erh — and the tea that introduced a new way of thinking about what shou pu-erh could taste like. The formula and process have evolved across subsequent vintages, but this original edition remains in a category of its own. Stored since production in Xi'an's dry northern climate. Available in three formats: 30g sample, 500g cake, and a 5-cake wooden box.

Where It Started

Mengku Rongshi had built their name on raw pu-erh. Making a ripe version was not a quick decision. By the time the first Bojun ripe pu-erh was released in the summer of 2017, the brand had spent the better part of a decade working out how to do it in a way that was worth doing.

The result was something that didn't fit the usual description of shou pu-erh. A thick, layered soup with high sweetness and a genuine, lasting finish. The approach — sorting raw material into batches and fermenting each one separately, with precise control over temperature, humidity, turning schedule, and duration, then blending after fermentation — was uncommon at the time.

This was the first batch. The one that established what Bojun was.

The Maker

The 2017 Bojun was developed under the direction of Rong Yuting, chairman of Mengku Rongshi and recognized as a National Tea Industry Figure and Tea Craftsmanship Master. The third generation of a family that has been making tea in Shuangjiang, Lincang since 1935.

The original 2017 Bojun ripe pu-erh has since been acquired for permanent archival preservation by the Yunnan Provincial Archives — a recognition reserved for products considered significant to the history of the industry.

How It Has Changed

This tea was already distinctive when it was new. With extended dry storage, it has continued to develop.

The early character of the 2017 Bojun — the intense, upfront floral and fruit-acid brightness — has shifted. The soup has moved toward a rich, smooth, almost unctuous quality. Caramel remains, but it has been joined by date and dried fruit notes that weren't present at the start. The mild fruit-acid quality of early Bojun has faded to almost nothing. The sweetness and finish remain strong.

This is what dry storage aging does when the underlying tea is sound: it doesn't erase the character, it deepens it.

Dry leaf: Reddish-brown compressed cake, well-formed, fat leaves with visible bud tips, moderate compression. Consistent throughout.

Soup: Deep red, clear, luminous.

Durability: Six to seven steepings minimum, more with extended times. The character stays consistent across the session, shifting gradually from aromatic complexity toward deep, settled sweetness.

On fruit-acid: Bojun ferments lighter than conventional ripe pu-erh, and gallic acid content is high. The mild fruit-acid quality that was noticeable in early Bojun has mellowed significantly with age.

Raw Material & Process

Material: One bud plus two leaves, from vine-trained Mengku large-leaf trees (Camellia sinensis var. assamica) in Shuangjiang, Lincang, Yunnan. The same selection standard as the Bojun sheng (raw) pu-erh.

Process: Bojun Fermentation Method — batches sorted by material grade, each fermented under precise, individually managed conditions for temperature, humidity, turning frequency, and duration. Blended after fermentation. Fermentation kept intentionally light to preserve active compounds and aromatic integrity.

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

A Note on Price and Stock

The 2017 original edition is the most expensive tea in the Bojun lineup, and remaining stock is limited. The price reflects both the vintage and the scarcity — this cake will not be restocked.

If you're primarily interested in experiencing what Bojun tastes like, the 2020 edition offers the same essential character at a more accessible price. The 2019 edition sits between them — the vintage that consolidated Bojun's reputation, at a lower price than the 2017. The 2017 makes sense if the origin matters to you, or if you're buying with long-term storage in mind and want the one that started it all.

Formats

The Bojun Series

Bojun is currently available in four editions, each pressed as a 500g cake. Click through to compare:

Explore the full range: Return to the Mengku Rongshi collection to see all teas from this Shuangjiang, Lincang factory.

Explorar Mengku Rongshi →
All Ripe Pu-erh Tea →

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.