{"title":"Ripe Pu-erh Tea","description":"\u003cp\u003e\n    Pu-erh tea comes in two varieties: \"raw\" and \"ripe.\"\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    The tea that is brown in color with a unique flavor reminiscent of dried mushrooms and dried fruits is ripe Pu-erh tea. Most of the tea commonly referred to as Pu-erh tea in Japan is ripe tea.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"CollectionBody\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Ripe tea is made from raw Pu-erh tea and undergoes fermentation primarily by actinomycetes and other microorganisms.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    On the other hand, in Yunnan Province, Pu-erh tea usually refers to raw tea. Raw tea is made through pan-frying and sun-drying, with no involvement of microorganisms in the production process. Raw tea does not have a particularly strong flavor, but it has a gentle flavor that, once acquired, makes it difficult to live without.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"CollectionLinks__more\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"..\/pages\/about-ripe-pu-erh\"\u003eRead more\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"d113","title":"Da Cha Tou 2021","description":"\u003cp\u003e\n    \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_1022-1.jpg\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"Dark Cha Tou lumps on a gray surface\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-6744\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_1022-1.jpg\" width=\"630\" height=\"420\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Have you ever tried the Cha Tou Mao Cha (Crude Cha Tou 茶头毛茶)? We managed to obtain the mao-cha of Da Cha Tou(大茶头). Since the Da Cha Tou Mao Cha gives very nice and distinctive drinking experience, we decided to release it on pre-booking basis.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\n    It is not easy to purchase Cha Tou\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    In Chinese, Cha Tou means \"head of tea\", the small tea blocks. It is naturally formed during the fermentation process of ripe \u003ca href=\"..\/pages\/about_pu-erh\"\u003epu-erh tea\u003c\/a\u003e. Because of its outstanding flavour and taste, Cha Tou is always sought after among the tea connoisseurs in China, yet most of the time the tea manufacturers will keep it for their own drinking. Those who have ever tried this tea will make an advance booking for the next batch of Cha Tou in upcoming years. Therefore, it is very hard to obtain this tea, and it's not a common tea in commercial tea market.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_5783.jpg\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"A hand holding a lump of tea above a heap of dark leaves\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-6734\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_5783.jpg\" width=\"630\" height=\"420\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\n    Da Cha Tou : Big Cha Tou\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    During our trip to Yunnan in April, we managed to purchase the very rare Cha Tou called Da Cha Tou (in Chinese, Da means Big). Da Cha Tou is not only rare but also known for its outstanding quality in both taste and flavour.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    As the Da Cha Tou was naturally formed during the fermentation, it has irregular size and shape. When we first tried this tea, we were fascinated by its unique drinking sensation. Since the stock of Da Cha Tou is limited, the original shape of Da Cha Tou is very beautiful and it is nice to drink, we decided to release this tea on pre-booking basis.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_1000-1.jpg\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"Da Cha Tou lumps of different sizes on a bamboo scoop\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-6745\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_1000-1.jpg\" width=\"630\" height=\"420\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Usually, Cha Tou varies in different sizes: big, medium and small. We have also bought medium Cha Tou, and that has been already compressed into 250g brick.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\n    Spring Cha Tou is highly sought after yet extremely limited\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    The fermentation of ripe pu-erh tea is carried out by aerobic bacteria, anaerobic bacteria and mold. Cha Tou is slowly formed in the middle of fermentation process from the interaction between tea constituents and the polysaccharide produced by bacteria. As spring tea is very rich in polyphenol and other tea constituents, Cha Tou naturally appears during the fermentation of spring tea. Normally, it is not formed in summer tea. It is because of in summer, tea grows faster due to more rain and higher temperature which result in lower concentration of certain tea constituents.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Sometimes a very small quantity of Cha Tou may be formed in autumn tea. For example, may be only about 20-30kg of Cha Tou is formed out of multi-tonnes of fermented autumn ripe pu-erh tea. However, the Cha Tou formed from autumn tea is very loose and fragile, while the spring Cha Tou is very solid and big in size thanks to rich content of tea constituents. Compared to spring Cha Tou, the autumn Cha Tou gives much thinner and lighter taste, and lack of complexity in taste. Unfortunately, there are very limited ripe pu-erh tea produced from spring tea. Naturally, Cha Tou is even more limited.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    In addition, there are a number of tea merchants who are looking for Cha Tou. Due to the limited stock, we often face the fierce competition among the tea merchants to obtain this tea. It often happened that the Cha Tou we pre-booked was intercepted by other people.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_0989.jpg\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"Cha Tou lumps in a black dish\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-6737\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_0989.jpg\" width=\"630\" height=\"420\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\n    Unique flavour is formed during natural maturation process\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Da Cha Tou is unique not only because of its shape. We can easily tell the difference in flavour and taste when we compare it with loose ripe pu-erh teas of the same batch.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    The Da Cha Tou has rich dry-fruity flavour with thick taste and long-lasting finishing. In addition, it gives very silky and creamy mouth-feel. I think the reason why Cha Tou gives very distinctive flavour and taste is because of the process of its formation. Cha tou is formed in the middle of fermentation. At this stage, the tea leaves forming Cha Tou are not fully fermented yet. As tea leaves are firmly coagulated, there is no oxygen inside it. Due to the heat generated from the pile of ripe pu-erh tea on microbiological fermentation and the high moisture content, it undergoes further maturation; that could be the reason that develops unique and complex flavour.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_1065.jpg\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"Hands holding a white cup of amber tea\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-6738\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_1065.jpg\" width=\"630\" height=\"420\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\n    Tea is collected from the garden left in wild\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Another reason that makes this Da Cha Tou very special was it is made of raw pu-erh tea collected from the garden that follows perfectly natural farming practice. The tea garden is located in the high mountain, altitude about 2000-2100m in the south west of Lin Cang.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\n    Exceptionally long-lasting aftertaste\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    It gives long-lasting aftertaste with thick flavour and mellow drinking sensation that lasts for a long time. In my own experience, this level of aftertaste is very rare in ripe pu-erh teas. One of the reasons why Cha Tou is loved by so many people is that it ages excellently well. The changes of flavour are much more significantly than common ripe pu-erh teas. It reminds me of Chinese dates, dried apricots or prunes, raisins and sometimes brandy.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Usually, ordinary Cha Tou gives slight harshness in taste when tea is new. Thus, I normally prefer the Cha Tou aged for more than 2-3 years. Nevertheless, I was very surprised that this Huo Cao Shan Da Cha Tou was not harsh at all and it is perfectly right for drinking now even it is just produced a year ago. In my experience, this is the first time I encountered such Cha Tou. So, you might want to drink it right away and\/or keep it for further aging.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_0980.jpg\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"Close-up of dark Cha Tou lumps\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-6743\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_0980.jpg\" width=\"630\" height=\"420\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\n    Whitish powder on the surface is actinomycetes\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Some of Cha Tou appear whitish as it contains white filaments on its surface. It is pretty normal and not harmful. Please do not worry as it is not mold. It is the friendly bacteria called actinomycetes which is the key bacteria appears when the fermentation of ripe pu-erh tea is successfully carried out. If any problem occurred during fermentation, the white filaments would not appear. Usually, these whitish filaments are not noticeable after compression. We hardly see these white filaments on the compressed tea because they disappear once tea is steamed for compression.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_1263.jpg\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"A heap of dark brown tea leaves in close-up\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-6736\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_1263.jpg\" width=\"630\" height=\"420\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    Focus on Sourcing Naturally Cultivated Tea\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"A woman in a yellow jacket reaching into a tea tree to pluck leaves\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_1207_417cac31-feef-474b-8429-501636b4b2b6.jpg?v=1727852439\"\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Since 2010, we have been visiting Yunnan Province every spring. Over the years, we have built connections with many famous tea regions. However, our focus is not on a region's fame, but rather on tea with transparency and a long-lasting aftertaste. To achieve this, we focus on remote mountain villages, selecting tea gardens with ancient tea trees, high altitudes, and no fertilizers, sourcing through unique logistics channels. For more details, please visit the following page.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"padding: 25px 0; font-size: .9em; background-color: #cfcfcf; text-align: center; margin-top: 30px; margin-bottom: 30px; color: #0000ff;\"\u003e\n    \u003ca href=\"\/en-en\/pages\/aftertaste\" style=\"color: #0000ff;\"\u003eBeyond Fame: In Pursuit of Teas with a Long-Lasting Aftertaste\u003cspan style=\"color: #0000ff;\"\u003e\u0026gt;\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    In Yunnan, teas claiming to be from famous regions are produced in thousands of locations, using leaves from other areas, and can be found everywhere—from airports and convenience stores to supermarkets.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    What complicates matters is the surprising phenomenon where imitation teas made from leaves in remote areas are of higher quality than the genuine articles. This is especially common with Pu-erh teas from Lincang, and it is a well-known fact among professionals involved in sourcing locally. For more details, please visit the following page.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"padding: 25px 0; font-size: .9em; background-color: #cfcfcf; text-align: center; margin-top: 40px; margin-bottom: 40px; color: #0000ff;\"\u003e\n    \u003ca href=\"\/en-en\/pages\/famous_area\" style=\"color: #0000ff;\"\u003eFamous Tea Regions Where Imitation Is the Norm\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    In Yunnan Province, there are long-established brands like Dayi and Zhongcha. These brands are renowned because their teas produced before 1990 are highly valued.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    So, why are these older teas considered special? Many people assume it's due to long aging, but in reality, the tea leaves used at that time were naturally grown without fertilizers, resulting in their superior quality.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Therefore, even if current teas are aged for a long time, they will not reach the same quality. For more information, please visit the following page.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"padding: 25px 0; font-size: .9em; background-color: #cfcfcf; text-align: center; margin-top: 40px; margin-bottom: 40px; color: #0000ff;\"\u003e\n    \u003ca href=\"\/en-en\/pages\/pu-erh_brand\" style=\"color: #0000ff;\"\u003eChanges in the Quality of Famous Tea Brands: Then and Now\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"HOJO Tea","offers":[{"title":"50g (small bag)","offer_id":44932466180272,"sku":"d113ca","price":1200.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true},{"title":"200g (in a bag)","offer_id":44932466213040,"sku":"d113cb","price":4500.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true},{"title":"1,000g value pack (200g x 5 bags)","offer_id":44932466245808,"sku":"d113cv","price":18100.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/products\/IMG_5872-2.jpg?v=1737905873"},{"product_id":"t01","title":"7 types of tea trial set","description":"\u003cp\u003e\n    Each category includes a selection of 7 recommended teas, packaged in 10g portions. This set is ideal for those unsure of which tea to choose or looking for a casual gift. Each tea is vacuum-sealed, ensuring it stays fresh for years if unopened.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"Foil pouches of tea packed in an open kraft box\" height=\"420\" width=\"630\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/products\/IMG_2650-1.jpg\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-7257\"\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    The teas are packaged in a box, making them suitable for simple gift-giving.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"A hand holding a kraft box with a HOJO label\" height=\"420\" width=\"630\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/products\/IMG_2643.jpg\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-7260\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/products\/IMG_2658_86f0597e-008a-483a-99e8-4b1dfef0f652.jpg\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\n    7 Types of Tea, 10g Each\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    The sample set includes the following 7 types of tea, each packaged in 10g portions:\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWhite Tea: Ancient White Tea\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBlack Tea: Yunnan Gong Fu Black Tea\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOolong Tea: Dong Ding Oolong\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGreen Tea: Tsukigase Zairai Sencha\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eJasmine Tea: Snow Jasmine\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRaw Pu-erh Tea: Wu Liang Shan Raw Pu-erh 2016\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRipe Pu-erh Tea: Wu Liang Shan Ripe Pu-erh 2019\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWhite Tea: Ancient White Tea\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis white tea is made from naturally grown tea harvested at around 2000m in Yunnan Province. The trees are grown without pesticides or fertilizers and grow almost like wild trees. It has a clear, floral flavor and a soft taste that seems to soak into the body. White tea is especially popular among women. Bai Mu Dan is also very good cold-brewed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/products\/IMG_8415.jpg?v=1737905528\" alt=\"Ancient White Tea leaves\" width=\"316\" height=\"211\" loading=\"lazy\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBlack Tea: Yunnan Gong Fu Black Tea\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYunnan Ancient Black Tea Xing Mi Xiang is made with almost no withering. This tea, in contrast, is withered thoroughly, as Darjeeling is, before it is processed into black tea. The withering gives it a bright, slightly spicy flavor.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is made from seed-grown, naturally cultivated tea at 2100m in Lincang, Yunnan Province, plucked from old trees more than 100 years old. The aftertaste is very rich, with a deep finish that seems to reach far into the body. It also goes well with milk.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/products\/IMG_2414_1.jpg?v=1737905827\" alt=\"Yunnan Gong Fu Black Tea leaves\" width=\"316\" height=\"211\" loading=\"lazy\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\n    Oolong Tea: Dong Ding Oolong\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    A representative oolong tea from Taiwan. Extended fermentation enhances its floral and honey-like flavor. Harvested from the authentic Dong Ding Mountain, it offers a full-bodied taste. The flavor is very good, with a refreshing green tea-like drinking experience.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"Tightly rolled dark green tea leaves\" height=\"200\" width=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/o06_01.jpg\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-7242\"\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eGreen Tea: Tsukigase Zairai Sencha\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA lightly steamed sencha from Tsukigase in Nara, grown without pesticides or fertilizers. Because no fertilizer is used, it is rich in polyphenols and has a floral flavor that recalls Taiwanese oolong. It is a very interesting tea that changes your image of Japanese tea in a good way.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/products\/5DD8B62E-8E6B-489E-B521-20258143C2D1.png?v=1737905771\" alt=\"Tsukigase Zairai Sencha leaves\" width=\"316\" height=\"211\" loading=\"lazy\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eJasmine Tea: Snow Jasmine\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA jasmine tea based on green tea, made from the first spring flush plucked in a naturally cultivated garden in Sichuan Province. The jasmine aroma is very strong and vivid, as if the flowers were right in front of you.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/products\/IMG_4734-1.jpg?v=1737905681\" alt=\"Snow Jasmine leaves\" width=\"316\" height=\"211\" loading=\"lazy\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eRaw Pu-erh Tea: Wu Liang Shan Raw Pu-erh 2016\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Pu-erh tea comes in both raw and ripe varieties. To help you understand their characteristics, we have selected recommended teas from each type.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWu Liang Shan Gushu Raw Pu-erh is made from tea grown without pesticides or fertilizers. It has aged to a good degree and developed a sweet flavor like sugarcane, which makes it very easy to drink.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/products\/d47_05.jpg?v=1737905703\" alt=\"Wu Liang Shan Raw Pu-erh 2016\" width=\"316\" height=\"211\" loading=\"lazy\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eRipe Pu-erh Tea: Wu Liang Shan Ripe Pu-erh 2019\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt has no unpleasant smell. It shows a sweet, fruity flavor that recalls dried jujube, with a long finish that seems to soak into the body. Surprisingly, it also goes well with milk, and we recommend it as a milk tea too.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/products\/d107_01.jpg?v=1737905735\" alt=\"Wu Liang Shan Ripe Pu-erh 2019\" width=\"316\" height=\"211\" loading=\"lazy\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n","brand":"HOJO Tea","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":39316671922352,"sku":"t01","price":3600.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/products\/IMG_2654-1.jpg?v=1737905783"},{"product_id":"d81","title":"Gong Ting Jin Hao Ripe Pu-erh Tea 2015","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis Gong Ting Jin Hao Ripe Pu-erh is made from tea harvested in an area near the Myanmar border, about ten hours by car from Lincang City.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMost Ripe Pu-erh is made from plantation tea grown with modern farming methods. For this tea, however, the tea trees are owned by an ethnic minority community, and the leaves come from trees grown with natural farming.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe sorted Mao Cha made from naturally grown spring tea, collected only the buds, and compressed them. It is a very luxurious tea, with a strong richness with a sweet flavor like sugarcane.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe taste is very thick, with no astringency or bitterness at all. It can easily make you tea drunk, so we recommend it for times when you want to relax completely.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"border: 1px solid #ddd; font-size: .9em; margin-bottom: 30px; padding: 30px 10px 12.5px 10px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cp style=\"text-align: center; font-weight: bold;\"\u003e\n        High-quality ripe Pu-erh tea is never moldy.\n    \u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003cp\u003e\n        Some people dislike ripe tea because it smells like \"old furniture,\" \"rotten wood,\" or \"mold,\" but moldy flavors indicate poor quality tea with fermentation issues. High-quality tea should evoke a certain level of emotion when tasted. HOJO conducts extensive tasting to ensure we introduce only the best quality teas.\n    \u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003cdiv style=\"padding: 15px 0; font-size: .9em; background-color: #cfcfcf; text-align: center;\"\u003e\n        \u003ca style=\"color: #fff;\" href=\"..\/pages\/about-ripe-pu-erh\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eAbout Ripe Pu-erh Tea \u0026gt;\u003c\/a\u003e\n    \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003eProduct Details\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"A round compressed tea cake of dark brown leaves\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/24666433-0F11-4CEF-8279-C951232943E0.png?v=1615625436\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGong Ting Jin Hao Ripe Pu-erh has a delicate taste with silky texture.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe taste is very thick, with no astringency or bitterness at all. It can easily make you tea drunk, so we recommend it for times when you want to relax completely.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you like Pu-erh, you may have heard the name Gong Ting Pu-erh.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003eWhat Is Gong Ting Pu-erh?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGong Ting means imperial, which is one category of Ripe Pu-erh after the grading process.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBooks and websites often describe Gong Ting Pu-erh as the highest grade of Pu-erh, but that is not necessarily accurate.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRight after processing, the crude Ripe Pu-erh leaves are called Mao Cha, and they consist of one bud and two to 3 leaves.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003eMao Cha right after fermentation \u003cimg alt=\"A hand holding dark tea leaves over a pile of leaves\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/9F00D9C2-3011-4716-98FB-F8A5651B0474.png?v=1615625490\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWith Ripe Pu-erh, the Mao Cha is either compressed and sold as it is after removing dusts, or sifted and graded by size and part of the plant.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003eLeft: Mao Cha. Right: after grading. \u003cimg alt=\"Two kinds of dark tea leaves side by side in a bamboo tray\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/71CC1434-C930-43BF-8F38-268C523FDD26.png?v=1615625544\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNeither is better than the other. When the tea is graded, though, it can be separated into buds, leaves, stems and so on, so a graded tea may show character that Mao Cha does not have.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGong Ting Pu-erh is the grade made by collecting only the buds at the tips. Because it contains so many buds, the tea is a golden-orangish color before compression, and its appearance gives the impression of an exclusive tea.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOnly a small amount can be obtained, and it is popular, so among the graded parts Gong Ting Pu-erh fetches the highest price.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere are exceptions depending on the producer, however. Sometimes the tea called Cha Tou, which forms naturally when tea leaves clump together, sells at the highest price.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003eComment \u003cimg alt=\"A hand holding clumps of dark tea leaves\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/E1EFA213-02FE-410A-A61B-1483773CDDF7.png?v=1615625594\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOf course, even among Gong Ting Pu-erh teas, there is a world of difference in quality depending on the raw material.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTea grown with lots of fertilizer, naturally grown tea, and naturally grown tea plucked from old trees differ in the strength of their aftertaste. The soil of the tea garden also affects the body of the tea.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhat matters is getting good raw material with excellent aftertaste and richness. Tea made from it is, naturally, very good to drink even as Mao Cha.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGong Ting Pu-erh made from good raw material is naturally of good quality because it starts from a good source, and it gives you a taste that stays in your memory after a single cup.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"A round compressed tea cake of dark brown leaves\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/24666433-0F11-4CEF-8279-C951232943E0_cc69972f-3e91-46e8-b681-d0939bf0f09c.png?v=1615625646\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Gong Ting Jin Hao Ripe Pu-erh we offer at HOJO is harvested in an area near the Myanmar border, about ten hours by car from Lincang City.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe tea trees are owned by an ethnic minority community, and the tea comes from trees grown with natural farming. In fact, most Ripe Pu-erh is made from plantation tea grown with modern farming methods.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you stop by a tea shop in Yunnan, or at any airport in China, you will find huge amounts of Pu-erh for sale, but almost all of it is plantation Ripe Pu-erh.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlantation tea is not bad in itself. On plantations, however, the soil is modified and pesticides and fertilizers are used, so apart from safety concerns, the tea grows faster, tastes thin and lacks richness.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRipe Pu-erh does not have a strong flavor to begin with, so richness is the key factor to enjoy drinking it. We are always looking for Ripe Pu-erh made from naturally grown old trees.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNatural farming sounds nice, but in short it means tea trees that are left alone. Left in harsh natural conditions and growing without fertilizer or human interventions, these trees adapt to many kinds of environmental stress and grow very slowly over a long time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs a result, the tea's cells become smaller, and minerals, polyphenols and other constituents in the tea become concentrated. Tea made this way has a strong aftertaste that you won't forget once you have tried it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    Focus on Sourcing Naturally Cultivated Tea\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"A woman in a yellow jacket reaching into a tea tree to pluck leaves\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_1207_417cac31-feef-474b-8429-501636b4b2b6.jpg?v=1727852439\" width=\"630\"\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Since 2010, we have been visiting Yunnan Province every spring. Over the years, we have built connections with many famous tea regions. However, our focus is not on a region's fame, but rather on tea with transparency and a long-lasting aftertaste. To achieve this, we focus on remote mountain villages, selecting tea gardens with ancient tea trees, high altitudes, and no fertilizers, sourcing through unique logistics channels. For more details, please visit the following page.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"padding: 25px 0; font-size: .9em; background-color: #cfcfcf; text-align: center; margin-top: 30px; margin-bottom: 30px; color: #0000ff;\"\u003e\n    \u003ca href=\"..\/pages\/aftertaste\" style=\"color: #0000ff;\"\u003eBeyond Fame: In Pursuit of Teas with a Long-Lasting Aftertaste\u003cspan style=\"color: #0000ff;\"\u003e\u0026gt;\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    In Yunnan, teas claiming to be from famous regions are produced in thousands of locations using leaves from other areas, and can be found everywhere—from airports and convenience stores to supermarkets.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    What complicates matters is the surprising phenomenon where imitation teas made from leaves in remote areas are of higher quality than the genuine articles. This is especially common with Pu-erh teas from Lincang, and it is a well-known fact among professionals involved in local sourcing. For more details, please visit the following page.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"padding: 25px 0; font-size: .9em; background-color: #cfcfcf; text-align: center; margin-top: 40px; margin-bottom: 40px; color: #0000ff;\"\u003e\n    \u003ca href=\"..\/pages\/famous_area\" style=\"color: #0000ff;\"\u003eFamous Tea Regions Where Imitation Is the Norm\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    In Yunnan Province, there are long-established brands like Dayi and Zhongcha. These brands are renowned because their teas produced before 1990 are highly valued.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    So why are these older teas considered special? Many people assume it is due to long aging, but in reality, the tea leaves used at that time were naturally grown without fertilizers, resulting in their superior quality.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Therefore, even if current teas are aged for a long time, they will not reach the same quality. For more information, please visit the following page.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"padding: 25px 0; font-size: .9em; background-color: #cfcfcf; text-align: center; margin-top: 40px; margin-bottom: 40px; color: #0000ff;\"\u003e\n    \u003ca href=\"..\/pages\/pu-erh_brand\" style=\"color: #0000ff;\"\u003eChanges in the Quality of Famous Tea Brands: Then and Now\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"HOJO Tea","offers":[{"title":"50g (small bag\/small portion of cake)","offer_id":44932455301296,"sku":"d81ca","price":2200.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true},{"title":"200g (cake)","offer_id":44932455334064,"sku":"d81cc","price":8100.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true},{"title":"1,000g value pack (5 pieces of cake)","offer_id":44932455366832,"sku":"d81cv","price":32400.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/products\/D41_07-2.jpg?v=1737905748"},{"product_id":"d06","title":"Gong Ting Dian Hong","description":"\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    Blend of Naturally Cultivated Yunnan Black Tea and Gong Ting Ripe Pu-erh Tea\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    We have created a unique original tea by blending naturally cultivated black tea and Gong Ting ripe Pu-erh tea.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    The tea has a balanced flavor, combining the sweetness of black tea with the mellow, deep taste of ripe Pu-erh tea. It is also excellent as milk tea.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    For ease of brewing, the tea is compressed into mini tuocha (approximately 5 g each), making it simple to brew a consistent cup by placing one in a teapot.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    While it is delicious to drink immediately, it can also be enjoyed with a different character after aging for some time.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"border: 1px solid #ddd; font-size: 0.9em; margin-bottom: 30px; padding: 30px 10px 12.5px 10px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cp style=\"text-align: center; font-weight: bold;\"\u003e\n        High-Quality Ripe Pu-erh Tea is Never Musty\n    \u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003cp\u003e\n        Some people dislike ripe Pu-erh tea because of flavors described as \"old furniture,\" \"rotten wood,\" or \"mold.\" However, a musty smell indicates poor-quality ripe tea with issues in the fermentation process.\n    \u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003cp\u003e\n        Good-quality tea always evokes a sense of excitement when tasted. We repeatedly taste a significant amount of tea to ensure we introduce only high-quality products.\n    \u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003ca style=\"color: #fff;\" href=\"..\/pages\/about-ripe-pu-erh\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\n    \u003cdiv style=\"padding: 15px 0; font-size: 0.9em; background-color: #cfcfcf; text-align: center;\"\u003e\n        About Ripe Pu-erh Tea \u0026gt;\n    \u003c\/div\u003e\n    \u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    Product Details\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/24F13E60-FAEC-412A-B0BB-E0927980166F.png?v=1615631026\" alt=\"Product Image\" width=\"630\"\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    We have created a new tea by blending naturally cultivated black tea and Gong Ting ripe Pu-erh tea. The result is a balanced flavor that combines the sweetness of black tea with the mellow, deep taste of ripe Pu-erh tea.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    Collaboration of Gong Ting Pu-erh Tea and Naturally Cultivated Black Tea\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Blending black tea and Gong Ting ripe Pu-erh tea turned out to be surprisingly delicious, and we personally enjoyed this combination for a long time.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    We wanted to share this blend with others and recommended it to many friends and customers. However, it never quite caught on for 3 reasons:\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"border: 1px solid #ddd; font-size: 0.9em; margin-bottom: 30px; padding: 30px 10px 12.5px 10px;\"\u003e\n    \u003col\u003e\n        \u003cli\u003eThe need to obtain 2 types of tea separately\u003c\/li\u003e\n        \u003cli\u003eThe need to blend them oneself\u003c\/li\u003e\n        \u003cli\u003eThe extraction speeds of compressed ripe Pu-erh and loose-leaf black tea differ, making the flavor inconsistent\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    Compressed into Mini Tuocha to Uniformly Blend the Two Ingredients\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    We wanted to solve these 3 problems and make the blend of Yunnan black tea and Gong Ting Pu-erh tea easily accessible to everyone.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    However, when blending the 2 teas in loose-leaf form, the Gong Ting grade ripe Pu-erh leaves are much smaller, making it difficult to blend uniformly with the larger black tea leaves.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    We therefore decided to compress the blended tea.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Compressing into 200 g or 357 g cakes causes the black tea leaves to break when the cake is separated, and uneven mixing can occur. Shaping into mini tuocha solved both problems.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Each mini tuocha weighs approximately 5 g, making it very convenient to brew a consistent and intended flavor simply by placing one in a teapot.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/F8CE53A3-2835-43E0-9F72-816018CA9AEC.png?v=1615631088\" alt=\"Mini Tuocha\" width=\"630\"\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    High-Quality Tea Leaves of One Bud, One Leaf for Black Tea\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    For the black tea, we used leaves plucked around March 20th, consisting of one bud and one leaf.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    While tea made from one bud and 2 leaves has a stronger flavor, we deliberately selected one bud and one leaf to achieve a smoother mouthfeel.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    The black tea comes from a naturally cultivated garden at an altitude of 2000 m in Lincang, Yunnan Province. The tea is grown without pesticides or fertilizers, and even the ground vegetation is left untouched.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    The black tea has a very deep richness and medium body, making it delicious even as a standalone black tea.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    To obtain the earliest spring leaves, we stayed in Yunnan Province before the tea season began to ensure we secured the first-plucked harvest.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/CDD1E4B5-668F-4792-A8A5-1C5A2B7CA517.png?v=1615631181\" alt=\"Tea Leaves\" width=\"630\"\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/9DACE150-8BCB-43C5-8E9B-B61CA1AAFA93.png?v=1615631194\" alt=\"Tea Processing\" width=\"630\"\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/F8888851-9DBD-40C3-A5CC-F92B83A48810.png?v=1615631201\" alt=\"Tea Garden\" width=\"630\"\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/CA4A4DBB-4F3F-462F-BA69-0F4BB60A8577.png?v=1615631215\" alt=\"Tea Garden\" width=\"630\"\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/80E9E840-D063-4F05-9729-835E00BC8BD3.png?v=1615631230\" alt=\"Tea Processing\" width=\"630\"\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    Using Gong Ting Grade Ripe Pu-erh Tea\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    For the ripe Pu-erh tea, we used our Gong Ting Jin Hao.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    This tea is also made from naturally cultivated tea from Lincang. After aging for 2–3 years, it develops a sweet flavor reminiscent of dried jujube.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    As a result, this black tea and Pu-erh blend can be enjoyed not only immediately but also with a distinctly different character after aging for some time.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/7C3F38B6-26A5-4810-B1D6-4ED8085490C2.png?v=1615631377\" alt=\"Gong Ting Grade Ripe Pu-erh Tea\" width=\"630\"\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    Decided on the Name Gong Ting Dian Hong\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    The final product exceeded expectations, achieving exactly the intended flavor and character.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Since it blends Gong Ting Jin Hao — a Gong Ting grade ripe Pu-erh tea — with Yunnan black tea, we named it Gong Ting Dian Hong.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Dian Hong is the Chinese name for Yunnan black tea. \"Dian\" is an ancient name for Yunnan Province, and \"Hong\" means red, so Dian Hong literally means \"Yunnan red\" — the Chinese term for Yunnan black tea.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/287132F5-7355-40C5-8615-735AD0868080.png?v=1615631425\" alt=\"Gong Ting Dian Hong\" width=\"630\"\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/E2326B30-D0E6-463C-8271-1C2EDF1BC308.png?v=1615631448\" alt=\"Gong Ting Dian Hong\" width=\"630\"\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    Delicious Even as Milk Tea\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Gong Ting Dian Hong is excellent to drink straight, but it pairs exceptionally well with milk.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    We recommend brewing it strong with as little water as possible, then mixing with plenty of milk.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    It feels like silk on the tongue and has a natural sweetness that requires no added sugar.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    Focus on Sourcing Naturally Cultivated Tea\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"A woman in a yellow jacket reaching into a tea tree to pluck leaves\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_1207_417cac31-feef-474b-8429-501636b4b2b6.jpg?v=1727852439\" width=\"630\"\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Since 2010, we have been visiting Yunnan Province every spring. Over the years, we have built connections with many famous tea regions. However, our focus is not on a region's fame, but rather on teas with clarity and a long-lasting aftertaste. To achieve this, we seek out remote mountain villages, selecting gardens with ancient tea trees, high altitudes, and no fertilizers, sourcing through unique logistics channels. For more details, please visit the following page.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"padding: 25px 0; font-size: 0.9em; background-color: #cfcfcf; text-align: center; margin-top: 30px; margin-bottom: 30px; color: #0000ff;\"\u003e\n    \u003ca href=\"\/en-en\/pages\/aftertaste\" style=\"color: #0000ff;\"\u003eBeyond Fame: In Pursuit of Teas with a Long-Lasting Aftertaste \u003cspan style=\"color: #0000ff;\"\u003e\u0026gt;\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    In Yunnan, teas claiming to originate from famous regions are produced in thousands of locations using leaves sourced from elsewhere, and can be found everywhere — from airports and convenience stores to supermarkets.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    What complicates matters further is the surprising phenomenon where teas made from leaves in remote, lesser-known areas are often of higher quality than the genuine articles from famous regions. This is especially common with Pu-erh teas from Lincang, and is well known among professionals involved in local sourcing. For more details, please visit the following page.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"padding: 25px 0; font-size: 0.9em; background-color: #cfcfcf; text-align: center; margin-top: 40px; margin-bottom: 40px; color: #0000ff;\"\u003e\n    \u003ca href=\"\/en-en\/pages\/famous_area\" style=\"color: #0000ff;\"\u003eFamous Tea Regions Where Imitation Is the Norm\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    In Yunnan Province, there are long-established brands like Dayi and Zhongcha. These brands are renowned because their teas produced before 1990 are highly valued.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Why are these older teas considered special? Many assume it is due to long aging, but in reality, the tea leaves used at that time were naturally grown without fertilizers, which accounts for their superior quality.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Even if current teas are aged for a long time, they will not reach the same level of quality. For more information, please visit the following page.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"padding: 25px 0; font-size: 0.9em; background-color: #cfcfcf; text-align: center; margin-top: 40px; margin-bottom: 40px; color: #0000ff;\"\u003e\n    \u003ca href=\"\/en-en\/pages\/pu-erh_brand\" style=\"color: #0000ff;\"\u003eChanges in the Quality of Famous Tea Brands: Then and Now\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"HOJO Tea","offers":[{"title":"50g (small bag)","offer_id":44932455071920,"sku":"d06ca","price":1900.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true},{"title":"100g (in can)","offer_id":44932455104688,"sku":"d06cc","price":3800.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true},{"title":"200g (large bag\/100g x 2 bags)","offer_id":44932455137456,"sku":"d06cb","price":7200.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true},{"title":"600g value pack (large bag [100g x 2 bags] x 3 bags)","offer_id":44932455170224,"sku":"d06cv","price":18100.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/products\/IMG_8333.jpg?v=1737905745"},{"product_id":"d98","title":"Huo Cao Shan Cha Tou Brick 2017","description":"\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/products\/IMG_1432-2.jpg?v=1737905744\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"A hand holding a square paper-wrapped tea brick with a HOJO label\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-6924\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/products\/IMG_1432-2.jpg?v=1737905744\" width=\"630\" height=\"420\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    We have started selling Hu Cao Shan Cha Tou Ripe Pu-erh 2017 (250g block) made from Huo Cao Shan Ancient Ripe Pu-erh Tea harvested in 2017. The product is sold under the name Hu Cao Shan Cha Tou Ripe Pu-erh 2017. This tea has a rich dried fruit flavor and leaves a strong impression upon tasting.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    The Synergy of Microbes and Aging\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Cha tou is a tea lump naturally formed during the fermentation of ripe Pu-erh tea by the polysaccharides produced by actinomycetes. During its formation, the tea leaves in the tea lump are trapped in an anaerobic state, and the fermentation by actinomycetes causes the surrounding temperature to rise close to 70°C, rapidly aging the tea leaves inside the lump. This aging process gives cha tou its unique and rich fruity flavor.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    Hu Cao Shan Cha Tou Ripe Pu-erh 2017 Production\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    The cha tou released this time is made from the very popular Hu Cao Shan Ancient Ripe Pu-erh Tea. Previously, we offered limited reservations for \"Da Cha Tou\" made from this tea, but this time we are releasing medium-sized cha tou compressed into square blocks. Hu Cao Shan Ancient Ripe Pu-erh Tea uses high-grade tea leaves intended for raw Pu-erh tea, breaking preconceived notions of ripe Pu-erh tea flavors. Those who have already tried Hu Cao Shan Ancient Ripe Pu-erh Tea know it to be very soft with a deep aftertaste, receiving high praise even from those who generally dislike ripe Pu-erh tea.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/products\/IMG_1434.jpg?v=1737905744\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"Two hands holding a square paper-wrapped tea brick with a HOJO label\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-6923\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/products\/IMG_1434.jpg?v=1737905744\" width=\"630\" height=\"420\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    Brandy-like Aroma through Aging\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Compared to general ripe Pu-erh tea, cha tou allows you to more distinctly appreciate the flavor changes brought by aging. Store the tea in a warm place in its unopened state for aging. HOJO packages it in an anaerobic state, ensuring ideal aging. Once opened, expose the tea to air for 1-2 weeks to promote oxidation of the components, enhancing both the aroma and flavor.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/products\/IMG_1455.jpg?v=1737905744\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"A square brick of compressed dark tea on a wooden surface\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-6921\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/products\/IMG_1455.jpg?v=1737905744\" width=\"630\" height=\"420\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/products\/IMG_1464.jpg?v=1737905744\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"A white cup of amber tea with a ceramic spoon\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-6920\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/products\/IMG_1464.jpg?v=1737905744\" width=\"630\" height=\"420\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    Compressing the Most Cherished Cha Tou into Products\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Cha tou ripe Pu-erh tea is made from tea lumps naturally formed during fermentation. These lumps are highly valued by producers and fetch the highest prices among ripe Pu-erh teas, making them highly sought after by enthusiasts.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Like HOJO's raw Pu-erh tea, this product is made from trees several hundred years old, achieving an unparalleled richness for ripe Pu-erh tea. It features a sweet dried fruit flavor and an intensely deep flavor.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"border: 1px solid #ddd; font-size: .9em; margin-bottom: 30px; padding: 30px 10px 12.5px 10px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cp style=\"text-align: center; font-weight: bold;\"\u003e\n        High-quality ripe Pu-erh tea is never moldy.\n    \u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003cp\u003e\n        Some people dislike ripe tea because it smells like \"old furniture,\" \"rotten wood,\" or \"mold,\" but moldy flavors indicate poor quality tea with fermentation issues. High-quality tea should evoke a certain level of emotion when tasted. HOJO conducts extensive tasting to ensure we introduce only the best quality teas.\n    \u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003cdiv style=\"padding: 15px 0; font-size: .9em; background-color: #cfcfcf; text-align: center;\"\u003e\n        \u003ca style=\"color: #fff;\" href=\"..\/pages\/about-ripe-pu-erh\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eAbout Ripe Pu-erh Tea \u0026gt;\u003c\/a\u003e\n    \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    Aroma Preferred by Enthusiasts\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"A hand holding clumps of dark tea leaves\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/193E3E52-F0FC-48A8-9336-994DFF9E176F.png?v=1615632478\"\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    There is a category of ripe Pu-erh tea known as \"cha tou.\" Simply put, cha tou refers to tea lumps naturally formed during the fermentation process, characterized by a sweet dried fruit flavor and an intensely deep flavor.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    Sweet Dried Fruit Aroma Created in Anaerobic State\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Cha tou is very popular among enthusiasts due to its unique flavor. High-quality ripe Pu-erh tea is said to have a jujube flavor, and cha tou accentuates this flavor.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    Fermentation Process of Ripe Pu-erh Tea\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    The fermentation of ripe Pu-erh tea involves two stages: primary fermentation by bacteria and secondary fermentation by molds and yeasts.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"border: 1px solid #ddd; font-size: .9em; margin-bottom: 30px; padding: 30px 10px 12.5px 10px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cul\u003e\n        \u003cli\u003ePrimary fermentation: Bacteria involvement\u003c\/li\u003e\n        \u003cli\u003eSecondary fermentation: Molds and yeasts involvement\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    Primary Fermentation\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    The first stage is bacterial fermentation. The raw material for ripe Pu-erh tea is raw Pu-erh tea. The raw tea leaves piled on the floor are moistened and covered, then left for several weeks. During this period, bacteria, including actinomycetes, proliferate, causing the tea leaves to reach very high temperatures of 60-70°C. As fermentation progresses, the temperature begins to decrease.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/E1684359-3AEA-4D97-8092-E4330B944909.png?v=1615632810\" alt=\"Primary fermentation of ripe Pu-erh tea\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Primary fermentation of ripe Pu-erh tea\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/69B0175F-9313-4D6A-84E5-BF758D4B94DC.png?v=1615633279\" alt=\"Primary fermentation of ripe Pu-erh tea\"\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/7F3C34E9-CEEB-4B8A-8B8D-20BEDF50C1CC.png?v=1615633313\" alt=\"Primary fermentation of ripe Pu-erh tea\"\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    After the bacterial fermentation is complete, the tea leaves are spread out in a large room and piled up to a thickness of about 20cm.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    Secondary Fermentation\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    This room is kept open, well-ventilated, and dry. During this time, molds grow on the tea leaves, and the fermentation by molds occurs. This is the secondary fermentation of ripe Pu-erh tea, contributing to its flavor.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    Formation of Cha Tou\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Polysaccharides produced by microorganisms (mainly actinomycetes) act as adhesives, causing the tea leaves to bond together and form lumps. The trapped moisture inside these lumps creates an anaerobic environment, allowing the cha tou to ferment and age.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    As a result, cha tou develops a unique aging flavor that is distinct from regular Pu-erh tea, often described as having a sweet dried fruit scent, which is highly appreciated by tea enthusiasts.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    The unique flavor of cha tou is influenced by the following two factors:\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"border: 1px solid #ddd; font-size: .9em; margin-bottom: 30px; padding: 30px 10px 12.5px 10px;\"\u003e\n    \u003col\u003e\n        \u003cli\u003eMicroorganisms undergo different metabolism (fermentation) in the absence of oxygen.\u003c\/li\u003e\n        \u003cli\u003eThe high temperature and anaerobic environment promote ideal aging.\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    It is difficult to determine which factor has a stronger influence, but the anaerobic state inside the cha tou plays a significant role in developing its unique flavor.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/87406B6C-496C-4FC3-9608-568AA95442E1.png?v=1615633451\" alt=\"Partially formed cha tou\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Partially formed cha tou\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/193E3E52-F0FC-48A8-9336-994DFF9E176F.png?v=1615632478\" alt=\"Cha tou held in hand\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Cha tou held in hand, with regular tea leaves around it\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    Popular and Hard to Obtain Cha Tou\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    As explained earlier, cha tou is naturally formed during fermentation by microbial activity and cannot be intentionally produced. Additionally, cha tou is formed only in the spring, and spring tea is quite limited in the overall production of ripe Pu-erh tea.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Therefore, producers highly value this cha tou, and it commands the higher prices among ripe Pu-erh teas. Due to its rarity and high value, cha tou often sells out quickly and is difficult to obtain without a reservation. However, we were fortunate to procure naturally grown cha tou by visiting the producers at the right time.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Typically, cha tou is sold in its raw lump form, but HOJO processes it into compressed blocks to enhance its aging potential.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/2655CB66-62AF-45D0-9E86-64AC23F24399.png?v=1615633569\" alt=\"Cha tou gathered from production process\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Cha tou gathered from the production process, compressed into blocks\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    This product is made from naturally cultivated tea. In Japan, agriculture involves various tasks such as weed control, fertilization, pruning, and pesticide application. However, in remote minority villages in Yunnan, where cha tou is produced, tea trees are planted by ancestors and left unmanaged.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    These tea trees grow like wild trees as part of the ecosystem, with only minimal maintenance, such as light weeding before harvesting once a year.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    To cope with various environmental stresses, these tea trees contain high densities of organic compounds and are rich in minerals such as iron, resulting in a deeply rich and flavorful tea.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Tea that has grown slowly over time has a distinctly different taste from tea grown using modern agricultural methods, offering an unforgettable deep flavor experience.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    For more information on natural cultivation, please see \"Golden Tea.\"\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    \u003ca style=\"color: #fff;\" href=\"..\/pages\/about-golden-tea\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"padding: 15px 0; font-size: .9em; background-color: #cfcfcf; text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003ca style=\"color: #fff;\" href=\"..\/pages\/about-golden-tea\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eGolden Tea \u0026gt;\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    Brewing Cha Tou for Maximum Jujube Aroma\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    To bring out the jujube flavor from cha tou, it is important to allow water to penetrate the interior.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Although multiple cha tou are compressed together, the individual cha tou can be easily broken from the block, but each cha tou is densely packed and does not easily break apart during brewing.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    The jujube flavor becomes prominent after 5-6 infusions, so use very hot water and ensure thorough rinsing before brewing the tea.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Other than these steps, follow the usual brewing method for ripe Pu-erh tea.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    Focus on Sourcing Naturally Cultivated Tea\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"A woman in a yellow jacket reaching into a tea tree to pluck leaves\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_1207_417cac31-feef-474b-8429-501636b4b2b6.jpg?v=1727852439\"\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Since 2010, we have been visiting Yunnan Province every spring. Over the years, we have built connections with many famous tea regions. However, our focus is not on a region's fame, but rather on tea with transparency and a long-lasting aftertaste. To achieve this, we focus on remote mountain villages, selecting tea gardens with ancient tea tree, high altitudes, and no fertilizers, sourcing through unique logistics channels. For more details, please visit the following page.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"padding: 25px 0; font-size: .9em; background-color: #cfcfcf; text-align: center; margin-top: 30px; margin-bottom: 30px; color: #0000ff;\"\u003e\n    \u003ca href=\"..\/pages\/aftertaste\" style=\"color: #0000ff;\"\u003eBeyond Fame: In Pursuit of Teas with a Long-Lasting Aftertaste\u003cspan style=\"color: #0000ff;\"\u003e\u0026gt;\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    In Yunnan, teas claiming to be from famous regions are produced in thousands of locations, using leaves from other areas, and can be found everywhere—from airports and convenience stores to supermarkets.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    What complicates matters is the surprising phenomenon where imitation teas made from leaves in remote areas are of higher quality than the genuine articles. This is especially common with Pu-erh teas from Lincang, and it is a well-known fact among professionals involved in sourcing locally. For more details, please visit the following page.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"padding: 25px 0; font-size: .9em; background-color: #cfcfcf; text-align: center; margin-top: 40px; margin-bottom: 40px; color: #0000ff;\"\u003e\n    \u003ca href=\"..\/pages\/famous_area\" style=\"color: #0000ff;\"\u003eFamous Tea Regions Where Imitation Is the Norm\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    In Yunnan Province, there are long-established brands like Dayi and Zhongcha. These brands are renowned because their teas produced before 1990 are highly valued.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    So, why are these older teas considered special? Many people assume it's due to long aging, but in reality, the tea leaves used at that time were naturally grown without fertilizers, resulting in their superior quality.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Therefore, even if current teas are aged for a long time, they will not reach the same quality. For more information, please visit the following page.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"padding: 25px 0; font-size: .9em; background-color: #cfcfcf; text-align: center; margin-top: 40px; margin-bottom: 40px; color: #0000ff;\"\u003e\n    \u003ca href=\"..\/pages\/pu-erh_brand\" style=\"color: #0000ff;\"\u003eChanges in the Quality of Famous Tea Brands: Then and Now\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"HOJO Tea","offers":[{"title":"50g (small bag\/small block)","offer_id":44932454973616,"sku":"d98ca","price":1900.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":false},{"title":"250g (block)","offer_id":44932455006384,"sku":"d98cc","price":9000.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":false},{"title":"1,000g value pack (4 blocks)","offer_id":44932455039152,"sku":"d98cv","price":28600.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/products\/IMG_1432-2.jpg?v=1737905744"},{"product_id":"d89","title":"Bao Dao Shan Ripe Pu-erh Tea 2016","description":"\u003cp\u003e\n    Bao Dao Shan Ripe Pu-erh Tea is made from naturally grown tea leaves harvested from Bao Dao Shan, a mountain located in Zhenkang County, Lincang City, Yunnan Province, China.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Due to thorough production management, this tea has none of the musty or earthy smells often found in low-quality ripe pu-erh teas, making it a tea that even those who dislike ripe pu-erh tea should try.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Enjoy the rich aftertaste and deep lingering flavor similar to high-quality raw pu-erh tea, along with a mild sweet fragrance.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"border: 1px solid #ddd; font-size: .9em; margin-bottom: 30px; padding: 30px 10px 12.5px 10px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cp style=\"text-align: center; font-weight: bold;\"\u003e\n        High-quality ripe pu-erh tea is never musty.\n    \u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003cp\u003e\n        Some people dislike ripe pu-erh tea because it smells like \"old furniture,\" \"rotten wood,\" or \"mold.\" However, such musty smells indicate very poor-quality ripe pu-erh tea with issues in the fermentation process or raw material.\n    \u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003cp\u003e\n        With good quality tea, you can feel a certain level of excitement when you drink it. At HOJO, we repeatedly taste test a substantial amount of tea to ensure we introduce good quality products.\n    \u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003ca style=\"color: #fff;\" href=\"..\/pages\/about-ripe-pu-erh\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\n    \u003cdiv style=\"padding: 15px 0; font-size: .9em; background-color: #cfcfcf; text-align: center;\"\u003e\n        About Ripe Pu-erh Tea \u0026gt;\n    \u003c\/div\u003e\n    \u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"A hand holding a round paper-wrapped tea cake with a HOJO label\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/452379E8-6818-4CDA-8AE9-25B8AAED5D3A.png?v=1615635435\"\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    We sourced ripe pu-erh tea made from Bao Dao Shan (Baotao Shan), a mountain located in the southwestern part of Zhenkang County, Lincang City, Yunnan Province. As you can see from the map below, it is very close to the Myanmar border.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    \u003ca style=\"color: #fff;\" href=\"..\/pages\/tea-in-lincang\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"padding: 15px 0; font-size: .9em; background-color: #cfcfcf; text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003ca style=\"color: #fff;\" href=\"..\/pages\/tea-in-lincang\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eReasons for Focusing on Tea from Lincang Instead of the Famous Production Area of Xishuangbanna \u0026gt;\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    Rugged Rocky Mountains Like Saw Teeth\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"A cloud-capped mountain above green forested hills\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/B71CE442-61DE-4253-95F2-76195A1B4B08.png?v=1615635520\"\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Bao Dao Shan is a famous mountain known to everyone living in Zhenkang County, characterized by its extremely steep rocky appearance.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    In any case, the steep appearance resembling a blade is a common feature. When I first saw Bao Dao Shan, I never thought that tea was produced on this mountain.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    However, in reality, tea gardens are widely distributed, and many of them are naturally grown without fertilizer. The tea we sourced this time uses materials from naturally grown, pesticide-free tea gardens.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    For more about naturally grown tea, please refer to \"Golden Tea.\"\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    \u003ca style=\"color: #fff;\" href=\"..\/pages\/about-golden-tea\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"padding: 15px 0; font-size: .9em; background-color: #cfcfcf; text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003ca style=\"color: #fff;\" href=\"..\/pages\/about-golden-tea\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eGolden Tea \u0026gt;\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"Hazy mountain ridges above a grassy slope at dusk\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/EF71C9BC-C9E4-4E92-80F5-FFE582719D74.png?v=1615635582\"\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"Tea tree branches with yellow-green leaves\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/E92A5827-9847-40FB-BF46-267A1CC7E7F4.png?v=1615635606\"\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    Rich Aftertaste Like High-Quality Raw Pu-erh Tea\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Bao Dao Shan Ripe Pu-erh Tea is made from mao-cha harvested in 2016, compressed into a 357g cake.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    As you can taste with this Bao Dao Shan, it features a rich aftertaste and soft drinking experience, similar to high-quality raw pu-erh tea.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    By frequently stirring during the pile fermentation process, our producer promoted fermentation by aerobic bacteria, resulting in a sweet fragrance similar to dried jujube.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    This tea has none of the earthy or musty smells often found in many ripe pu-erh teas in recent years, making it enjoyable even for those who generally dislike ripe pu-erh tea due to its mild sweet fragrance.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"A round tea cake resting on white paper\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/3160A086-8D1D-48A4-AE61-39A2FF643846.png?v=1615635664\"\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"Two white cups of reddish-brown tea beside a gaiwan and pitcher\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/F4C989C6-76FC-4685-B490-F2CDEFA29102.png?v=1615635683\"\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    Focus on Sourcing Naturally Cultivated Tea\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"A woman in a yellow jacket reaching into a tea tree to pluck leaves\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_1207_417cac31-feef-474b-8429-501636b4b2b6.jpg?v=1727852439\"\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Since 2010, we have been visiting Yunnan Province every spring. Over the years, we have built connections with many famous tea regions. However, our focus is not on a region's fame, but rather on tea with transparency and a long-lasting aftertaste. To achieve this, we focus on remote mountain villages, selecting tea gardens with ancient tea tree, high altitudes, and no fertilizers, sourcing through unique logistics channels. For more details, please visit the following page.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"padding: 25px 0; font-size: .9em; background-color: #cfcfcf; text-align: center; margin-top: 30px; margin-bottom: 30px; color: #0000ff;\"\u003e\n    \u003ca href=\"..\/pages\/aftertaste\" style=\"color: #0000ff;\"\u003eBeyond Fame: In Pursuit of Teas with a Long-Lasting Aftertaste\u003cspan style=\"color: #0000ff;\"\u003e\u0026gt;\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    In Yunnan, teas claiming to be from famous regions are produced in thousands of locations, using leaves from other areas, and can be found everywhere—from airports and convenience stores to supermarkets.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    What complicates matters is the surprising phenomenon where imitation teas made from leaves in remote areas are of higher quality than the genuine articles. This is especially common with Pu-erh teas from Lincang, and it is a well-known fact among professionals involved in sourcing locally. For more details, please visit the following page.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"padding: 25px 0; font-size: .9em; background-color: #cfcfcf; text-align: center; margin-top: 40px; margin-bottom: 40px; color: #0000ff;\"\u003e\n    \u003ca href=\"..\/pages\/famous_area\" style=\"color: #0000ff;\"\u003eFamous Tea Regions Where Imitation Is the Norm\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    In Yunnan Province, there are long-established brands like Dayi and Zhongcha. These brands are renowned because their teas produced before 1990 are highly valued.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    So, why are these older teas considered special? Many people assume it's due to long aging, but in reality, the tea leaves used at that time were naturally grown without fertilizers, resulting in their superior quality.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Therefore, even if current teas are aged for a long time, they will not reach the same quality. For more information, please visit the following page.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"padding: 25px 0; font-size: .9em; background-color: #cfcfcf; text-align: center; margin-top: 40px; margin-bottom: 40px; color: #0000ff;\"\u003e\n    \u003ca href=\"..\/pages\/pu-erh_brand\" style=\"color: #0000ff;\"\u003eChanges in the Quality of Famous Tea Brands: Then and Now\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"HOJO Tea","offers":[{"title":"50g (small bag\/small portion of cake)","offer_id":44932454777008,"sku":"d89ca","price":1200.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true},{"title":"357g (cake)","offer_id":44932454809776,"sku":"d89cc","price":8100.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true},{"title":"1,071g value pack (3 pieces of cake)","offer_id":44932454842544,"sku":"d89cv","price":19400.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/products\/IMG_7788.jpg?v=1737905739"},{"product_id":"d110","title":"Wu Liang Shan Ripe Pu-erh Tea Mini Tuo Cha 2019","description":"\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    Our Pu-erh Ripe Tea with Strong Aftertaste and Rich Flavor\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Wu Liang Shan Ripe Tea Mini Tuo Cha is a ripe Pu-erh tea made from spring tea harvested from trees hundreds of years old growing deep in the mountains. It is a tea with a very well-balanced flavor, taste, and depth of aftertaste, allowing you to fully enjoy the richness of its flavor.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    The 2019 harvest has a strong flavor reminiscent of dried jujube, with a rich, long aftertaste and deep throat sensation. It dispels the musty image sometimes associated with ripe tea, making it enjoyable for both first-time Pu-erh drinkers and connoisseurs. Enjoy the mature, melting mouthfeel and the sensation of the tea flowing smoothly down your throat.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    This product (Mini Tuo Cha type) is designed for convenience, processed into small shapes resembling chocolate, allowing you to brew tea using the whole piece.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Wu Liang Shan Ripe Tea is available in 2 types: Mini Tuo Cha and cake. This product is the Mini Tuo Cha type.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Although both types use raw material from Wu Liang Shan, the specific material used differs slightly. While sold under the same name, their flavor and texture are not identical. If you enjoy 1 type, we encourage you to try the other as well.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"Five small paper-wrapped tea balls in a hand\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/29E69968-B1F9-4A84-A3A9-40C6483504BF.png?v=1615636494\" width=\"630\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Mini Tuo Cha\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"A round tea cake on a white background\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/9E68EC48-C67F-472B-B4AB-7060A4568C81.png?v=1615636527\" width=\"630\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Cake type\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Wu Liang Shan Ripe Tea is well-received by regular Pu-erh drinkers and can be enjoyed equally by beginners and connoisseurs.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    The flavor is reminiscent of dried fruits, and the taste is mellow, smooth, and full-bodied.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    In addition to the pleasant drinking experience, Wu Liang Shan Ripe Tea has a deep aftertaste that spreads through the back of the throat.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    The \"character\" of tea is determined by its flavor and drinking experience, but the \"quality\" of tea—which encompasses a three-dimensional, clean taste and flavor, and the richness you feel when drinking—is defined by the depth of its taste and flavor.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"Diagram of body (spread in the mouth) and aftertaste (what lingers after swallowing)\" width=\"630\" height=\"753\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/taste-body-aftertaste-en2.webp?v=1790840300\"\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    Production of Pu-erh Tea in Yunnan Province\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    \"In Yunnan Province, you can find Pu-erh tea almost everywhere.\" In ethnic minority villages, each household produces Pu-erh tea, and even small villages have hundreds of varieties.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Across all of Yunnan Province, there are thousands or even tens of thousands of types of Pu-erh tea, so in that sense, finding a Pu-erh tea to buy is easy for anyone.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    However, finding Pu-erh tea with a deep aftertaste—as rich and mellow as high-quality chocolate—is extremely rare.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"Layers of hazy mountain ranges\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/62FC9607-A456-4C95-89C6-DC8D7AD5820D.png?v=1615636628\" width=\"630\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The mountains of Wu Liang Shan\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"Tea bushes growing on a slope among trees\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/EEBF8226-463D-4790-AA39-81B044E2B6CE.png?v=1615636661\" width=\"630\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Tea growing in the mountains\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    \u003ca style=\"color: #fff;\" href=\"..\/pages\/about-raw-pu-erh\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"padding: 15px 0; font-size: .9em; background-color: #cfcfcf; text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003ca style=\"color: #fff;\" href=\"..\/pages\/about-raw-pu-erh\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eThe Difference Between Raw and Ripe Pu-erh Tea \u0026gt;\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ca style=\"color: #fff;\" href=\"..\/pages\/about-raw-pu-erh\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003ca style=\"color: #fff;\" href=\"..\/pages\/about-raw-pu-erh\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Wu Liang Shan Ripe Tea is made from tea trees over 100 years old, planted in the mountains rather than cultivated gardens, making the tea semi-wild.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Ethnic minorities harvest the tea 1–2 times a year as part of their livelihood. Tea plucking involves climbing the trees and selecting leaves by hand—a genuinely laborious process.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    To the ethnic minorities of Wu Liang Shan, the tea trees in the surrounding mountains are like wild vegetables, growing among wild trees in the forest.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Mountain tea contains more minerals than garden-grown tea, and old trees growing slowly with deep root systems yield leaves that are especially rich in minerals.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    These abundant minerals give the tea a richer, fuller taste. One of the main minerals in Pu-erh tea is iron, which plays a key role in blood production and is especially beneficial for those prone to anemia.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"A woman plucking tea leaves high in a tea tree\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/6DAD9A31-6CA0-4247-9A11-0167018A9435.png?v=1615636732\" width=\"630\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e A worker plucking leaves high in an old tea tree — harvesting from these ancient trees is a genuinely demanding task.\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"An old tea tree spreading its branches beneath tall trees\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/D261671E-A5C8-4B98-B08E-8B4A72DADB92.png?v=1615636748\" width=\"630\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Old tea trees growing in the mountains\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    Various Shapes of Ripe Pu-erh Tea Depending on Usage\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Ripe Pu-erh tea is shaped into various forms such as rounds and blocks, depending on its intended use. Before pressing, Pu-erh tea exists as loose leaves called mao cha.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Once fermentation is complete, the leaves look similar to black tea. We purchase the tea in this state and have it pressed into the desired shape.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"Loose dark brown tea leaves on a white background\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/15E2616E-276C-4040-966F-AE0955E413DE.png?v=1615636815\" width=\"630\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Ripe Pu-erh mao cha before pressing\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    Processed into Small Shapes for Convenience\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Wu Liang Shan Ripe Tea Mini Tuo Cha is designed for convenience, pressed into small pieces resembling chocolate.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Each piece weighs 6–8 g, so use the whole piece when brewing.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"A hand holding a wrapped tea ball and an unwrapped one\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/89B12BD4-96BA-42EC-868B-922D024530AE.png?v=1615636867\" width=\"630\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The small size makes it convenient for sharing with friends!\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    Wu Liang Shan Ripe Tea is Very Economical\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"Five small paper-wrapped tea balls in a hand\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/29E69968-B1F9-4A84-A3A9-40C6483504BF_453bff26-b9e4-438e-b917-2dc88ad7ce64.png?v=1615636922\" width=\"630\"\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    This tea is very economical — just 5 g of leaves can yield 2 liters of brewed tea across multiple infusions.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    If you do not finish the tea in one session, you can continue brewing within the same day. For example, it is perfectly fine to resume brewing the next morning from leaves used the previous evening.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"A white cup of dark reddish-brown tea\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/F914142E-0B51-4F98-BC96-D5FEAF21B7AB.png?v=1615636942\" width=\"630\"\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Enjoying strong tea in small sips is another rewarding way to savor Pu-erh tea.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    Focus on Sourcing Naturally Cultivated Tea\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"A woman in a yellow jacket reaching into a tea tree to pluck leaves\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_1207_417cac31-feef-474b-8429-501636b4b2b6.jpg?v=1727852439\" width=\"630\"\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Since 2010, we have been visiting Yunnan Province every spring. Over the years, we have built connections with many famous tea regions. However, our focus is not on a region's fame, but rather on tea with transparency and a long-lasting aftertaste. To achieve this, we focus on remote mountain villages, selecting tea gardens with ancient tea trees, high altitudes, and no fertilizers, sourcing through unique logistics channels. For more details, please visit the following page.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"padding: 25px 0; font-size: .9em; background-color: #cfcfcf; text-align: center; margin-top: 30px; margin-bottom: 30px; color: #0000ff;\"\u003e\n    \u003ca href=\"\/en-en\/pages\/aftertaste\" style=\"color: #0000ff;\"\u003eBeyond Fame: In Pursuit of Teas with a Long-Lasting Aftertaste\u003cspan style=\"color: #0000ff;\"\u003e\u0026gt;\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    In Yunnan, teas claiming to be from famous regions are produced in thousands of locations using leaves from other areas, and can be found everywhere—from airports and convenience stores to supermarkets.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    What complicates matters is the surprising phenomenon where imitation teas made from leaves in remote areas are of higher quality than the genuine articles. This is especially common with Pu-erh teas from Lincang, and it is a well-known fact among professionals involved in local sourcing. For more details, please visit the following page.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"padding: 25px 0; font-size: .9em; background-color: #cfcfcf; text-align: center; margin-top: 40px; margin-bottom: 40px; color: #0000ff;\"\u003e\n    \u003ca href=\"\/en-en\/pages\/famous_area\" style=\"color: #0000ff;\"\u003eFamous Tea Regions Where Imitation Is the Norm\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    In Yunnan Province, there are long-established brands like Dayi and Zhongcha. These brands are renowned because their teas produced before 1990 are highly valued.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    So why are these older teas considered special? Many people assume it is due to long aging, but in reality, the tea leaves used at that time were naturally grown without fertilizers, resulting in their superior quality.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Therefore, even if current teas are aged for a long time, they will not reach the same quality. For more information, please visit the following page.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"padding: 25px 0; font-size: .9em; background-color: #cfcfcf; text-align: center; margin-top: 40px; margin-bottom: 40px; color: #0000ff;\"\u003e\n    \u003ca href=\"\/en-en\/pages\/pu-erh_brand\" style=\"color: #0000ff;\"\u003eChanges in the Quality of Famous Tea Brands: Then and Now\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"HOJO Tea","offers":[{"title":"50g (small bag)","offer_id":44932454645936,"sku":"d110ca","price":1400.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true},{"title":"100g (in can)","offer_id":44932454678704,"sku":"d110cc","price":2600.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true},{"title":"200g (large bag\/100g x 2 bags)","offer_id":44932454711472,"sku":"d110cb","price":4200.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true},{"title":"600g value pack (large bag [100g x 2 bags] x 3 bags)","offer_id":44932454744240,"sku":"d110cv","price":10900.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/products\/29E69968-B1F9-4A84-A3A9-40C6483504BF.png?v=1737905737"},{"product_id":"d107","title":"Wu Liang Shan Ripe Pu-erh Tea Cake 2019","description":"\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    Our Pu-erh Ripe Tea with Strong Aftertaste and Rich Flavor\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Wu Liang Shan Ripe Tea Mini Tuo Cha is a Pu-erh ripe tea made from the spring tea of trees hundreds of years old growing deep in the mountains. It is a product with a very well-balanced flavor, taste, and depth (aftertaste), allowing you to fully enjoy the richness of its flavor and aroma.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    The 2019 harvest has a strong flavor reminiscent of dried jujube, with a rich, long aftertaste and deep throat sensation. It dispels the moldy image of ripe tea, making it enjoyable for both those who have never tried Pu-erh tea and experienced drinkers. Enjoy the mature, melting mouthfeel and the sensation of the tea flowing smoothly down your throat.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    This product (Mini Tuo Cha type) is designed for convenience, processed into small shapes like chocolate, allowing you to brew tea using the whole piece.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    There are two types of Wu Liang Shan Ripe Tea available: Mini Tuo Cha and cake.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    This product is the Mini Tuo Cha type.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Although both Mini Tuo Cha and cake are made in Wu Liang Shan, the raw materials used are slightly different. While they are sold under the same name, their flavor and texture are not identical.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    If you enjoy one type, please try the other as well.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"Five small paper-wrapped tea balls in a hand\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/29E69968-B1F9-4A84-A3A9-40C6483504BF.png?v=1615636494\" width=\"630\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Mini Tuo Cha\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"A round tea cake on a white background\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/9E68EC48-C67F-472B-B4AB-7060A4568C81.png?v=1615636527\" width=\"630\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Cake type\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Wu Liang Shan Ripe Tea is well-received by customers who regularly drink Pu-erh ripe tea and can be enjoyed by both beginners and connoisseurs.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    The flavor is reminiscent of dried fruits, and the taste is mellow, smooth, and rich, blending well in your mouth.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    In addition to the pleasant drinking experience, Wu Liang Shan Ripe Tea has a deep aftertaste that spreads in the back of the throat.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    The \"character\" of tea is determined by its flavor and drinking experience, but the \"quality\" of tea—which includes a three-dimensional, clean taste and flavor and the richness you feel when drinking it—is defined by the depth of its flavor and aroma.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"Diagram of body (spread in the mouth) and aftertaste (what lingers after swallowing)\" width=\"630\" height=\"753\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/taste-body-aftertaste-en2.webp?v=1790840300\"\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    Production of Pu-erh Tea in Yunnan Province\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    \"In Yunnan Province, you can find Pu-erh tea almost everywhere.\" In villages of ethnic minorities, each household produces Pu-erh tea, and even in small villages, there are hundreds of types of Pu-erh tea.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Moreover, across Yunnan Province, there are thousands upon tens of thousands of types of Pu-erh tea, so in a sense, \"buying Pu-erh tea\" is easy for anyone.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    However, finding Pu-erh tea with a deep aftertaste, as rich and mellow as high-quality chocolate, is extremely rare.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"Layers of hazy mountain ranges\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/62FC9607-A456-4C95-89C6-DC8D7AD5820D.png?v=1615636628\" width=\"630\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The mountains of Wu Liang Shan\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"Tea bushes growing on a slope among trees\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/EEBF8226-463D-4790-AA39-81B044E2B6CE.png?v=1615636661\" width=\"630\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Tea growing in the mountains\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"padding: 15px 0; font-size: .9em; background-color: #cfcfcf; text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003ca style=\"color: #fff;\" href=\"..\/pages\/about-raw-pu-erh\"\u003eThe Difference Between Raw and Ripe Pu-erh Tea \u0026gt;\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Wu Liang Shan Ripe Tea is made from tea trees aged over 100 years old planted in the mountains rather than in tea gardens, making the tea semi-wild.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Ethnic minorities pluck tea leaves 1–2 times a year for their livelihood. Tea plucking involves climbing the trees and plucking the leaves by hand, making it a laborious process.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    The tea in the mountains around Wu Liang Shan is like wild vegetables for the ethnic minorities, surrounded by wild trees.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Mountain tea contains more minerals than garden-grown tea, and old trees grow slowly with extensive root systems, resulting in tea leaves rich in minerals.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    The abundant minerals make the tea taste richer. One of the main minerals in Pu-erh tea is iron, which plays a crucial role in blood production and is especially beneficial for women prone to anemia.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"A woman plucking tea leaves high in a tea tree\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/6DAD9A31-6CA0-4247-9A11-0167018A9435.png?v=1615636732\" width=\"630\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e A woman on a tree?! Plucking leaves from old trees is a life-threatening task.\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"An old tea tree spreading its branches beneath tall trees\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/D261671E-A5C8-4B98-B08E-8B4A72DADB92.png?v=1615636748\" width=\"630\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Old tea trees growing in the mountains\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    Various Shapes of Pu-erh Ripe Tea Depending on Usage\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Pu-erh ripe tea is shaped into various forms such as round cakes and blocks, depending on its intended use. Initially, Pu-erh tea consists of loose leaves, referred to as loose tea.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Once fermentation is complete, Pu-erh tea looks similar to black tea. We purchase the tea leaves in this state and have them pressed into the desired shapes.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"Loose dark brown tea leaves on a white background\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/15E2616E-276C-4040-966F-AE0955E413DE.png?v=1615636815\" width=\"630\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Pu-erh ripe tea mao cha before pressing\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    Processed into Small Shapes for Convenience\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Wu Liang Shan Ripe Tea Mini Tuo Cha is designed for convenience, processed into small shapes resembling chocolate.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Each piece weighs 6–8g, so use the whole piece when brewing.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"A hand holding a wrapped tea ball and an unwrapped one\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/89B12BD4-96BA-42EC-868B-922D024530AE.png?v=1615636867\" width=\"630\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The small size makes it convenient for sharing with friends!\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    Wu Liang Shan Ripe Tea is Very Economical\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"Five small paper-wrapped tea balls in a hand\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/29E69968-B1F9-4A84-A3A9-40C6483504BF_453bff26-b9e4-438e-b917-2dc88ad7ce64.png?v=1615636922\" width=\"630\"\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    This Pu-erh tea is very economical, as you can brew multiple infusions from just 5g of tea leaves, yielding around 2 liters in total.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    If you do not finish brewing in one session, you can continue the next day. For example, you can pick up where you left off the next morning with leaves brewed the previous evening.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"A white cup of dark reddish-brown tea\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/F914142E-0B51-4F98-BC96-D5FEAF21B7AB.png?v=1615636942\" width=\"630\"\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Enjoying strong tea in small sips is another way to savor Pu-erh tea.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    Focus on Sourcing Naturally Cultivated Tea\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"A woman in a yellow jacket reaching into a tea tree to pluck leaves\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_1207_417cac31-feef-474b-8429-501636b4b2b6.jpg?v=1727852439\" width=\"630\"\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Since 2010, we have been visiting Yunnan Province every spring. Over the years, we have built connections with many famous tea regions. However, our focus is not on a region's fame, but rather on teas with transparency and a long-lasting aftertaste. To achieve this, we concentrate on remote mountain villages, selecting tea gardens with ancient tea trees, high altitudes, and no fertilizers, sourcing through unique logistics channels. For more details, please visit the following page.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"padding: 25px 0; font-size: .9em; background-color: #cfcfcf; text-align: center; margin-top: 30px; margin-bottom: 30px; color: #0000ff;\"\u003e\n    \u003ca href=\"\/en-en\/pages\/aftertaste\" style=\"color: #0000ff;\"\u003eBeyond Fame: In Pursuit of Teas with a Long-Lasting Aftertaste\u003cspan style=\"color: #0000ff;\"\u003e\u0026gt;\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    In Yunnan, teas claiming to be from famous regions are produced in thousands of locations, using leaves from other areas, and can be found everywhere—from airports and convenience stores to supermarkets.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    What complicates matters is the surprising phenomenon where imitation teas made from leaves grown in remote areas are of higher quality than the genuine articles. This is especially common with Pu-erh teas from Lincang, and it is a well-known fact among professionals involved in local sourcing. For more details, please visit the following page.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"padding: 25px 0; font-size: .9em; background-color: #cfcfcf; text-align: center; margin-top: 40px; margin-bottom: 40px; color: #0000ff;\"\u003e\n    \u003ca href=\"\/en-en\/pages\/famous_area\" style=\"color: #0000ff;\"\u003eFamous Tea Regions Where Imitation Is the Norm\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    In Yunnan Province, there are long-established brands like Dayi and Zhongcha. These brands are renowned because their teas produced before 1990 are highly valued.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    So why are these older teas considered special? Many people assume it is due to long aging, but in reality, the tea leaves used at that time were naturally grown without fertilizers, which accounts for their superior quality.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Therefore, even if current teas are aged for a long time, they will not reach the same quality. For more information, please visit the following page.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"padding: 25px 0; font-size: .9em; background-color: #cfcfcf; text-align: center; margin-top: 40px; margin-bottom: 40px; color: #0000ff;\"\u003e\n    \u003ca href=\"\/en-en\/pages\/pu-erh_brand\" style=\"color: #0000ff;\"\u003eChanges in the Quality of Famous Tea Brands: Then and Now\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"HOJO Tea","offers":[{"title":"50g (small bag\/small portion of cake)","offer_id":44932454547632,"sku":"d107ca","price":1400.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true},{"title":"200g (cake)","offer_id":44932454580400,"sku":"d107cc","price":5200.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true},{"title":"1,000g value pack (5 pieces of cake)","offer_id":44932454613168,"sku":"d107cv","price":20300.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/products\/d107_01.jpg?v=1737905735"},{"product_id":"d126","title":"Gong Ting Jin Hao 2020","description":"\u003cp\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"The back of a round pressed tea cake with its center hollow\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_8352.jpg\" width=\"630\"\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Gong Ting Jin Hao has a pleasant flavor of dried fruits and is a high-quality tea.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"Pressed tea cakes wrapped in bamboo leaf and tied with string\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_8339.jpg\" width=\"630\"\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Gong Ting Pu-erh is a category of ripe Pu-erh tea.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Although books and the internet often describe Gong Ting Pu-erh as the highest grade of Pu-erh tea, this is not necessarily accurate.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Freshly made ripe Pu-erh tea leaves are called mao cha, consisting of one bud and two or three leaves.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"A hand holding dark tea leaves over a pile of leaves\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/9F00D9C2-3011-4716-98FB-F8A5651B0474.png?v=1615625490\" width=\"630\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Raw tea after fermentation\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Ripe Pu-erh tea is graded by sieving the mao cha by size and part.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"Two kinds of dark tea leaves side by side in a bamboo tray\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/71CC1434-C930-43BF-8F38-268C523FDD26.png?v=1615625544\" width=\"630\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Left: raw tea, Right: after grading\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Neither is necessarily superior, but grading can create unique characteristics that mao cha lacks by separating it into buds, leaves, stems, and other parts.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Gong Ting Pu-erh is the grade that consists mainly of bud tips. Because of the high proportion of buds, the uncompressed tea has a deep golden color, giving it an impression of high quality.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Due to its limited yield and high demand, Gong Ting Pu-erh is typically the most expensive among the graded components.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    However, there is no inherent logic that buds are the most flavorful part. Buds have a high amino acid content, which produces a smooth, melting sensation in the mouth. In terms of mellow softness, tea with a high proportion of buds excels. On the other hand, buds tend to have a lighter flavor compared to leaves. Due to market dynamics, Gong Ting Jin Hao commands a high price, but this does not necessarily guarantee the best quality. Enjoy the unique flavor and aroma characteristics that come from tea with a high proportion of buds.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"A hand holding clumps of dark tea leaves\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/E1EFA213-02FE-410A-A61B-1483773CDDF7.png?v=1615625594\" width=\"630\"\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Of course, even within Gong Ting Pu-erh, quality varies greatly depending on the raw materials used.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Tea grown with heavy fertilization, naturally cultivated tea, and naturally cultivated tea plucked from old trees all differ in terms of richness and depth. The soil quality of the tea garden also influences the tea's body.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Obtaining high-quality raw materials with excellent body and richness is essential. Such tea is already very satisfying even at the mao cha stage.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Gong Ting Pu-erh made from superior raw materials naturally achieves excellent quality and provides a memorable taste experience after just one sip.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"A round compressed tea cake of dark brown leaves\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/24666433-0F11-4CEF-8279-C951232943E0_cc69972f-3e91-46e8-b681-d0939bf0f09c.png?v=1615625646\" width=\"630\"\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\n    The Quality of Ripe Pu-erh Tea is Closely Related to the Quality and Production Conditions of Raw Tea\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Ripe Pu-erh tea is made by microbial fermentation of raw Pu-erh tea. Therefore, the key to quality lies in the raw Pu-erh tea before fermentation.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    In years with low yields, much of the high-quality tea is sold as raw Pu-erh tea and does not reach ripe tea production. Since raw Pu-erh tea commands higher prices in Yunnan Province, high-quality raw material is often diverted to raw tea processing. In low-yield years, it becomes difficult to source raw materials for ripe tea, and rain-plucked leaves are sometimes used instead. Tea plucked in the rain tends to have a lighter taste.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"The surface of a round pressed tea cake on white paper\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_8347.jpg\" width=\"630\"\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"A pressed tea cake broken apart into loose leaves on white paper\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_8354.jpg\" width=\"630\"\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"A cup of reddish-brown tea beside a bowl of dark steeped leaves\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_8365.jpg\" width=\"630\"\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\n    Further Improvement in Quality with Aging\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    This tea is enjoyable now, but aging it for several years will deepen the flavor and add density to the taste. If you wish to age it, store the tea unopened in a warm room. We recommend buying now and aging at home, as stock may no longer be available when you return for it later.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    Focus on Sourcing Naturally Cultivated Tea\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"A woman in a yellow jacket reaching into a tea tree to pluck leaves\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_1207_417cac31-feef-474b-8429-501636b4b2b6.jpg?v=1727852439\" width=\"630\"\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Since 2010, we have been visiting Yunnan Province every spring. Over the years, we have built connections with many famous tea regions. However, our focus is not on a region's fame, but rather on tea with transparency and a long-lasting aftertaste. To achieve this, we focus on remote mountain villages, selecting tea gardens with ancient tea trees, high altitudes, and no fertilizers, sourcing through unique logistics channels. For more details, please visit the following page.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"padding: 25px 0; font-size: .9em; background-color: #cfcfcf; text-align: center; margin-top: 30px; margin-bottom: 30px; color: #0000ff;\"\u003e\n    \u003ca href=\"\/en-en\/pages\/aftertaste\" style=\"color: #0000ff;\"\u003eBeyond Fame: In Pursuit of Teas with a Long-Lasting Aftertaste\u003cspan style=\"color: #0000ff;\"\u003e\u0026gt;\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    In Yunnan, teas claiming to be from famous regions are produced in thousands of locations using leaves from other areas, and can be found everywhere—from airports and convenience stores to supermarkets.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    What complicates matters is the surprising phenomenon where imitation teas made from leaves in remote areas are of higher quality than the genuine articles. This is especially common with Pu-erh teas from Lincang, and it is a well-known fact among professionals involved in local sourcing. For more details, please visit the following page.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"padding: 25px 0; font-size: .9em; background-color: #cfcfcf; text-align: center; margin-top: 40px; margin-bottom: 40px; color: #0000ff;\"\u003e\n    \u003ca href=\"\/en-en\/pages\/famous_area\" style=\"color: #0000ff;\"\u003eFamous Tea Regions Where Imitation Is the Norm\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    In Yunnan Province, there are long-established brands like Dayi and Zhongcha. These brands are renowned because their teas produced before 1990 are highly valued.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    So why are these older teas considered special? Many people assume it is due to long aging, but in reality, the tea leaves used at that time were naturally grown without fertilizers, resulting in their superior quality.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Therefore, even if current teas are aged for a long time, they will not reach the same quality. For more information, please visit the following page.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"padding: 25px 0; font-size: .9em; background-color: #cfcfcf; text-align: center; margin-top: 40px; margin-bottom: 40px; color: #0000ff;\"\u003e\n    \u003ca href=\"\/en-en\/pages\/pu-erh_brand\" style=\"color: #0000ff;\"\u003eChanges in the Quality of Famous Tea Brands: Then and Now\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"HOJO Tea","offers":[{"title":"50g (small bag\/small portion of cake)","offer_id":44932437606576,"sku":"d126ca","price":2200.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true},{"title":"200g (cake)","offer_id":44932437639344,"sku":"d126cc","price":8100.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true},{"title":"1,000g value pack (5 pieces of cake)","offer_id":44932437672112,"sku":"d126cv","price":32400.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/products\/IMG_8352-2.jpg?v=1737905515"},{"product_id":"s09","title":"Ripe Pu-erh Jasmine Tea","description":"\u003cimg alt=\"Dark tea leaves and hands holding jasmine flowers\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-9348\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/kuromari.jpg\" width=\"630\" height=\"279\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Instead of sourcing finished jasmine tea, we specialize in producing custom-made jasmine tea by bringing our carefully selected raw materials to jasmine factories. Over the years, we have created numerous unique jasmine tea varieties that are not available elsewhere, such as Pu-erh jasmine tea made from raw Pu-erh tea leaves, Jasmine Silver Needle made from white tea collected from old tea trees, and Wild Jasmine Bud made from wild white tea buds.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    This time, we have processed a tea that we have always wanted to try as jasmine tea: ripe Pu-erh tea! You might wonder if ripe tea and jasmine tea would complement each other, so we invite you to give it a try.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cimg alt=\"White jasmine flowers spread out in a thick layer\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-9347\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_1826.jpg\" width=\"630\" height=\"420\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Photo of the jasmine scenting process\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\n    The Remarkable Compatibility Between Ripe Pu-erh Tea and Floral Flavors\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    In fact, ripe Pu-erh tea exhibits a remarkable affinity for floral and fruity notes. In Hong Kong, there is a popular tea known as \"Kok-pou\" that combines ripe Pu-erh tea with chrysanthemum.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Furthermore, there has been a growing trend in recent years of stuffing ripe Pu-erh tea inside hollowed-out mandarin oranges, resulting in a uniquely flavored tea.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Ripe tea also demonstrates unexpected versatility when blended with various types of tea. Have you ever tried blending ripe tea with black tea in a 50\/50 ratio? The outcome is an exceptionally delightful blend.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Based on these experiences, I firmly believed that ripe tea would undoubtedly complement jasmine.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cimg alt=\"Reddish-brown tea liquor in a white cup\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-9346\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_0318.jpg\" width=\"630\" height=\"420\"\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\n    Using Ripe Pu-erh Tea Made from Naturally Grown Tea\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    When sourcing base-tea for Ripe Pu-erh Jasmine Tea, we specifically sought out naturally-grown tea. Naturally-grown tea imparts a rich and deep taste that is essential for crafting high-quality jasmine tea.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\n    A Tea That Surprises Everyone\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    We created this tea with the assumption that ripe Pu-erh tea and jasmine flavor would complement each other well. However, I must admit I had some concerns until I actually tasted the finished tea. To my surprise, the mellow sweetness of the ripe tea combined with the refreshing flavor of jasmine created an unbeatable combination.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    This tea is recommended not only for those who like jasmine tea but also for those who are not fond of ripe Pu-erh tea. Due to the jasmine flavor, the distinct fermented flavor of ripe Pu-erh tea is completely absent, replaced instead by the vibrant scent of jasmine. Furthermore, thanks to the rich and robust taste of ripe Pu-erh, it offers a satisfying experience when consumed, making it a perfect choice for evenings or enjoyed alongside desserts.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Moreover, as this tea is based on ripe Pu-erh tea, it has a warming effect on the body. When you actually drink it, you will experience not just a slight warmth, but a remarkable sensation that leaves your body pleasantly cozy. This makes it an ideal choice for chilly days or when you want to feel warm and comfortable.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\n    Perfect Pairing with Desserts!\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Ripe Pu-erh jasmine tea is a great match for desserts. Unlike regular jasmine tea, which has a refreshing taste due to its green tea base, it doesn't always go well with all desserts. However, ripe Pu-erh jasmine tea, with its fermented tea as the base tea, pairs exceptionally well with sweet treats like pastries. It's also a versatile option that complements a wide variety of desserts, including baked apples, apple pie, tarts, cheesecakes, and desserts made with fruit puree or jam.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cimg alt=\"Reddish-brown tea in a white cup and a serving pitcher\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-9345\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_0325.jpg\" width=\"630\" height=\"420\"\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\n    Ripe Pu-erh Jasmine Tea Unlocks a New Dimension of Milk Tea\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Surprisingly, when ripe Pu-erh jasmine tea is prepared as milk tea, it undergoes a remarkable transformation and becomes an exceptionally delightful beverage. As someone who usually prefers drinking tea without any additions, even I find myself irresistibly tempted to give it a try. Once transformed into milk tea, the floral fragrance of jasmine takes on a fruity undertone, and when combined with the creamy texture of the milk, a sweet fruity essence reminiscent of apple tea emerges. It's as if you're entering an entirely new realm of milk tea experience.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cimg alt=\"Milk tea in a white cup\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-9344\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_0331.jpg\" width=\"630\" height=\"420\"\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\n    Recommended for Cocktails and Mixing with Shochu\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Ripe Pu-erh jasmine tea is not only fascinating as a standalone drink but also an intriguing ingredient for cocktails. One simple and outstanding combination is with shochu, a Japanese distilled spirit. Try mixing black jasmine tea with a mild-flavored shochu such as barley, rice, or black sugar-based varieties. Once you experience it, you'll become addicted. Additionally, you can experiment by substituting shochu with other spirits like tequila, rum, or vodka. And if you're looking for a distinct twist, adding milk to ripe Pu-erh jasmine tea infused with shochu creates a one-of-a-kind beverage.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cimg alt=\"Dry dark brown tea leaves on a white background\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-9343\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_0315.jpg\" width=\"630\" height=\"420\"\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\n    Concerning the Occasional Presence of Green Tea Mixed In\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    We carefully select and sort tea leaves by hand and package them with great care. However, during the production of jasmine tea, there may be a small unintentional mix of green tea or white tea. This can occur if traces of our previously processed teas, like Snow Jasmine or Jasmine Silver Needle, remain in the drying machine and occasionally get mixed in. Although we make efforts to remove non-ripe Pu-erh tea leaves during hand-sorting, it may not be possible to completely eliminate green tea or white tea buds that have a similar color to ripe tea in their dry form. If you discover green tea leaves mixed in while brewing the tea, please understand that it will not impact the taste or flavor.\n\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"HOJO Tea","offers":[{"title":"50g (small bag)","offer_id":44932435280048,"sku":"s09ca","price":1900.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true},{"title":"100g (in can)","offer_id":44932435312816,"sku":"s09cc","price":3800.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true},{"title":"200g (large bag\/100g x 2 bags)","offer_id":44932435345584,"sku":"s09cb","price":7200.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true},{"title":"600g value pack (large bag [100g x 2 bags] x 3 bags)","offer_id":44932435378352,"sku":"s09cv","price":18100.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_0315.jpg?v=1737905484"},{"product_id":"d99","title":"Bao Dao Shan Cha Tou 2017","description":"\u003cp\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"A rectangular dark brown tea brick on white paper\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-9608\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_0353.jpg?v=1713922771\" width=\"630\" height=\"420\"\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    We have released Bao Dao Shan Cha Tou Ripe Pu-erh Tea 2017.\u003cbr\u003e This tea is made from large cha tou, which naturally formed lumps collected during the fermentation process of ripe pu-erh tea made only from spring tea. The term \"zhuan\" refers to the block shape.\u003cbr\u003e Due to its very distinctive flavor, it may be a tea that people either love or dislike, but for those who love it, it is a perfect match.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\n    What is Cha Tou?\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    The fermentation of ripe pu-erh tea involves various microorganisms, including aerobic bacteria, anaerobic bacteria, molds, and yeasts. Cha tou are naturally formed lumps that appear during the fermentation process. These lumps are primarily formed through the interaction of polysaccharides produced by microorganisms such as actinomycetes and tea components during microbial fermentation.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"Dark brown clumped tea leaves in a metal bowl\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-8039\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/products\/IMG_5838.jpg?v=1737905873\" width=\"630\" height=\"420\"\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003e\n    Large cha tou before compression\n\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/products\/IMG_5783.jpg?v=1737905873\"\u003e\u003cimg class=\"alignnone wp-image-6734 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/products\/IMG_5783.jpg?v=1737905873\" alt=\"Cha Tou Ripe Pu-erh Tea\" width=\"630\" height=\"420\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Cha tou mainly forms when using nutrient-rich first flush tea from spring, and it generally does not form from summer-harvested tea. It forms in small quantities from autumn-harvested tea, but the amount is extremely limited. Even when fermenting several tons of autumn tea leaves, only 20-30 kg of cha tou can be obtained, and it is very loose and easily breakable. Cha tou from autumn harvest has a rough taste and differs significantly in quality and flavor from spring harvest cha tou.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"A compressed dark brown tea brick showing its clumped leaves\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-9607\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_0345.jpg?v=1737905478\" width=\"630\" height=\"420\"\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003e\n    Since cha tou is compressed into blocks, you can see the lumps of cha tou on the surface. The edges are somewhat irregular due to compression.\n\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Because spring tea is rich in nutrients, cha tou grows very hard and large. However, since there is very little ripe pu-erh tea made from spring tea, cha tou is extremely rare in the pu-erh tea market.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\n    Unique Flavor Formed Through Special Fermentation and Aging\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Cha tou has distinct characteristics in both flavor and taste. Compared to the loose ripe pu-erh tea from the same batch, cha tou has a very fruity flavor, rich taste, sweetness, and a smooth, velvety mouthfeel.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    The unique flavor and aroma of cha tou are due to its formation process. The interior of cha tou, formed midway through fermentation, is in a semi-fermented, oxygen-free state. At this point, cha tou contains appropriate moisture and is aged for a month by the heat generated during fermentation. This oxygen-free aging process creates a very fruity flavor. Large cha tou, in particular, stands out in flavor and quality due to the large volume of tea leaves under oxygen-free conditions.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\n    Aged for 5 Years in a Malaysian Warehouse\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    This product was purchased in 2017. However, cha tou's flavor is best realized after several years of aging, so it was aged for five years in a Malaysian warehouse. Initially, it had a somewhat rough taste, but long-term aging in Malaysia's high temperatures has matured the flavor and enhanced the smoothness of the taste.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\n    Bao Dao Shan is Right Next to Myanmar\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Bao Dao Shan Cha Tou Ripe Pu-erh Tea is sourced from Bao Dao Shan, located in the southwestern part of Zhenkang County, Lincang City, Yunnan Province. Bao Dao Shan is very close to the Myanmar border and is a well-known mountain among the residents of Zhenkang County, characterized by its steep, rocky appearance. Personally, I felt that this mountain's appearance is similar to Nokogiridake in Japan's Southern Alps. In any case, its steep, blade-like appearance is distinctive.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"A hazy mountain rising above fields in the foreground\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-9612\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/bao-dao-shan-1536x980.jpg?v=1737905478\" width=\"630\" height=\"402\"\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\n    Flavor of Jujube and Camphor\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Bao Dao Shan Cha Tou Ripe Pu-erh Tea 2017 is produced by the same producer as our Bao Dao Shan Raw Pu-erh Tea 2016, but the production years are different, and the tea gardens vary slightly. The raw materials for this batch are from minority farmers who used small pan-frying kettles with firewood for pan frying.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"A hand holding a wrapped tea brick with HOJO and Chinese characters on the label\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-9613\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_0321.jpg?v=1737905478\" width=\"630\" height=\"420\"\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Bao Dao Shan Cha Tou Ripe Pu-erh Tea has a sweet flavor reminiscent of dried jujube, along with a woody flavor called \"camphor fragrance\" by enthusiasts, which is popular in Southeast Asia. The camphor fragrance in Bao Dao Shan Cha Tou Ripe Pu-erh Tea 2017 is mild, with a strong sweet base flavor of jujube, making it a very drinkable and addictive tea.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    The tea from Bao Dao Shan has a very full-bodied character as a unique feature of its raw materials. When you sip it, the flavor spreads, and a pleasant sweetness is felt on both sides of the mouth.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    Commercializing the Most Cherished \"Cha Tou\" Through Compression\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Cha Tou Ripe Pu-erh Tea is made from cha tou naturally formed during fermentation.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Cha tou is a natural formation that cannot be intentionally produced, so producers cherish cha tou, and it is highly valued and very popular among enthusiasts.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    This product, like HOJO's raw pu-erh tea, is made from ancient trees several hundred years old, achieving an incredibly strong richness for a ripe pu-erh tea.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    It features a sweet flavor like dried fruit and an intensely deep richness.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"border: 1px solid #ddd; font-size: .9em; margin-bottom: 30px; padding: 30px 10px 12.5px 10px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cp style=\"text-align: center; font-weight: bold;\"\u003e\n        \u0026nbsp;\n    \u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003ca href=\"..\/pages\/about-ripe-pu-erh\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e \u003c\/a\u003e\n    \u003cdiv style=\"padding: 15px 0; font-size: .9em; background-color: #cfcfcf; text-align: center;\"\u003e\n        \u003ca href=\"..\/pages\/about-ripe-pu-erh\" style=\"color: #fff;\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eAbout Ripe Pu-erh Tea \u0026gt;\u003c\/a\u003e\n    \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Cha Tou Ripe Pu-erh Tea has an intensely deep richness and strong body.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    This level of richness is very rare for ripe pu-erh tea, but this product achieves strong richness because it is made from ancient trees several hundred years old, just like raw pu-erh tea.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    Flavor Loved by Enthusiasts\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"A hand holding clumps of dark tea leaves\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/193E3E52-F0FC-48A8-9336-994DFF9E176F.png?v=1615632478\"\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Ripe pu-erh tea has a category called \"cha tou.\"\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    In simple terms, cha tou refers to \"tea that naturally solidifies during fermentation,\" characterized by a sweet flavor like dried fruit and intensely deep richness.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    Sweet Flavor Like Dried Fruit Created by Oxygen-Free State\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    This cha tou is very popular among enthusiasts because of its unique flavor.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    High-quality ripe pu-erh tea is said to have the flavor of dried jujube, \"jujube fragrance,\" and cha tou is a tea where this jujube fragrance is strongly felt.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    Fermentation Process of Ripe Pu-erh Tea\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    The fermentation of ripe pu-erh tea involves a primary fermentation by bacteria and a secondary fermentation by molds and yeasts.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"border: 1px solid #ddd; font-size: .9em; margin-bottom: 30px; padding: 30px 10px 12.5px 10px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cul\u003e\n        \u003cli\u003ePrimary Fermentation: Involves bacteria\u003c\/li\u003e\n        \u003cli\u003eSecondary Fermentation: Involves molds and yeasts\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    Primary Fermentation\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    The first stage is fermentation by bacteria. Raw pu-erh tea is used as the raw material for ripe pu-erh tea. The piled raw pu-erh tea is moistened and covered, then left for several weeks.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    During this time, fermentation by bacteria such as actinomycetes proceeds, and the temperature of the tea leaves reaches a very high level of 60-70°C. As fermentation progresses, the temperature begins to drop.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"A large mound of dark tea leaves covered with fibrous matting\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/E1684359-3AEA-4D97-8092-E4330B944909.png?v=1615632810\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Primary Fermentation Process of Ripe Pu-erh Tea\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"Dark tea leaves beside bark and fibrous matting\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/69B0175F-9313-4D6A-84E5-BF758D4B94DC.png?v=1615633279\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Primary Fermentation Process of Ripe Pu-erh Tea\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"A hand holding dark tea leaves over a pile of leaves\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/7F3C34E9-CEEB-4B8A-8B8D-20BEDF50C1CC.png?v=1615633313\"\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    After the fermentation by bacteria is completed, the tea leaves are spread in a large room and piled to a thickness of about 20 cm.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    Secondary Fermentation\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    This room is open, well-ventilated, and kept in a dry state. During this time, molds grow on the tea leaves, and fermentation by molds occurs. This is the secondary fermentation of ripe pu-erh tea, contributing to the flavor.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    Formation of Cha Tou\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Polysaccharides produced by microorganisms (mainly actinomycetes) act as adhesives, causing the tea leaves to aggregate into lumps. As a result, the interior of cha tou remains in an oxygen-free state, allowing fermentation and aging to proceed.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    This process results in a unique aged flavor not found in regular pu-erh tea, which is why it is strongly supported by tea enthusiasts for its sweet fragrance like dried fruit.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    The factors contributing to the unique flavor of cha tou are as follows:\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"border: 1px solid #ddd; font-size: .9em; margin-bottom: 30px; padding: 30px 10px 12.5px 10px;\"\u003e\n    \u003col\u003e\n        \u003cli\u003eMicroorganisms undergo a different metabolism (fermentation) due to the lack of oxygen.\u003c\/li\u003e\n        \u003cli\u003eThe high temperature and oxygen-free state promote ideal aging.\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    While it is difficult to determine which factor has a stronger influence, it can be said that the oxygen-free interior is significantly related to the formation of cha tou's unique flavor.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"A heap of dark brown tea leaves\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/87406B6C-496C-4FC3-9608-568AA95442E1.png?v=1615633451\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Partially Lumpy Cha Tou\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"A hand holding clumps of dark tea leaves\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/193E3E52-F0FC-48A8-9336-994DFF9E176F.png?v=1615632478\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Cha Tou on Fingers, Other Leaves are Regular Tea Leaves\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    Highly Popular and Difficult to Obtain Cha Tou\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    As explained, cha tou is a natural formation during fermentation by microorganisms and cannot be intentionally produced. Moreover, cha tou only forms from spring tea, which is very limited in the overall ripe pu-erh tea production.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Therefore, producers cherish cha tou, and it is highly valued and commands a high price in the pu-erh tea market.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Highly rare cha tou often sells out quickly and is difficult to obtain without a reservation. At HOJO, we had not been able to handle it so far, but fortunately, we were able to purchase cha tou from naturally grown tea during a timely visit to the producer.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Generally, cha tou is sold in a loose state, but at HOJO, we compressed it into a shape that can withstand long-term aging.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"A hand holding clumps of dark tea leaves\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/2655CB66-62AF-45D0-9E86-64AC23F24399.png?v=1615633569\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Cha Tou Taken from the Manufacturing Process. These were Gathered and Compressed into Blocks.\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cbr\u003e This product is made from naturally grown tea. In Japan, agriculture involves various tasks such as weed management, fertilization, pruning, and pesticide application.\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    In contrast to modern agriculture, in remote minority villages in Yunnan Province, where cha tou is produced, tea trees planted by ancestors are left untouched and grow as if they were wild.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Once a year, before plucking the tea, the underbrush is lightly cut, and other than that, the tea trees grow as part of the ecosystem like wild trees.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    To cope with various environmental stresses, the tea contains high-density organic compounds and is rich in minerals such as iron, resulting in a very rich flavor with deep richness.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Tea that has grown slowly over time tastes entirely different from tea grown using modern agricultural methods. Once you experience the meltingly deep taste, you will never forget it.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    For more about naturally grown tea, please refer to \"Golden Tea.\"\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    \u003ca href=\"..\/pages\/about-golden-tea\" style=\"color: #fff;\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"padding: 15px 0; font-size: .9em; background-color: #cfcfcf; text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003ca href=\"..\/pages\/about-golden-tea\" style=\"color: #fff;\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eGolden Tea \u0026gt;\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    In fact, if you seek the same level of tea in oolong, green, or black tea, the price would be unimaginably high.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    However, not all pu-erh tea produced in Yunnan meets these conditions.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    In my experience, more than 90% of pu-erh tea production areas have shifted to agriculture using fertilizers. With the development of roads and the influx of tourists, the traditional natural cultivation method that has continued for thousands of years is being lost.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    As a result, the tea lacks deep richness, and the price rises unnecessarily.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    We stay in the deep mountains of Yunnan for a month every year to source tea, seeking naturally grown tea with a rich flavor. To source high-quality tea, it is necessary to go to more remote areas.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    \u003ca href=\"..\/pages\/tea-in-lincang\" style=\"color: #fff;\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"padding: 15px 0; font-size: .9em; background-color: #cfcfcf; text-align: center;\"\u003e\n    \u003ca href=\"..\/pages\/tea-in-lincang\" style=\"color: #fff;\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eReasons for Focusing on Tea from Lincang Instead of the Famous Production Area of Xishuangbanna \u0026gt;\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    Focus on Sourcing Naturally Cultivated Tea\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"A woman in a yellow jacket reaching into a tea tree to pluck leaves\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_1207_417cac31-feef-474b-8429-501636b4b2b6.jpg?v=1727852439\"\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Since 2010, we have been visiting Yunnan Province every spring. Over the years, we have built connections with many famous tea regions. However, our focus is not on a region's fame, but rather on tea with transparency and a long-lasting aftertaste. To achieve this, we focus on remote mountain villages, selecting tea gardens with ancient tea tree, high altitudes, and no fertilizers, sourcing through unique logistics channels. For more details, please visit the following page.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"padding: 25px 0; font-size: .9em; background-color: #cfcfcf; text-align: center; margin-top: 30px; margin-bottom: 30px; color: #0000ff;\"\u003e\n    \u003ca href=\"..\/pages\/aftertaste\" style=\"color: #0000ff;\"\u003eBeyond Fame: In Pursuit of Teas with a Long-Lasting Aftertaste\u003cspan style=\"color: #0000ff;\"\u003e\u0026gt;\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    In Yunnan, teas claiming to be from famous regions are produced in thousands of locations, using leaves from other areas, and can be found everywhere—from airports and convenience stores to supermarkets.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    What complicates matters is the surprising phenomenon where imitation teas made from leaves in remote areas are of higher quality than the genuine articles. This is especially common with Pu-erh teas from Lincang, and it is a well-known fact among professionals involved in sourcing locally. For more details, please visit the following page.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"padding: 25px 0; font-size: .9em; background-color: #cfcfcf; text-align: center; margin-top: 40px; margin-bottom: 40px; color: #0000ff;\"\u003e\n    \u003ca href=\"..\/pages\/famous_area\" style=\"color: #0000ff;\"\u003eFamous Tea Regions Where Imitation Is the Norm\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    In Yunnan Province, there are long-established brands like Dayi and Zhongcha. These brands are renowned because their teas produced before 1990 are highly valued.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    So, why are these older teas considered special? Many people assume it's due to long aging, but in reality, the tea leaves used at that time were naturally grown without fertilizers, resulting in their superior quality.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Therefore, even if current teas are aged for a long time, they will not reach the same quality. For more information, please visit the following page.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"padding: 25px 0; font-size: .9em; background-color: #cfcfcf; text-align: center; margin-top: 40px; margin-bottom: 40px; color: #0000ff;\"\u003e\n    \u003ca href=\"..\/pages\/pu-erh_brand\" style=\"color: #0000ff;\"\u003eChanges in the Quality of Famous Tea Brands: Then and Now\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"HOJO Tea","offers":[{"title":"250g (block)","offer_id":44932434821296,"sku":"d99cc","price":6500.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true},{"title":"50g (small bag\/small block)","offer_id":44932434854064,"sku":"d99ca","price":1400.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true},{"title":"1,000g value pack (4 blocks)","offer_id":44932434886832,"sku":"d99cv","price":20700.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_0353-2.jpg?v=1737905478"},{"product_id":"d134","title":"Wu Liang Shan Ripe Pu-erh 2020 Loose","description":"\u003cp\u003e\n    This product is a loose tea. We have procured it in loose form to accommodate a wide range of uses, such as blending with other teas, making milk tea, and using it in cooking. Loose tea is characterized by a gentler taste and a smoother, milder flavor compared to cake tea.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Wu Liang Shan Ripe Pu-erh is a Pu-erh tea well-received by regular Pu-erh drinkers and equally enjoyable for beginners.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    We recommend this tea because \u003cstrong\u003ethe balance of flavor, taste, and depth of aftertaste is excellent, and both the flavor and aroma are very rich. The flavor is reminiscent of dried fruit, and the taste is mellow, smooth, and full-bodied.\u003c\/strong\u003e While these qualities can be found in other well-fermented Pu-erh teas, Wu Liang Shan Ripe Pu-erh stands out for the sheer depth behind them.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Beyond the drinking experience described above, Wu Liang Shan Ripe Pu-erh has a deep aftertaste that spreads through the back of the throat. This is not merely about flavor type or aroma type, but about the \u003cstrong\u003e\"quality\"\u003c\/strong\u003e of those qualities—the three-dimensional, impurity-free taste and flavor, and the fullness that fills you when you drink it. This quality factor is determined by the \u003cstrong\u003e\"depth of flavor and aroma,\"\u003c\/strong\u003e and it is something we have sought during our visits to Yunnan Province.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    \u003cstrong\u003e\"In Yunnan Province, you encounter Pu-erh tea everywhere you go.\"\u003c\/strong\u003e In ethnic minority villages, each household makes Pu-erh tea, and even a small village may have hundreds of varieties. Across all of Yunnan Province, there are thousands or even tens of thousands of types of Pu-erh tea, and in that sense, finding a Pu-erh tea to buy is easy.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    However, Pu-erh tea with a deep aftertaste—mellow and rich like high-quality chocolate—is extremely rare. We encountered Wu Liang Shan Ripe Pu-erh after more than 10 days of tasting trips through various mountainous areas of Yunnan Province.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"Hazy mountain ranges beyond reddish slopes\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/d03_03.jpg\" width=\"630\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n    The mountains of Wu Liang Shan\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"Tea bushes growing on a slope among trees\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/d06_03.jpg\" width=\"630\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n    Tea growing in the mountains\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Generally, ripe Pu-erh tea is made from garden-grown tea, while high-quality raw Pu-erh tea comes from old trees in the mountains. Wu Liang Shan Ripe Pu-erh, however, is made from tea leaves harvested from trees over 100 years old, planted in the mountains in a semi-wild state—not in cultivated gardens. The ethnic minorities pluck this tea 1–2 times a year as part of their livelihood. Though called tea plucking, it involves climbing the trees and selecting leaves by hand one by one, making it an extremely labor-intensive task.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    To the ethnic minorities of Wu Liang Shan, the tea trees in the surrounding mountains are like wild mountain vegetables. The trees have grown so large that upon entering the forest, they blend seamlessly into the surrounding landscape and are difficult to distinguish from other trees. No pesticides or fertilizers are used—because to these communities, the tea trees are simply another part of the natural mountain environment.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Tea grown in the mountains has a higher mineral content than garden-grown tea. Old trees, growing slowly with deep roots, accumulate leaves that are especially rich in minerals. These abundant minerals give the tea a rich, full taste. The principal mineral in Pu-erh tea is iron, which plays an important role in blood production and is an essential nutrient for those prone to anemia.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"A plucker in a hat high among the branches of an old tea tree\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/d06_01.jpg\" width=\"630\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n    A worker plucking leaves high in an old tea tree — harvesting from these ancient trees is a genuinely demanding task.\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"Old tea trees on a slope below tall trees\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/d06_02.jpg\" width=\"630\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n    Old tea trees growing in the mountains\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    Focus on Sourcing Naturally Cultivated Tea\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"A woman in a yellow jacket reaching into a tea tree to pluck leaves\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_1207_417cac31-feef-474b-8429-501636b4b2b6.jpg?v=1727852439\" width=\"630\"\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Since 2010, we have been visiting Yunnan Province every spring. Over the years, we have built connections with many famous tea regions. However, our focus is not on a region's fame, but rather on tea with transparency and a long-lasting aftertaste. To achieve this, we focus on remote mountain villages, selecting tea gardens with ancient tea trees, high altitudes, and no fertilizers, sourcing through unique logistics channels. For more details, please visit the following page.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"padding: 25px 0; font-size: .9em; background-color: #cfcfcf; text-align: center; margin-top: 30px; margin-bottom: 30px; color: #0000ff;\"\u003e\n    \u003ca href=\"\/en-en\/pages\/aftertaste\" style=\"color: #0000ff;\"\u003eBeyond Fame: In Pursuit of Teas with a Long-Lasting Aftertaste\u003cspan style=\"color: #0000ff;\"\u003e\u0026gt;\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    In Yunnan, teas claiming to be from famous regions are produced in thousands of locations using leaves from other areas, and can be found everywhere—from airports and convenience stores to supermarkets.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    What complicates matters is the surprising phenomenon where imitation teas made from leaves in remote areas are of higher quality than the genuine articles. This is especially common with Pu-erh teas from Lincang, and it is a well-known fact among professionals involved in local sourcing. For more details, please visit the following page.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"padding: 25px 0; font-size: .9em; background-color: #cfcfcf; text-align: center; margin-top: 40px; margin-bottom: 40px; color: #0000ff;\"\u003e\n    \u003ca href=\"\/en-en\/pages\/famous_area\" style=\"color: #0000ff;\"\u003eFamous Tea Regions Where Imitation Is the Norm\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    In Yunnan Province, there are long-established brands like Dayi and Zhongcha. These brands are renowned because their teas produced before 1990 are highly valued.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    So why are these older teas considered special? Many people assume it is due to long aging, but in reality, the tea leaves used at that time were naturally grown without fertilizers, resulting in their superior quality.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Therefore, even if current teas are aged for a long time, they will not reach the same quality. For more information, please visit the following page.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"padding: 25px 0; font-size: .9em; background-color: #cfcfcf; text-align: center; margin-top: 40px; margin-bottom: 40px; color: #0000ff;\"\u003e\n    \u003ca href=\"\/en-en\/pages\/pu-erh_brand\" style=\"color: #0000ff;\"\u003eChanges in the Quality of Famous Tea Brands: Then and Now\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"HOJO Tea","offers":[{"title":"30g (small bag)","offer_id":44932428824752,"sku":"d134ca","price":760.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":false},{"title":"80g (in can)","offer_id":44932428857520,"sku":"d134cc","price":2400.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":false},{"title":"240g (large bag\/80g x 3 bags)","offer_id":44932428890288,"sku":"d134cb","price":4500.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":false},{"title":"720g value pack (80g x 9 bags)","offer_id":44932428923056,"sku":"d134cv","price":11500.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/d134_01_9d6ef23f-6432-46f7-bca8-3543b7f89e43.jpg?v=1737905401"},{"product_id":"d143","title":"Yun Xian Ripe Pu-erh tea 2021","description":"\u003cp\u003e\n    It is not difficult for even amateurs to obtain ripe Pu-erh tea, not only in Yunnan Province.\u003cbr\u003e\n    When tourists visit China, many buy Pu-erh tea as a souvenir, and about 80% of them are ripe Pu-erh tea.\u003cbr\u003e\n    You often hear people say, \"I bought it from the authentic place in China, so it's really good tea.\" However, the reality is that most of these are not balanced with the price.\u003cbr\u003e\n    The overall quality of Pu-erh tea is determined by the balance between the richness of the taste and the type of aroma.\u003cbr\u003e\n    Unlike raw Pu-erh tea, ripe Pu-erh tea involves microbial fermentation, making the manufacturing process complex. Therefore, it is rarely produced by individual farmers. \u003cstrong\u003eThe production of ripe Pu-erh tea generally means a factory.\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Of course, factories have employees. Salaries and equipment costs must be paid whether the tea sells or not.\u003cbr\u003e\n    In other words, compared to individual farmers who only need to sustain themselves, factories have high fixed costs and must sell in volume to recover those costs.\u003cbr\u003e\n    Therefore, the basic concept of producing ripe Pu-erh tea in factories is to produce in large quantities and to procure low-cost tea leaves.\u003cbr\u003e\n    While individual farmers produce raw Pu-erh tea in units of tens to hundreds of kilograms per year, factories produce it in tons.\u003cbr\u003e\n    To sell a large amount of tea, the quality must be uniform. If the quality of tens of tons of tea is inconsistent, it cannot be sold.\n    For this reason, factories blend tea leaves to ensure uniform quality.\u003cbr\u003e\n    Some believe blending is a technique or secret to creating quality Pu-erh tea, but the purpose of blending in factories is different.\n    The purpose of blending is solely to standardize quality. It is common to blend three types: spring tea, summer tea, and autumn tea, to standardize cost and quality.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    \u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/d83_03.jpg\" alt=\"Pu-erh tea\" height=\"420\" width=\"630\"\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    In terms of blending raw materials, similar efforts are made in factories for green tea, black tea, and oolong tea, not just Pu-erh tea.\u003cbr\u003e\n    The major difference with Pu-erh tea is that \u003cstrong\u003eripe Pu-erh tea is made through microbial fermentation, which breaks down tannins, the cause of astringency. As a result, even if cheap raw materials are used, the tea does not taste astringent.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n    On the other hand, products made from cheap tea garden raw materials in green tea and black tea have strong bitterness and astringency, making it immediately clear that the quality is low. The same applies to raw Pu-erh tea made from cheap raw materials, which becomes very astringent.\u003cbr\u003e\n    No matter how cheap and low-quality the raw materials plucked in midsummer are, ripe Pu-erh tea does not become astringent.\u003cbr\u003e\n    The reality is that many people cannot judge the quality of ripe Pu-erh tea because it does not have the astringency associated with cheap tea.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Unfortunately, good quality raw materials in Yunnan Province are used for the production of raw Pu-erh tea.\u003cbr\u003e\n    This is because high-quality raw Pu-erh tea sells for much higher prices than high-quality ripe Pu-erh tea.\n    This raises the question, \"Is there hardly any good quality ripe Pu-erh tea on the market?\" In fact, the position of ripe Pu-erh tea in Yunnan Province is similar to that of bancha or genmaicha in Japanese tea,\u003cbr\u003e\n    meaning that good quality ripe Pu-erh tea is generally limited.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    At HOJO, we specifically purchase only spring tea before blending. We repeatedly taste a considerable amount of tea to introduce good quality.\u003cbr\u003e\n    As mentioned earlier, even at airports, hundreds of types of ripe Pu-erh tea are displayed, but finding truly good quality tea is even more difficult than finding good quality raw Pu-erh tea.\u003cbr\u003e\n    What makes good quality ripe Pu-erh tea different? While ripe Pu-erh tea might have an image of a musty tea, good quality tea should leave a certain level of impression when you drink it.\u003cbr\u003e\n    Here are the characteristics of delicious ripe Pu-erh tea:\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    1. Even when brewed lightly, the taste is rich and deep. The aroma is not a thin scent that escapes the nose but can be felt deep in the throat, leaving a deep aftertaste.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    2. Properly fermented tea has a sweet aroma like dried fruits. On the contrary, poor-quality tea smells like earth, natto, feet, or rotten furniture. This is due to the lack of oxygen in the tea leaves caused by poor moisture control during fermentation.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    This tea is made at an altitude of 2000 meters. In Taiwan, tea grown at 2000 meters is considered quite high-quality high mountain tea. The significant temperature difference between day and night at high altitudes results in a tea with a rich aftertaste.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    \u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/d83_02.jpg\" alt=\"Pu-erh tea\" height=\"420\" width=\"630\"\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    The tea trees are cultivated using a method called \"Qiaomu.\"\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    The tea production area is Yunnan Province's west, a region called Yun County in Lincang. This area is also well known as a production area for Yunnan black tea.\u003cbr\u003e\n    Lincang is located at a high latitude, and the tea cultivation area is very high in elevation, resulting in generally good tea.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    This product has a sweet aroma of dried fruits, and together with a deep throat feel, the lingering scent can be felt for a long time after drinking.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Although it is reasonably priced tea, it has a rich taste (throat feel) that is far from casual tea for daily drinking. It is high-quality tea that could easily sell for 2-3 times the price.\u003cbr\u003e\n    Occasionally, you can find such bargain teas in Yunnan Province. It is highly cost-effective tea, making it highly recommended for beginners to Pu-erh tea.\u003cbr\u003e\n    Since there is limited stock, if you like the quality of this product, it is recommended to buy in bulk.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    Focus on Sourcing Naturally Cultivated Tea\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_1207_417cac31-feef-474b-8429-501636b4b2b6.jpg?v=1727852439\"\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Since 2010, we have been visiting Yunnan Province every spring. Over the years, we have built connections with many famous tea regions. However, our focus is not on a region's fame, but rather on tea with transparency and a long-lasting aftertaste. To achieve this, we focus on remote mountain villages, selecting tea gardens with ancient tea tree, high altitudes, and no fertilizers, sourcing through unique logistics channels. For more details, please visit the following page.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"padding: 25px 0; font-size: .9em; background-color: #cfcfcf; text-align: center; margin-top: 30px; margin-bottom: 30px; color: #0000ff;\"\u003e\n    \u003ca href=\"..\/pages\/aftertaste\" style=\"color: #0000ff;\"\u003eBeyond Fame: In Pursuit of Teas with a Long-Lasting Aftertaste\u003cspan style=\"color: #0000ff;\"\u003e\u0026gt;\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    In Yunnan, teas claiming to be from famous regions are produced in thousands of locations, using leaves from other areas, and can be found everywhere—from airports and convenience stores to supermarkets.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    What complicates matters is the surprising phenomenon where imitation teas made from leaves in remote areas are of higher quality than the genuine articles. This is especially common with Pu-erh teas from Lincang, and it is a well-known fact among professionals involved in sourcing locally. For more details, please visit the following page.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"padding: 25px 0; font-size: .9em; background-color: #cfcfcf; text-align: center; margin-top: 40px; margin-bottom: 40px; color: #0000ff;\"\u003e\n    \u003ca href=\"..\/pages\/famous_area\" style=\"color: #0000ff;\"\u003eFamous Tea Regions Where Imitation Is the Norm\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    In Yunnan Province, there are long-established brands like Dayi and Zhongcha. These brands are renowned because their teas produced before 1990 are highly valued.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    So, why are these older teas considered special? Many people assume it's due to long aging, but in reality, the tea leaves used at that time were naturally grown without fertilizers, resulting in their superior quality.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Therefore, even if current teas are aged for a long time, they will not reach the same quality. For more information, please visit the following page.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"padding: 25px 0; font-size: .9em; background-color: #cfcfcf; text-align: center; margin-top: 40px; margin-bottom: 40px; color: #0000ff;\"\u003e\n    \u003ca href=\"..\/pages\/pu-erh_brand\" style=\"color: #0000ff;\"\u003eChanges in the Quality of Famous Tea Brands: Then and Now\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"HOJO Tea","offers":[{"title":"50g (small bag\/small block)","offer_id":44932428726448,"sku":"d143ca","price":1100.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true},{"title":"250g (block)","offer_id":44932428759216,"sku":"d143cc","price":5200.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true},{"title":"1,000g value pack (4 blocks)","offer_id":44932428791984,"sku":"d143cv","price":16600.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/d84_20_aeca8bf4-e85d-4600-bc5f-fff71d2f8e77.jpg?v=1737905400"},{"product_id":"d155","title":"Tang Li Shan Ripe Pu-erh Tea 2023","description":"\u003cdiv style=\"border: 1px solid #ddd; font-size: .9em; margin-bottom: 30px; padding: 30px 10px 12.5px 10px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cp\u003e\n        Tang Li Shan(棠梨山) is the name of a mountain located on the northern slope of Dedang Town(德党镇), the administrative center of Yongde County(永德县). This ripe pu-erh tea is made from high-quality raw material with carefully controlled fermentation, producing an exceptionally long aftertaste. It stands out in both raw material selection and processing.\n    \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    When people think of pu-erh tea, many imagine a dark brown liquor with notes reminiscent of dried mushrooms or dried fruit. This image generally refers to ripe pu-erh tea.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Raw pu-erh tea, by contrast, is produced without microbial fermentation during processing. It is delicate and fresh in character, often compared to a young white wine. Because it has no bitterness or astringency, it is enjoyed even by children.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    \u003ca style=\"display: block; padding: 15px 0; font-size: .9em; background-color: #cfcfcf; text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px; color: #0000ff; text-decoration: underline;\" href=\"..\/pages\/about-raw-pu-erh\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\n    Differences Between Raw and Ripe Pu-erh Tea \u0026gt;\n    \u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"border: 1px solid #ddd; font-size: .9em; margin-bottom: 30px; padding: 30px 10px 12.5px 10px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cp style=\"text-align: center; font-weight: bold;\"\u003e\n        High-quality ripe pu-erh tea has a naturally sweet fragrance.\n    \u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003cp\u003e\n        Some people dislike ripe pu-erh tea because they say it smells like old furniture, rotten wood, or mold. Flavors that evoke mold are referred to as Zhang Xiang in Chinese and are primarily caused by the use of smoky raw material. In recent years, particularly in Southeast Asia, ripe pu-erh tea with Zhang Xiang has become expensive, and intentionally smoked raw pu-erh tea has sometimes been used as material for ripe pu-erh tea.\n    \u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003cp\u003e\n        A good-quality tea delivers a distinct impact when you drink it. We conduct extensive tastings to ensure we offer only teas of reliable quality.\n    \u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003cdiv style=\"padding: 15px 0; font-size: .9em; background-color: #cfcfcf; text-align: center;\"\u003e\n        \u003ca style=\"color: #fff;\" href=\"..\/pages\/about-ripe-pu-erh\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\n        About Ripe Pu-erh Tea \u0026gt;\n        \u003c\/a\u003e\n    \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    Product Details\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\n    Tang Li Shan, the Symbolic Mountain of Dedang Town\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Tang Li Shan is located to the north of Dedang Town, the central urban area of Yongde County. Gentle slopes extend up to an elevation of approximately 2000m. This mountain is symbolic to Yongde Town itself. Because access to this area is relatively easy, both fertilized tea gardens and naturally cultivated tea gardens coexist. As one moves further north along Tang Li Shan, the distance from the town increases, elevations rise, and the tea trees tend to be older, resulting in a higher concentration of tea gardens with favorable growing conditions.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"Tea trees growing in a mountain garden\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_1175.jpg\" width=\"630\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Slopes of Tang Li Shan spreading across northern Dedang Town\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"Tea trees with white-flowered plants growing beneath\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_1126.jpg\" width=\"630\"\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Tang Li Shan also benefits from ample sunlight, and teas produced here tend to be clean and relatively refined in character. Because of its popularity, tea from this mountain is highly priced even locally, and it is rarely processed into ripe pu-erh tea. In recent years, however, the downturn in the Chinese economy has affected the ripe pu-erh market, lowering overall market prices. As a result, it became possible for the producer to source this fine tea material at a more reasonable cost than usual.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"Blue three-wheeled vehicle on a dirt road by tea trees\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_1075.jpg\" width=\"630\"\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\n    The Longest Aftertaste Among Our Ripe Pu-erh Selections\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Tang Li Shan Gushu Ripe Pu-erh Tea 2023(棠梨山古树熟茶2023) is characterized by its long aftertaste and surpasses even the previously popular Guogan Gushu Ripe Pu-erh Tea 2016(果敢古树熟茶2016), which is now sold out. From a professional perspective, the fermentation has been carried out appropriately, with no sourness emerging even as the tea cools, allowing a clean and pleasant sweetness to remain. The tea was first stored in loose form under aerobic conditions and aged for one year before being compressed into its final shape. With further aging under oxygen-free conditions over the coming years, the fragrance is expected to become more pronounced and the sweetness more layered.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"Front surface of a dark compressed tea cake\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_5341.jpg\" width=\"630\"\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    Specialized Sourcing Focused on Naturally Cultivated Tea\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"A woman with a shoulder bag plucking leaves from a tea tree\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_1207_417cac31-feef-474b-8429-501636b4b2b6.jpg\" width=\"630\"\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    We have visited Yunnan Province every spring since 2010. Through long-term stays and repeated visits, we have built strong relationships with many well-known tea producing areas. However, our priority is not regional fame, but teas that show clarity and a long aftertaste. For this reason, we focus on remote mountain villages, selecting unfertilized tea gardens at higher elevations with older tea trees, and source them through our own independent logistics channels. For more details, please refer to the page below.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"padding: 25px 0; font-size: .9em; background-color: #cfcfcf; text-align: center; margin-top: 30px; margin-bottom: 30px; color: #0000ff;\"\u003e\n    \u003ca href=\"\/en-en\/pages\/aftertaste\" style=\"color: #0000ff;\"\u003e\n    Our Approach to Tea Selection Focused on Aftertaste Rather Than Famous Origins \u0026gt;\n    \u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    In Yunnan Province, countless producers create teas labeled with famous origin names while using raw material sourced from elsewhere. These products are found everywhere, from airports to convenience stores and supermarkets.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    What complicates the situation further is the paradox that some imitation products made with tea from remote areas are actually of higher quality than the originals. This phenomenon is particularly common with pu-erh tea from the Lincang region(临沧) and is widely known among professionals involved in local sourcing. For further explanation, please see the page below.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"padding: 25px 0; font-size: .9em; background-color: #cfcfcf; text-align: center; margin-top: 40px; margin-bottom: 40px; color: #0000ff;\"\u003e\n    \u003ca href=\"\/en-en\/pages\/famous_area\" style=\"color: #0000ff;\"\u003e\n    The Reality of Famous Origin Teas in China\n    \u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Pu-erh tea includes several long-established famous brands. One reason these brands are highly regarded is that teas produced before 1980 receive especially high evaluations.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Many assume that long-term aging alone is the reason these old teas are special. In reality, the key factor is that the raw leaves used at the time were naturally grown, unfertilized, and of very high quality.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    As a result, aging modern tea for a long period does not necessarily lead to the same quality. For further details, please refer to the page below.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"padding: 25px 0; font-size: .9em; background-color: #cfcfcf; text-align: center; margin-top: 40px; margin-bottom: 40px; color: #0000ff;\"\u003e\n    \u003ca href=\"\/en-en\/pages\/pu-erh_brand\" style=\"color: #0000ff;\"\u003e\n    Are Famous Brands Truly High Quality\n    \u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"HOJO Tea","offers":[{"title":"50g (small bag\/small portion of cake)","offer_id":44932427874480,"sku":"d155ca","price":1700.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true},{"title":"200g (cake)","offer_id":44932427907248,"sku":"d155cc","price":6500.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true},{"title":"1,000g value pack (5 pieces of cake)","offer_id":44932427940016,"sku":"d155cv","price":28100.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_5356.jpg?v=1737905363"},{"product_id":"d156","title":"Mang Fei Ripe Pu-erh Tea 2023","description":"\u003cdiv style=\"border: 1px solid #ddd; font-size: .9em; margin-bottom: 30px; padding: 30px 10px 12.5px 10px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cdiv style=\"margin-bottom: 20px; text-align: left;\"\u003e\n        \u003cp\u003e\n            Mang Fei is a place name transliterated from an ethnic minority language rather than originating from standard Chinese pronunciation. The pronunciation \"Mang Fei\" preserves its indigenous phonetic characteristics.\n        \u003c\/p\u003e\n        \u003cp\u003e\n            Mang Fei is situated in the western part of Yongde County, Lincang, Yunnan Province, approximately 15–20 km from the county center. During the rainy season, the roads become muddy, making access more difficult.\n        \u003c\/p\u003e\n        \u003cp\u003e\n            The landscape is mountainous, with elevations ranging from approximately 1,800–2,100 meters. The terrain is steep, with villages scattered along valleys and slopes. The soil is primarily red clay, with some areas featuring exposed rock formations.\n        \u003c\/p\u003e\n        \u003cp\u003e\n            Tea cultivation has been an integral part of Mang Fei for centuries. The region consists mainly of small-scale tea gardens rather than large plantations.\n        \u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Many associate Pu-erh tea with dark-colored liquor and earthy flavors reminiscent of dried mushrooms and aged fruit, but that applies only to ripe Pu-erh.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Raw Pu-erh, in contrast, undergoes no microbial fermentation during production. It has a fresh, delicate profile comparable to white wine and is free from bitterness or astringency, making it enjoyable even for children.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    \u003ca href=\"..\/pages\/about-raw-pu-erh\" style=\"display: block; padding: 15px 0; font-size: .9em; background-color: #cfcfcf; text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px; color: #0000ff; text-decoration: underline;\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e Raw and Ripe Pu-erh Differences \u0026gt; \u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"border: 1px solid #ddd; font-size: .9em; margin-bottom: 30px; padding: 30px 10px 12.5px 10px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cp style=\"text-align: center; font-weight: bold;\"\u003e\n        High-quality ripe Pu-erh has a sweet flavor.\n    \u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003cp\u003e\n        Some people dislike ripe Pu-erh because they associate it with musty or moldy flavors. However, properly processed ripe Pu-erh made from high-quality raw material carries a pleasant, dried fruit-like sweetness. Any unpleasant odor is likely due to poor-quality raw Pu-erh or issues during microbial fermentation.\n    \u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003cdiv style=\"padding: 15px 0; font-size: .9em; background-color: #cfcfcf; text-align: center;\"\u003e\n        \u003ca href=\"\/en-en\/pages\/about-ripe-pu-erh\" style=\"color: #fff;\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e About Ripe Pu-erh \u0026gt;\u003c\/a\u003e\n    \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    Product Details\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"margin-bottom: 20px; text-align: left;\"\u003e\n    \u003ch2\u003e\n        The Soil of Mang Fei Produces Full-bodied Tea, Vegetables, and Fruits\n    \u003c\/h2\u003e\n    \u003cp\u003e\n        Mang Fei is one of the most well-known tea-growing regions in Yongde County, largely due to its distinctive soil composition.\n    \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"margin-bottom: 20px; text-align: left;\"\u003e\n    \u003cp\u003e\n        Yunnan's geological history reveals that the land was once submerged beneath the sea before being uplifted through tectonic activity. The collision between the Indian and Eurasian plates played a major role in forming the region's mountainous landscape, including the steep terrain of Lincang, where Mang Fei is located.\n    \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"margin-bottom: 20px; text-align: left;\"\u003e\n    \u003cp\u003e\n        As a result, limestone formations are commonly found throughout Yongde County. Land that was once under the sea often contains alkaline minerals such as calcium, potassium, and sodium, which contribute to a full-bodied taste in agricultural products. This characteristic extends to Mang Fei's tea, vegetables, and fruits.\n    \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"margin-bottom: 20px; text-align: left;\"\u003e\n    \u003cp\u003e\n        Many famous Pu-erh tea-producing regions share this full-bodied character, including Lao Ban Zhang, Xi Gui, and Ma An Shan. Mang Fei tea is highly sought after due to its rich body, intense flavor, and lingering aftertaste. Mang Fei Ripe Pu-erh embodies these qualities with its deeply satisfying, full-bodied profile.\n    \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"margin-bottom: 20px; text-align: left;\"\u003e\n    \u003ch2\u003e\n        Rare Naturally Grown Tea from a Famous Production Region\n    \u003c\/h2\u003e\n    \u003cp\u003e\n        Due to high demand, many tea farmers in Mang Fei apply fertilizers to increase yield. However, fertilized tea trees grow rapidly, resulting in low cell density and a thinner, shorter aftertaste. While some advocate the use of animal manure as an eco-friendly alternative, it remains a nitrogen source and can similarly lead to quality degradation. While Mang Fei teas are generally full-bodied, many lack depth and lingering complexity. The 2023 Mang Fei Gushu Ripe Pu-erh, however, comes from a naturally cultivated tea garden, free from pesticides and fertilizers, yielding an exceptionally long aftertaste rarely found in tea from well-known regions.\n    \u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003ch2\u003e\n        Rare Small-batch Ripe Pu-erh Production\n    \u003c\/h2\u003e\n    \u003cp\u003e\n        Most ripe Pu-erh is produced in large batches, often around 10 tons per lot, as producers rely on high volumes for profitability. The 2023 Mang Fei Gushu Ripe Pu-erh, however, was produced in a small batch of just over 1 ton due to the rarity and high cost of the raw material. Small-batch production ensures ideal processing conditions for pan-frying and sun-drying, resulting in a well-crafted tea with minimal imperfections. Although this tea is from the 2023 vintage and has had only a short aging period, high-quality ripe Pu-erh is enjoyable even when fresh. The purity of the raw material allows for a smooth, clean taste with natural sweetness. For those looking to enhance its flavor further, aging it in an airtight environment for several years is recommended.\n    \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    Focus on Sourcing Naturally Cultivated Tea\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"A woman in a yellow jacket reaching into a tea tree to pluck leaves\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_1207_417cac31-feef-474b-8429-501636b4b2b6.jpg?v=1727852439\" width=\"630\"\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Since 2010, we have been visiting Yunnan Province every spring. Over the years, we have built connections with many famous tea regions. However, our focus is not on a region's fame, but rather on tea with transparency and a long-lasting aftertaste. To achieve this, we focus on remote mountain villages, selecting tea gardens with ancient tea trees, high altitudes, and no fertilizers, sourcing through unique logistics channels. For more details, please visit the following page.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"padding: 25px 0; font-size: .9em; background-color: #cfcfcf; text-align: center; margin-top: 30px; margin-bottom: 30px; color: #0000ff;\"\u003e\n    \u003ca href=\"\/en-en\/pages\/aftertaste\" style=\"color: #0000ff;\"\u003eBeyond Fame: In Pursuit of Teas with a Long-Lasting Aftertaste\u003cspan style=\"color: #0000ff;\"\u003e\u0026gt;\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    In Yunnan, teas claiming to be from famous regions are produced in thousands of locations using leaves from other areas, and can be found everywhere—from airports and convenience stores to supermarkets.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    What complicates matters is the surprising phenomenon where imitation teas made from leaves in remote areas are of higher quality than the genuine articles. This is especially common with Pu-erh teas from Lincang, and it is a well-known fact among professionals involved in local sourcing. For more details, please visit the following page.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"padding: 25px 0; font-size: .9em; background-color: #cfcfcf; text-align: center; margin-top: 40px; margin-bottom: 40px; color: #0000ff;\"\u003e\n    \u003ca href=\"\/en-en\/pages\/famous_area\" style=\"color: #0000ff;\"\u003eFamous Tea Regions Where Imitation Is the Norm\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    In Yunnan Province, there are long-established brands like Dayi and Zhongcha. These brands are renowned because their teas produced before 1990 are highly valued.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    So why are these older teas considered special? Many people assume it is due to long aging, but in reality, the tea leaves used at that time were naturally grown without fertilizers, resulting in their superior quality.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Therefore, even if current teas are aged for a long time, they will not reach the same quality. For more information, please visit the following page.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"padding: 25px 0; font-size: .9em; background-color: #cfcfcf; text-align: center; margin-top: 40px; margin-bottom: 40px; color: #0000ff;\"\u003e\n    \u003ca href=\"\/en-en\/pages\/pu-erh_brand\" style=\"color: #0000ff;\"\u003eChanges in the Quality of Famous Tea Brands: Then and Now\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cstyle\u003e\na:hover {\n    background-color: #333;\n    color: #f0f0e0;\n    box-shadow: 0 12px 16px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.3);\n    transform: translateY(-5px);\n    text-decoration: none;\n}\n\u003c\/style\u003e","brand":"HOJO Tea","offers":[{"title":"50g (small bag\/small portion of cake)","offer_id":44932427677872,"sku":"d156ca","price":2600.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true},{"title":"200g (cake)","offer_id":44932427710640,"sku":"d156cc","price":10300.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true},{"title":"1,000g value pack (5 pieces of cake)","offer_id":44932427743408,"sku":"d156cv","price":41000.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_7177.jpg?v=1738306239"},{"product_id":"d175","title":"Guo Gan Ancient Tree Ripe Pu-erh Loose 2023","description":"\u003cdiv style=\"border: 1px solid #ddd; font-size: .9em; margin-bottom: 30px; padding: 30px 10px 12.5px 10px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cp\u003e\n        Raw Pu-erh tea is a delicate tea that is fruity and fresh, like freshly made white wine. It has no bitterness or astringency, making it very popular with children.\n    \u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003cp\u003e\n        When you think of Pu-erh tea, you might imagine a tea with a brown liquor and the flavor of dried mushrooms or dried fruits, but that is a type of Pu-erh called ripe Pu-erh.\n    \u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003ca style=\"color: #fff;\" href=\"..\/pages\/about-raw-pu-erh\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\n    \u003cdiv style=\"padding: 15px 0; font-size: .9em; background-color: #cfcfcf; text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n        Difference Between Raw and Ripe Pu-erh Tea \u0026gt;\n    \u003c\/div\u003e\n    \u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"border: 1px solid #ddd; font-size: .9em; margin-bottom: 30px; padding: 30px 10px 12.5px 10px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cp style=\"text-align: center; font-weight: bold;\"\u003e\n        High-quality ripe Pu-erh tea is never moldy.\n    \u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003cp\u003e\n        Some people dislike ripe tea because it smells like \"old furniture,\" \"rotten wood,\" or \"mold,\" but moldy aromas indicate poor quality tea with fermentation issues. High-quality tea should evoke a certain level of emotion when tasted. HOJO conducts extensive tasting to ensure we introduce only the best quality teas.\n    \u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003cdiv style=\"padding: 15px 0; font-size: .9em; background-color: #cfcfcf; text-align: center;\"\u003e\n        \u003ca style=\"color: #fff;\" href=\"..\/pages\/about-ripe-pu-erh\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eAbout Ripe Pu-erh Tea \u0026gt;\u003c\/a\u003e\n    \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e2023 Guo Gan Ancient Tree Ripe Pu-erh\u003c\/h2\u003e\nThis tea is made from material harvested in Guo Gan in 2023, transported to Yunnan in 2024, and fermented there.\nIt comes from a different producer from the 2019 tea, and presents a distinct flavour profile.\nWhile it still carries the bold, full body typical of Guo Gan tea, the flavour leans towards aromatic woods, such as agarwood, with top notes of pine and black jujube.\n\u003cimg alt=\"A woman holding a handful of freshly plucked tea leaves\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-10588\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_0914-1.jpg\" width=\"630\" height=\"420\"\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy Buy Loose Leaf?\u003c\/h2\u003e\nRipe pu-erh goes through deep microbial fermentation, so many people assume that loose leaf and compressed tea cakes do not differ much in flavour. In reality, this is not the case at all. We source our tea as loose leaf and then have it compressed by trusted craftsmen, which allows us to compare both forms directly. The difference is very clear, both in flavour and aroma.\nHere is why.\nRaw pu-erh is processed through withering, followed by pan-firing at relatively low temperature, then rolling and sun drying. Because most of the original leaf constituents remain intact, the leaves retain natural stickiness, and only a small amount of steam is needed before compression. In other words, the steaming process for raw pu-erh is relatively light and controlled.\nRipe pu-erh is different. During microbial fermentation, many of the leaf constituents are broken down, and the leaves lose their stickiness and become drier. Because of this, much more steam is required during compression, and the leaves absorb a significant amount of moisture. If we attempt to dry them naturally under shade, quality may decline before they are fully dry, so in practice, hot air drying is used.\nHowever, this drying method affects the tea. Compared to loose leaf, both flavour and aroma change after compression. Tea cakes do develop their own character, but it usually takes at least one year of storage for those qualities to settle and show.\nLoose leaf, on the other hand, offers something that tea cakes do not. The mouthfeel is softer, the flavour is more layered, and there is a certain clarity that exists only before compression.\n\u003ch2\u003eMyanmar Guo Gan Ripe Pu-erh\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cimg alt=\"A mountain village with houses along a dirt path\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-10592\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_4952-1.jpg\" width=\"630\" height=\"420\"\u003e\n\u003cimg alt=\"Children gathering in a village street with houses behind\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-10590\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_5053-1.jpg\" width=\"630\" height=\"420\"\u003e\nGuo Gan is an autonomous region in northern Shan State, Myanmar, bordering Zhenkang County in Lincang, Yunnan. Most of the population is of Han Chinese origin, and their daily language is a Yunnan dialect of Chinese. The Chinese yuan is widely used, and Chinese-style writing, education, and cultural practices are still very much part of everyday life. In many ways, it functions as a Chinese cultural enclave within Myanmar, with strong and lasting Chinese influence.\nHistorically, this region was once part of China. Following an agreement in 1897, it was incorporated into British Burma and later became part of Myanmar. Even so, the local population has continued to maintain a strong Chinese cultural identity. From our conversations with local residents in Guo Gan, as well as people from Guo Gan working in Yunnan, many naturally see themselves as culturally Chinese.\n\u003ch2\u003eCharacter of Guo Gan Ripe Pu-erh\u003c\/h2\u003e\nThe defining character of Guo Gan ripe pu-erh is its dense and full-bodied mouthfeel. We believe this is closely related to the geology of the region. Northern Shan State, including Guo Gan, was once an ancient seabed, where layers of limestone formed from the Palaeozoic to the Mesozoic era and were later uplifted to become land. As a result, the soil in this region is rich in limestone and minerals such as calcium, and it belongs to the same geological belt as Yongde and Zhenkang in Lincang, Yunnan. This mineral-rich soil is likely one of the key factors behind the weight, depth, and distinctive texture of Guo Gan tea.\n\u003cimg alt=\"Two tea pluckers working among dense tea trees\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-10594\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_0580-2.jpg\" width=\"630\" height=\"420\"\u003e\n\u003cimg alt=\"A woman plucking tea leaves from a tree\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-10591\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_4954-1.jpg\" width=\"630\" height=\"420\"\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eTea Production and Supply Chain\u003c\/h2\u003e\nGuo Gan is home to many ancient tea trees, similar to those found in Yunnan. Most of the harvest is initially processed into raw pu-erh. However, local demand for tea within Myanmar is limited, so much of this tea is transported overland into Yunnan via the border town of Nansan. From our experience, Guo Gan tea is rarely sold as raw pu-erh. Instead, it is more commonly used as a material for producing ripe pu-erh through microbiological fermentation.\n\u003ch2\u003eSupply Disruption\u003c\/h2\u003e\nAround 2015, intense armed conflict broke out between the Myanmar government and the Guo Gan autonomous region. The situation remained unstable for quite some time. During the COVID pandemic, the border at Nansan was closed, and logistics came to a complete stop. As a result, we were unable to source Guo Gan tea in recent years. In January 2024, a ceasefire agreement was reached, and the border was reopened. With this reopening, we saw an opportunity to source quality Guo Gan tea again in Yunnan, so this time we focused our search on areas near the Myanmar border and on producers with strong connections to Myanmar.\n\u003cimg alt=\"A large arched gate with a tricycle on the road\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-10595\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_0671-1.jpg\" width=\"630\" height=\"420\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor more on how ripe Pu-erh is fermented, compressed, and aged, see \u003ca href=\"..\/pages\/about-ripe-pu-erh\"\u003eAbout Ripe Pu-erh Tea\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    Focus on Sourcing Naturally Cultivated Tea\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"A woman in a yellow jacket reaching into a tea tree to pluck leaves\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_1207_417cac31-feef-474b-8429-501636b4b2b6.jpg?v=1727852439\" width=\"630\"\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Since 2010, we have been visiting Yunnan Province every spring. Over the years, we have built connections with many famous tea regions. However, our focus is not on a region's fame, but rather on tea with transparency and a long-lasting aftertaste. To achieve this, we focus on remote mountain villages, selecting tea gardens with ancient tea trees, high altitudes, and no fertilizers, sourcing through unique logistics channels. For more details, please visit the following page.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"padding: 25px 0; font-size: .9em; background-color: #cfcfcf; text-align: center; margin-top: 30px; margin-bottom: 30px; color: #0000ff;\"\u003e\n    \u003ca href=\"..\/pages\/aftertaste\" style=\"color: #0000ff;\"\u003eBeyond Fame: In Pursuit of Teas with a Long-Lasting Aftertaste\u003cspan style=\"color: #0000ff;\"\u003e\u0026gt;\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    In Yunnan, teas claiming to be from famous regions are produced in thousands of locations using leaves from other areas, and can be found everywhere—from airports and convenience stores to supermarkets.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    What complicates matters is the surprising phenomenon where imitation teas made from leaves in remote areas are of higher quality than the genuine articles. This is especially common with Pu-erh teas from Lincang, and it is a well-known fact among professionals involved in local sourcing. For more details, please visit the following page.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"padding: 25px 0; font-size: .9em; background-color: #cfcfcf; text-align: center; margin-top: 40px; margin-bottom: 40px; color: #0000ff;\"\u003e\n    \u003ca href=\"..\/pages\/famous_area\" style=\"color: #0000ff;\"\u003eFamous Tea Regions Where Imitation Is the Norm\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    In Yunnan Province, there are long-established brands like Dayi and Zhongcha. These brands are renowned because their teas produced before 1990 are highly valued.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    So why are these older teas considered special? Many people assume it is due to long aging, but in reality, the tea leaves used at that time were naturally grown without fertilizers, resulting in their superior quality.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Therefore, even if current teas are aged for a long time, they will not reach the same quality. For more information, please visit the following page.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"padding: 25px 0; font-size: .9em; background-color: #cfcfcf; text-align: center; margin-top: 40px; margin-bottom: 40px; color: #0000ff;\"\u003e\n    \u003ca href=\"..\/pages\/pu-erh_brand\" style=\"color: #0000ff;\"\u003eChanges in the Quality of Famous Tea Brands: Then and Now\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"HOJO Tea","offers":[{"title":"100g (in a bag)","offer_id":45618957418672,"sku":"d175ca","price":4100.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":false},{"title":"200g (100g x 2 bags)","offer_id":45618957451440,"sku":"d175cc","price":7900.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":false},{"title":"1,000g value pack (100g x 10 bags)","offer_id":45618957484208,"sku":"d175cv","price":32800.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_0914-1.jpg?v=1713921933"},{"product_id":"d154","title":"Zhenkang Ripe Pu-erh Tea 2022","description":"\u003cdiv style=\"border: 1px solid #ddd; font-size: .9em; margin-bottom: 30px; padding: 30px 10px 12.5px 10px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cp\u003e\n        Raw Pu-erh tea is a delicate tea that is fruity and fresh, like freshly made white wine. It has no bitterness or astringency, making it very popular with children.\n    \u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003cp\u003e\n        When you think of Pu-erh tea, you might imagine a tea with a brown liquor and the flavor of dried mushrooms or dried fruits, but that is a type of Pu-erh called ripe Pu-erh.\n    \u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003ca style=\"color: #fff;\" href=\"..\/pages\/about-raw-pu-erh\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\n    \u003cdiv style=\"padding: 15px 0; font-size: .9em; background-color: #cfcfcf; text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n        Difference Between Raw and Ripe Pu-erh Tea \u0026gt;\n    \u003c\/div\u003e\n    \u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"border: 1px solid #ddd; font-size: .9em; margin-bottom: 30px; padding: 30px 10px 12.5px 10px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cp style=\"text-align: center; font-weight: bold;\"\u003e\n        High-quality ripe Pu-erh tea is never moldy.\n    \u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003cp\u003e\n        Some people dislike ripe tea because it smells like \"old furniture,\" \"rotten wood,\" or \"mold,\" but moldy aromas indicate poor quality tea with fermentation issues. High-quality tea should evoke a certain level of emotion when tasted. HOJO conducts extensive tasting to ensure we introduce only the best quality teas.\n    \u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003cdiv style=\"padding: 15px 0; font-size: .9em; background-color: #cfcfcf; text-align: center;\"\u003e\n        \u003ca style=\"color: #fff;\" href=\"..\/pages\/about-ripe-pu-erh\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eAbout Ripe Pu-erh Tea \u0026gt;\u003c\/a\u003e\n    \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe buy tea leaves from a very remote growing area, aiming for a tea suited for everyday drinking. \u003cimg height=\"420\" width=\"630\" alt=\"Hand holding a wrapped Zhenkang 2022 tea cake\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_5373.jpg\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-10135\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eZhenkang County, on the Border with Myanmar\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis tea was made in Zhenkang County, Lincang City, Yunnan Province. Zhenkang is the westernmost county in Lincang and borders Myanmar. The county seat (the equivalent of a prefectural capital in Japan) is in Nan San, a town in the border area, and it plays an important role as a hub for border trade. After Nan San, the most economically active town is Feng Wei, in northeastern Zhenkang. Feng Wei is high in altitude and covered in mountains, and tea growing is widespread there. It has many ancient tea trees in particular and is widely known as a tea-producing area. Ethnic minority villages are scattered around it, mainly Lahu, Yi and Wa, and traditional culture and ways of life are still alive there. For reference, in China, prefecture-level cities sit under provinces, and counties and districts sit under those. Below them are towns (zhen) and townships (xiang); a zhen is equivalent to a town in Japan and a xiang to a village. Under towns and townships are villages and communities (shequ). For example, Lincang City in Yunnan Province contains Zhenkang County, which contains the town of Nan San. China's administrative divisions are layered like this, from province down to village. Lincang City covers about 24,469 square kilometers. That is larger than the whole of Shikoku (about 18,800 square kilometers) and a little smaller than Kyushu (about 36,800 square kilometers). It is a single regional city in China, yet its area is comparable to a whole region of Japan. \u003cimg height=\"420\" width=\"630\" alt=\"Forested mountain slope overlooking a sea of clouds\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_8984.jpg\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-10143\"\u003e \u003cimg height=\"420\" width=\"630\" alt=\"Tea trees and mountains above a sea of clouds\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_8989.jpg\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-10141\"\u003e \u003cimg height=\"420\" width=\"630\" alt=\"Tree in white blossom on a mountain slope\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_2216.jpg\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-10136\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eGoing Deep into Remote Areas for Reasonably Priced Tea\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTo offer high quality ripe Pu-erh tea at an affordable price, we paid particular attention to transport links in the producing region. Even within Lincang, areas with well maintained roads and easy access from nearby cities attract more visitors, which tends to drive up tea prices. Feng Wei Town, on the other hand, is about eight hours by car from the nearest airport. By sourcing tea from mountain villages even farther beyond the town, we were able to pay relatively less than we would for tea of comparable quality from other regions.\u003cbr\u003eAt the homes of ethnic minority farmers, we were served a mysterious drink instead of tea: homemade baijiu, which they had brewed and distilled themselves, then infused with mountain herbs. \u003cimg height=\"420\" width=\"630\" alt=\"Rooftop of a building in the mountains above clouds\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_8982.jpg\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-10142\"\u003e \u003cimg height=\"420\" width=\"630\" alt=\"Concrete mountain path leading toward a sea of clouds\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_9002-3.jpg\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-10139\"\u003e \u003cimg height=\"420\" width=\"630\" alt=\"Hand pouring a drink from a large jar into small cups\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_2519.jpg\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-10137\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eMade from Tea Grown Without Pesticides or Fertilizer\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eZhenkang Ripe Pu-erh 2022 uses leaves from ancient trees over 100 years old, harvested in a tea garden at 2,000 m altitude in Feng Wei. It has the clarity that comes from leaves grown without fertilizer or pesticides, and a long lingering aftertaste. It was produced at a small factory in the mountains. As it ages the aroma and flavor should grow, with a sweet dried fruit note, and the taste should become gentler and more mellow. \u003cimg height=\"420\" width=\"630\" alt=\"Front surface of a dark brown compressed tea cake\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_5381-1.jpg\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-10133\"\u003e \u003cimg height=\"420\" width=\"630\" alt=\"Back of a compressed tea cake with a center dent\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_5388.jpg\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-10134\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor more on how ripe Pu-erh is fermented, compressed, and aged, see \u003ca href=\"..\/pages\/about-ripe-pu-erh\"\u003eAbout Ripe Pu-erh Tea\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"letter-spacing: 2px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e9eb; padding-bottom: 12px;\"\u003e\n    Focus on Sourcing Naturally Cultivated Tea\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cimg alt=\"A woman in a yellow jacket reaching into a tea tree to pluck leaves\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_1207_417cac31-feef-474b-8429-501636b4b2b6.jpg?v=1727852439\" width=\"630\"\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Since 2010, we have been visiting Yunnan Province every spring. Over the years, we have built connections with many famous tea regions. However, our focus is not on a region's fame, but rather on tea with transparency and a long-lasting aftertaste. To achieve this, we focus on remote mountain villages, selecting tea gardens with ancient tea trees, high altitudes, and no fertilizers, sourcing through unique logistics channels. For more details, please visit the following page.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"padding: 25px 0; font-size: .9em; background-color: #cfcfcf; text-align: center; margin-top: 30px; margin-bottom: 30px; color: #0000ff;\"\u003e\n    \u003ca href=\"..\/pages\/aftertaste\" style=\"color: #0000ff;\"\u003eBeyond Fame: In Pursuit of Teas with a Long-Lasting Aftertaste\u003cspan style=\"color: #0000ff;\"\u003e\u0026gt;\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    In Yunnan, teas claiming to be from famous regions are produced in thousands of locations using leaves from other areas, and can be found everywhere—from airports and convenience stores to supermarkets.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    What complicates matters is the surprising phenomenon where imitation teas made from leaves in remote areas are of higher quality than the genuine articles. This is especially common with Pu-erh teas from Lincang, and it is a well-known fact among professionals involved in local sourcing. For more details, please visit the following page.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"padding: 25px 0; font-size: .9em; background-color: #cfcfcf; text-align: center; margin-top: 40px; margin-bottom: 40px; color: #0000ff;\"\u003e\n    \u003ca href=\"..\/pages\/famous_area\" style=\"color: #0000ff;\"\u003eFamous Tea Regions Where Imitation Is the Norm\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    In Yunnan Province, there are long-established brands like Dayi and Zhongcha. These brands are renowned because their teas produced before 1990 are highly valued.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    So why are these older teas considered special? Many people assume it is due to long aging, but in reality, the tea leaves used at that time were naturally grown without fertilizers, resulting in their superior quality.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n    Therefore, even if current teas are aged for a long time, they will not reach the same quality. For more information, please visit the following page.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"padding: 25px 0; font-size: .9em; background-color: #cfcfcf; text-align: center; margin-top: 40px; margin-bottom: 40px; color: #0000ff;\"\u003e\n    \u003ca href=\"..\/pages\/pu-erh_brand\" style=\"color: #0000ff;\"\u003eChanges in the Quality of Famous Tea Brands: Then and Now\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"HOJO Tea","offers":[{"title":"50g (small bag\/small portion of cake)","offer_id":45618962989232,"sku":"d154ca","price":1600.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true},{"title":"200g (cake)","offer_id":45618963022000,"sku":"d154cc","price":5900.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true},{"title":"1,000g value pack (5 pieces of cake)","offer_id":45618963054768,"sku":"d154cv","price":23800.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/IMG_5373.jpg?v=1769752407"},{"product_id":"d178","title":"Wu Liang Shan Ripe Pu-erh 2021 Loose","description":null,"brand":"HOJO Tea","offers":[{"title":"30g (small bag)","offer_id":45774513668272,"sku":"d178ca","price":860.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true},{"title":"80g (in can)","offer_id":45774513701040,"sku":"d178cc","price":2400.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":false},{"title":"240g (large bag\/80g x 3 bags)","offer_id":45774513733808,"sku":"d178cb","price":6800.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":false},{"title":"720g value pack (large bag [80g x 3 bags] x 3 bags)","offer_id":45774513766576,"sku":"d178cv","price":17100.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/files\/d134_01_4f0752e7-2208-412a-b781-578cd96b046a.jpg?v=1793755569"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0526\/0774\/6224\/collections\/ripe.jpg?v=1710747828","url":"https:\/\/hojotea.com\/en\/collections\/ripe_pu-erh.oembed","provider":"お茶の専門店HOJO \/ HOJO CO., LTD.","version":"1.0","type":"link"}