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Cha-tou, the Manufacturers’ favorite pu-erh ripe tea
The cha-tou is one kind of pu-erh ripe tea produced during the tea making process. The manufacturer often emphasizes that it is the most delicious and precious pu-erh ripe tea. The size and shape of cha-tou is irregular, and it is naturally formed.
Cha-tou is naturally formed during fermentation
The fermentation of pu-erh ripe tea consists of two steps: the first step involves bacterial fermentation, and the second step involves yeast and mold fermentation. After the first step of bacterial fermentation, tea leaves are piled into 10-20cm of thickness for natural drying. Simultaneously, tea leaves undergo post fermentation by yeast and mold. During this process, tea leaves sometimes stuck each other and form a lump. This is the tea called cha-tou. Once cha-tou is formed, the moisture is trapped inside the lump. It will then undergo further maturation and form the flavor like Chinese dates.
Cha-tou is popular and limited
After meeting many manufacturers of ripe pu-erh tea, I realized that they appreciate the cha-tou the most. It gives very unique flavour, like dried fruit. Usually, the selling price of cha-tou is the highest among the various grades of ripe pu-erh tea yet the demand is more than the supply as the quantity of cha-tou from each batch of fermentation is very limited. Usually the stock is not available, unless the advance booking is made one year ahead.
After all, I am very lucky to find the cha-tou made of the tea leaf that is grown with natural farming method. It gives very strong after taste, full body, and its flavour reminds me of dried dates. I am planning to compress cha-tou into 250g brick. It will be available in next month.
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- I invite you to experience my tea selections.I was born in Nagano, Japan. In university, I studied agricultural chemistry, and I have the master degree in food science. I worked in Japanese food industry for 10 years. I involved in R&D, QC and QA. As a factory manager, I implemented ISO9000 series and managed the factory.
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