{"product_id":"2018-lincang-laochatou","title":"2018 Lincang Laochatou","description":"\u003carticle class=\"text-token-text-primary w-full focus:outline-none [--shadow-height:45px] has-data-writing-block:pointer-events-none has-data-writing-block:-mt-(--shadow-height) has-data-writing-block:pt-(--shadow-height) [\u0026amp;:has([data-writing-block])\u0026gt;*]:pointer-events-auto scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]\" dir=\"auto\" tabindex=\"-1\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"text-base my-auto mx-auto pb-10 [--thread-content-margin:--spacing(4)] thread-sm:[--thread-content-margin:--spacing(6)] thread-lg:[--thread-content-margin:--spacing(16)] px-(--thread-content-margin)\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"[--thread-content-max-width:40rem] thread-lg:[--thread-content-max-width:48rem] mx-auto max-w-(--thread-content-max-width) flex-1 group\/turn-messages focus-visible:outline-hidden relative flex w-full min-w-0 flex-col agent-turn\" tabindex=\"-1\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"flex max-w-full flex-col grow\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"auto\" class=\"min-h-8 text-message relative flex w-full flex-col items-end gap-2 text-start break-words whitespace-normal [.text-message+\u0026amp;]:mt-1\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"flex w-full flex-col gap-1 empty:hidden first:pt-[1px]\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"markdown prose dark:prose-invert w-full break-words light markdown-new-styling\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLao Cha Tou (老茶头)\u003c\/strong\u003e is one of the most unusual forms of ripe Pu’er.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDuring the wet-pile fermentation of shou puerh, heat, moisture, and repeated turning cause some leaves to naturally bind together into \u003cstrong\u003edense, irregular clusters\u003c\/strong\u003e. These compact nuggets are separated from the loose tea after fermentation and become \u003cstrong\u003eLaochatou\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBecause the leaves are so tightly packed together, Laocatou brews differently from ordinary shou puerh—and that's exactly what makes it interesting.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhy We Chose This One\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTraditionally, Laochatou is often considered a lower-grade \u003cstrong\u003eby-product of cooked\/shou puerh\u003c\/strong\u003e, and it's not a category we normally carry. But we decided to carry this one.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt's made by the same producer responsible for one of our favorite premium shou puerhs, the \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/teaandwhisk.com\/collections\/shou-pu-erh\/products\/wujie-shou-puerh\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e2021 Wujie “Borderless” Spring Shou Puerh\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e. Instead of using lesser material, this Laochatou was made with \u003cstrong\u003epremium tea material\u003c\/strong\u003e, by one our trusted, master producers, giving it a depth, sweetness, and refinement that immediately caught our attention.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe result is a remarkably smooth and satisfying ripe puerh with a \u003cstrong\u003esilky, oily texture and medium body\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe aroma and flavor bring to mind \u003cstrong\u003erich egg custard, browned butter, and clean cypress wood\u003c\/strong\u003e. As the tea settles, you'll find a mellow \u003cstrong\u003erock-sugar sweetness\u003c\/strong\u003e, subtle salinity, and a lingering \u003cstrong\u003evanilla-custard sweetness\u003c\/strong\u003e in the finish.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe tea is very oily and thick, giving it a great, satisfying and comforting texture.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe overall feeling is incredibly \u003cstrong\u003ecalming, clean, and satisfying\u003c\/strong\u003e, with layers of flavor that continue to emerge throughout the session.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eOne Important Brewing Tip\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDon't judge this tea from a gaiwan.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBecause Laochatou is \u003cstrong\u003eso densely packed\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003eordinary gongfu brewing doesn't extract everything\u003c\/strong\u003e hidden inside the clusters. The result can feel surprisingly light.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOur favorite way to brew it is to boil it.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA \u003cstrong\u003elong boil breaks down the dense clusters and extracts\u003c\/strong\u003e the \u003cstrong\u003edeeper sweetness, richness, texture, and complexity \u003c\/strong\u003ethat make this tea special. If you have to brew it Gongfu style, use a thicker clay bodied teapot (for better heat retention) with 8-9g of Laochatou and boiling water to extract as much out of these dense clusters as possible.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eBrewing Guide\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOur Recommendation: Boiled\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e8g tea\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGlass electric kettle\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBoil for \u003cstrong\u003e10 minutes\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGongfu Style\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e8-9g tea\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e90ml dense clay teapot\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e206°F \/ 97°C\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eQuick rinse\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFirst infusion: 40 seconds\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFollowing infusions: 15–20 seconds\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLincang's mountainous environment, humid subtropical climate, abundant vegetation, and diverse microclimates have made it one of Yunnan's historic large-leaf tea regions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis 2018 Laochatou is a great example of what happens when \u003cstrong\u003epremium material, deep fermentation, and years of resting come together\u003c\/strong\u003e—a tea that may look humble, but once properly brewed, offers remarkable depth, texture, and sweetness.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"markdown prose dark:prose-invert w-full break-words light markdown-new-styling\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/article\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRegion: Menghai, Lincang, Yunnan, China\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNotes: Browned Butter, Egg Custard, Cypress Wood, Rock Sugar\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Tea and Whisk","offers":[{"title":"1-oz Sample","offer_id":50250218995955,"sku":null,"price":19.55,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"2 oz","offer_id":50250219028723,"sku":null,"price":37.4,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"3 oz","offer_id":50250219061491,"sku":null,"price":53.55,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"4 oz","offer_id":50250219094259,"sku":null,"price":68.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"6oz","offer_id":50250219127027,"sku":null,"price":99.45,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0268\/9486\/0322\/files\/2018-lincang-laochatou-7690234.jpg?v=1786437908","url":"https:\/\/teaandwhisk.com\/products\/2018-lincang-laochatou","provider":"Tea and Whisk","version":"1.0","type":"link"}