Fu zhuan (zhuan means brick) is a compressed brick tea from Hunan, China that has been aging since 2015. Older leaves and a few buds are plucked and fired to deactivate oxidizing enzymes much like green tea, the tea is then rolled twice in machines and fermented via wet piling for 12-24 hours, a much shorter duration compared to other heicha (shu puerh is piled for weeks) this short piling means this tea does not feature the strong aromas and mustiness associated with other heicha. The real standout feature of this tea comes in the Jin Hua (golden flower), this is a fungus the tea is innoculated with after being compressed into a brick and baked, the fungus innoculation and the drying process take place at the same time, and the golden spores visible in the photos is proof that this secondary fungal fermentation has taken place. This particular Fuzhuan cha has been pressed with lotus leaves (the white papery leaves pictured) which add an extra layer of uniqueness to the tea.

This tea is highly aromatic in both it’s dry, wet, and liquor forms, the scent is unique and hard to describe but comes in tandem with the taste. The lotus leaves add something ontop of the existing Jin Hua Fu Cha experience that transforms it fully. Strange exotic flowers, and incense come to mind as well as, funnily enough, lotus. The mouthfeel is on the thicker side and the flavour is upfront and strong, but not easily bitter,or sour like more fermented teas. It’s quite soothing and mellow, the headfeeling is not particularly pronounced and to me appears as a very low level buzz. It did warm me up though. Overall a very unique experience that while it feels familiar, is hard to compare to anything you’ve tried before, except maybe cabbage.

You’ll receive one or several carefully weighed chunks of tea chipped off the brick pictured, if you’re interested in buying a full 1kg brick or 500g half brick please contact us and we can look in to ordering you one.

Please note the fungus in this tea may have been innoculated using wheat meaning this tea may contain trace amounts of gluten and pose a risk to those with celiacs disease or a gluten intolerance.