2003, Shu Puer Ripe Puer Mini Tea Brick, 5g

2003, Aged Shu Puer Mini Tea Brick

We just love this little 5g Compressed Puer Tea. Some teas are made for long, slow sessions, others are designed to be simple and convenient without losing their character. These 2013 Aged Shu Puer mini tea bricks offer exactly that, a smooth, mature Puer experience in a perfectly portioned 5g brick.

Each small piece contains compressed ripe Puer made from Yunnan large-leaf tea, a variety traditionally used to produce Puer teas. The compact brick slowly loosens in hot water, releasing a deep, dark infusion with a mellow, comforting flavour.

Because the tea has already been aged for over a decade, the cup is smooth and balanced from the first infusion.

Harvested & pressed: 2003
Origin: Yunnan

A Tea with a Long Tradition

Puer tea comes from Yunnan Province in southwestern China, where tea has been grown, traded, and aged for centuries. What makes Puer unique is its post-fermentation process, where microbial activity transforms the leaves over time, giving the tea its distinctive depth and earthy character.

Unlike most teas, Puer can continue to evolve after production. Traditionally, the leaves are compressed into cakes, bricks, or small shapes and stored for years, gradually developing a smoother, richer profile.

Ripe Puer (Shu Puer) uses a controlled fermentation method known as “wet piling”, developed in the 1970s to accelerate the ageing process and create the mellow character usually found in much older teas.

Convenient Mini Tea Bricks

These small 5g compressed bricks are designed for easy brewing. Instead of measuring loose leaves, you simply use one brick per teapot or gaiwan.

The compact shape also helps protect the tea during storage while allowing the flavour to continue mellowing over time.

As the brick softens in hot water, the leaves gradually separate and release their full character over multiple infusions.

Flavour & Aroma

Aged Shu Puer is known for its smooth, warming profile.

Expect notes of:

• Dark wood
• Cocoa and nuts
• Gentle earthiness
• A soft natural sweetness

The liquor brews a deep burgundy colour and has a full-bodied yet silky texture with very little bitterness.

How to Brew

Gongfu style

• 1 mini brick (5g)
• 100–120ml water
• 95–100°C
• Quick rinse (optional)
• Steep 10–20 seconds, increasing gradually
• Re-infuse many times

Simple brewing

• 1 mini brick (5g)
• 250–300ml water
• 95–100°C
• Brew 2–4 minutes

Why We Love It

Puer can sometimes feel intimidating for newcomers, but these mini tea bricks make it wonderfully simple. No measuring, no breaking apart large cakes, just drop a brick into your teapot and let the leaves unfold.

The result is a rich, comforting tea with the depth of aged Puer and the convenience of a single serving.