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Phoenix Tuocha Raw Pu-erh (Sheng 生) — Aged 2007
Other names: Phoenix Tuocha, Tu Lin Tuocha, Raw Pu-erh Tuocha, Wu Liang Shan Sheng Pu-erh, 凤凰沱茶
The Phoenix Tuocha by Tu Lin (土林) is one of the most prestigious pu-erh tuochas in China — a bowl-shaped raw (Sheng) pu-erh that experienced drinkers seek out. T
his one is a 2007, made from Wu Liang Shan (无量山) leaf and stored in Yunnan all its life.
Two decades of ageing have given it a lovely mellow, woody flavour over a brightly yellow brew, with a long, lingering aftertaste. A real must-try for raw pu-erh lovers.
About This Tuocha
A mid-aged raw (Sheng) pu-erh in the traditional bowl-shaped tuocha form, from the prestige tuocha house Tu Lin. T
he leaf is Wu Liang Shan mao cha, kept in Yunnan since 2007, now matured into a clean, mellow cup: a bright yellow brew, a soft woody flavour and a long, gentle finish.
- Type: Raw (Sheng 生) pu-erh tuocha, mid-aged
- Region: Wu Liang Shan (无量山), Pu'er (普洱), Yunnan
- Flavour: bright yellow brew; mellow, woody; long, lingering aftertaste
- Format: traditional bowl-shaped tuocha
- Production: 2007
- Weight: 200g tuocha
Essential Pu-erh Tea Accessories
A pressed tuocha needs a couple of tools to enjoy it at its best:
- Cake pin: a tuocha is densely pressed — slide a cake pin in from the edge and prise gently, keeping the leaves as whole as possible.
- Vessel: for pu-erh we reach first for a Yixing zisha pot — the unglazed clay rounds the cup out for a smoother, fuller brew — or a gaiwan for an easy, more affordable start.
- Storage: keep your tuocha breathing in a pu-erh bamboo storage unit or an unglazed clay jar.
See the full range in our Pu-erh accessories.
Want to understand pu-erh a little better? Here's some honest, no-fluff knowledge to help you find your pu-erh.
How to Choose Your First Pu-erh
Your first pu-erh:
start with our Pu-erh Beginner's Trial Pack.
It brings together raw and ripe, loose and cake, in one box
— the easiest way to feel the difference and learn where you'd like to start next.
The quick version:
Raw (Sheng) is like sashimi — fresh, bright and a little wild;
Ripe (Shou) is like a rich, slow-cooked stew — dark, mellow and smooth, transformed by time.
Love green or white tea? Start raw — like this tuocha.
Love black tea, dark tea (hei cha) or roasted oolong? Start ripe — explore our Ripe (Shou) pu-erh.
Your next pu-erh: explore by region.
Scroll down — there's plenty here to help you decide. Finding a pu-erh you love is a genuinely fun journey, and the pricey one isn't always the one that suits you.
A prestige, well-aged tuocha like this is a lovely way to taste what a classic raw pu-erh becomes with time.
Pu-erh Regions: Why Origin Shapes Taste & Price
Region is one of the biggest reasons two pu-erhs can differ so much in taste, quality and price.
Across Yunnan, tea grows on hundreds of mountains, each giving its own character — shaped by the land and the tree type (ancient-tree, arbor or plantation).
Here's how Yunnan's three core regions break down — and where this tuocha sits:
1. Ban-Na (西双版纳) The King of Pu-erh
Yunnan's most famous region, and home to the old and new "Six Great Tea Mountains." It splits into two very different sides:
Menghai (勐海) — bold and domineering: rich, thick flavour, powerful cha qi and a high aroma. The classic home of ripe (Shou) pu-erh.
↳ Bu-Lang Tea Mountain (布朗茶山) — its most celebrated origins: Ban Zhang (班章), Lao Man E (老曼峨) and Hekai (贺开).
Yiwu (易武) — soft and fine: a floral-honey aroma over a wild forest character, with the least bitterness of all.
2. Lincang (临沧) The Queen of Sweetness
Lincang is all about sweetness — a high, lifted aroma and a broad, generous sweetness, floral and honeyed, with barely any bitterness. It's built on the celebrated Mengku broad-leaf variety.
Best-known origins: Bing Dao (冰岛), Xigui (昔归), Xiao Hu Zhai (小户寨) and Mengku (勐库).
3. Pu'er (普洱) The Birthplace
Where the name "pu-erh" began. Soft, sweet and balanced, leaning to a floral-fruity sweetness — easy and approachable.
Best-known origins: Wuliang Shan (无量山) and Kunlu Shan (困鹿山).
★ This tuocha is from Wu Liang Shan (无量山) — a Pu'er-region mountain giving a soft, mellow, woody cup that ages gracefully.
A handy shorthand pu-erh drinkers use:
Ban Zhang is the king (bold and powerful),
Bing Dao is the queen (sweet and smooth),
Yiwu is grace itself (soft, supple and silky).
What Decides a Pu-erh's Price?
Pu-erh prices run from everyday to eye-watering, and it helps to know what you're paying for. A few things set the price:
- Where it's grown (region): a famous mountain like Lao Ban Zhang or Bing Dao is scarce and commands top prices.
- The tree (variety & age): ancient-tree (gu shu) leaf sits above arbor (qiao mu), which sits above plantation (tai di).
- The pick: even from the same tree, tender bud-and-tip fetches more than coarser leaf — and spring tea is prized over autumn.
- Age, brand & storage: older well-stored teas and prestige houses like Tu Lin all add to the price.
That's why two cakes with the same famous name can sit at very different prices. The exact village, tree type, grade and season all change what ends up in the cup, so the same name never means the same tea.
We're honest about price. A prestige tuocha with nearly two decades of clean Yunnan storage carries real, earned value.
A bigger price tag doesn't mean "better for you." Don't chase the number on the label: trust your tongue, not the price. The right pu-erh is simply the one you love drinking — which is exactly why we sample everything first.
Pu-erh, Caffeine & Antioxidants
Like all true tea from the Camellia sinensis plant, pu-erh is post-fermented and naturally contains antioxidants and caffeine — that's simply part of the leaf.
A well-aged raw pu-erh like this drinks clean and mellow, its early bitterness long softened with age. If you're sensitive to caffeine, keep your leaf light and your steeps short, and enjoy it earlier in the day.
Brew this raw pu-erh the right way
— check out our professional Brewing Guide, Storage Care, and The Origins below 👇