Lao Ban Zhang is a type of Pu-erh tea. The name is a mouthful to pronounce so we call it "Old Bamboo Charcoal" tea. Lao Ban Zhang tea is made with a very particular type of Pu-erh tea and you need to follow a set procedure in order to brew it correctly. Read this blog to find out more about the tea and how to brew it correctly.

1. What is Lao Ban Zhang raw puer tea?

Lao Ban Zhang tea is a type of Pu-erh tea. The name is a mouthful to pronounce so we call it "Old Bamboo Charcoal" tea. Lao Ban Zhang tea has been around for about 400 years in the YiWu region in Yunnan province, China. It originated from the famous Da Ping Hao tea bush and is named after the village that it was originally harvested from.

2. What makes Lao Ban Zhang tea special?

Lao Ban Zhang tea is a very unique type of Pu-erh, this tea has been historically famous because it has a very distinct character and taste, as well as a wonderful history behind it. This tea is from a very high-quality Da Ping Hao tea bush, that was originally cultivated over 300 years ago. The original plantation of the old tea bush produced only seven stalks and it has been said that these picked leaves can produce 500 grams of finished Pu-erh cake!

The special thing about this tea is... it has been originally picked with bamboo tongs, that is why it got the name "Old Bamboo Charcoal". The tea leaves are shaped in small needle-like crystals and the aroma of the finished tea is very strong.

3. How to brew Lao Ban Zhang raw puer tea?

Brewing Lao Ban Zhang tea is a very particular process and you need to follow all the steps in order to get the desired result.

First of all, use some good quality Pu-erh tea leaves and put them inside a Gai Wan (Pu-erh teapot). Then wash the leaves twice with boiling water. The

The first brew should only last 10 seconds.

In the second brew, you can increase the time to 20-30 seconds and add more leaves in order to get a thicker flavor. This tea gets better the more times you re-brew it so doesn't be afraid of using lots of Pu-erh leaves for this tea, the Gai Wan (Pu-erh teapot) can hold a lot of tea leaves.

In the third brew, you can again add more leaves and re-steep for a longer time, this tea is supposed to be steeped 10 times or even more if you have enough Pu-erh leaves. This tea becomes sweeter over the steepings so keep going and you will be rewarded with a nice final flavor in your mouth.

4. What are the side effects of Lao Ban Zhang Pu-erh tea?

As with all types of Pu-erh tea, Lao Ban Zhang tea is a strong flavored and scented type of tea. So make sure you don't drink too much if you are not used to drinking Pu-erh before bedtime!

5. Where can you buy this tea?

Lao Ban Zhang tea is a relatively rare type of Pu-erh so there are not a lot of brands that sell it on the market. One of our favorite types of Lao Ban Zhan comes from the Menghai Tea Factory and it is known as "Old Bamboo Charcoal" (Lao Ban Zhang) cake. This type of Pu-erh has a very strong aroma so make sure you don't sniff the tea too long or you might get dizzy!

6. More information about Lao Ban Zhang Pu-erh tea?

There are not a lot of brands that sell this tea on the market and we believe this is mostly due to the limited quantity of the harvest each year. As with all types of Pu-erh teas, Lao Ban Zhang gets better over time so keep your cake for at least five years before you try drinking it.

Happy Brewing!