Xiaguan Canger | 2003 to 2014 Vintages, Aged Raw Pu Er

Xiaguan Tuocha's Canger iconic series is one of the most recognizeable brands in the pu er tea universe.  Its identity is built on consistency, affordability, and a very distinctive flavour profile that makes Xiaguan unlike any other tea brand.

We are extremely fortunate to have a wide diversity of vintages of this iconic tea.  These have been aging in Richmond (British Columbia) since 2014.  Previously, they were stored in Kunming, Yunnan.  Please note that some of the older boxes are a bit crushed, as you would expect from tea that's been stored 1-3 decades.

Chinese Name: 苍洱沱茶 (Cāng Ěr Tuóchá).  "Cang" refers to the Cangshan Mountains (苍山), and "Er" refers to the Erhai Lake (洱海). These are the two defining geographical features of the Dali area in Yunnan, the historical home of the Xiaguan.

Key Characteristics:  expect an untiring, charming workhorse, not a single origin super refined tea.

1. The "Xiaguan Flavour" (下关味, Xiàguān Wèi):
   Not for the faint of heart:  robust, straightforward, lightly smoky.  
2. Recipe: Simao (思茅) and Lincang (临沧) region tea leaves.
3. Picking Standard:  primarily broken leaves and tips (碎茶, Suì chá). The use of broken leaf allows for a faster fermentation and a stronger, quicker-infusing brew.
4. Shape:  tuo cha* (沱茶), a bowl-shaped compressed tea
5. Compression:  notoriously tight. This protects the tea during transport but slows down the aging process.  
   

About Xiaguan Tuo Cha

Founded in 1902, Xiaguan is a company with a rich history, including caravans from Yunnan to Tibet and a leading part in the development of 'cooked' Pu Er in the 1970s.