2017 'Whispering Earth' Ripe Pu Erh Tea Cake, Lincang 200g

'Whispering Earth' is Teasenz’s first ripe pu erh tea cake, co-curated by 10 pu erh enthusiasts from our community.

A complex and comforting ripe pu erh blend that gradually reveals its layered flavor palette with each steep. It features deep, woody and earthy notes, balanced by hints of cacao, herbs, liquorice, nuts, fruits, honey and a lasting sweetness of dates. 

The leaves, harvested from the Da Ye Zhong (Large Leaf) cultivar in the Lincang region in 2017, underwent a balanced post-fermentation process. After aging for several years in loose form, this material was manually stone-pressed, resulting in a tea with a truly good body and a very smooth texture. It is not just a beverage; it is a communion with the soil, one that offers warmth, energy, and deep comfort to all who listen.

Each tea cake is stone-pressed and double-wrapped with the outer paper featuring a hand-draw design by artist Su Yi.

Community Curated

'Whispering Earth' is our most experimental launch so far. We began by inviting 30 dedicated ripe pu erh customers to participate in a special selection panel. Ten of those customers joined and received 5 samples pre-curated by our team. Their task: blind-taste and rate each sample.

The Result: 'Whispering Earth' was the undisputed winner, earning an average rating of 4.1 out of 5, with three of the ten participants giving it a perfect score!

Design by Su Yi

The outer paper wrapper is a piece of art itself, designed and hand-drawn by artist Su Yi. The wrapper’s style is a modern take on Chinese woodblock printing, bridging tradition with contemporary design.

The scene prominently features the 'Moon Embracing Pavilion' in the 'Jade Spring Park' of the ancient town of Li Jiang. The contrasting background showcases the magnificent 'Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.'

Through this imagery, we express how culture and nature interact. It reminds us that the tea-making process is not simply agricultural, but a cultural practice of harmonizing human knowledge with the untamed beauty of the natural world. This commitment to balance is what ultimately defines the depth, complexity, and comforting character of 'Whispering Earth.'

Tasting Notes

Steeps 1–2: The initial infusions offer a rich, deep colour tea liquor, inviting you into the very heart of the earth. Here, the tea speaks its name: robust earthy notes, bittersweet cocoa, and the refreshing presence of camphor wood create a grounding melody like the whispers of the earth. This stage delivers a clear, focused energy boost.

Steeps 3–5: The deep earthiness gracefully softens at this stage and a surprisingly savoury sweetness emerges, reminiscent of ripe dates. The liquor is incredibly smooth with hints of spices emerging, offering a truly comforting experience.

Steeps 6–10: The rich body persists, revealing sophisticated layers of nuts, ancient herbs, mint, and liquorice, offering a delightful depth of complexity. This stage you'll feel the tea is soothing your stomach, making it an exceptional digestive tea to enjoy after a meal.

Steep 11 & beyond: Even after many infusions, the tea’s spirit endures. It mellows into a wonderfully refreshing, mild liquor, finishing with a bright, delicate fruity and honey sweetness marks the perfect conclusion to the journey.