2013 Good Luck Shou Brick

As many people know, Deng Shi Hai (DSH) holds legendary status in the world of puer. One of his greatest contributions, in my view, was helping transform something once seen as a crude, everyday beverage into a true art form. His work made it possible for many of us to become the puer enthusiasts we are today.

Over the years, DSH produced many teas, including this 2013 “Good Luck” Ripe Brick. Rather than following the modern trend of producing puer that is ready to drink immediately, he crafted his teas with aging in mind. This philosophy is fitting, as he is widely credited with popularizing the phrase 越陳越香, often translated as “the older, the better.”

The leaf material used for this brick comes from Fengqing County in Lincang Prefecture and is described in Chinese as 無公害, meaning cleanly grown and free from agricultural contaminants. The tea feels notably clean and easy for the body to receive. Even after drinking many strong cups, it leaves no sense of heaviness and has a satisfying, thirst-quenching quality.

In Taiwan, the flavor profile of the 2013 “Good Luck” Ripe Brick would likely fall into the category of 棗香, or “date aroma.” In the West, drinkers often describe this character using comparisons to various dried fruits. That said, the tea is not overly sweet. When pushed, a gentle underlying bitterness emerges, giving the tea a nice balance in flavor. At the same time, it is far from mild. Many “date aroma” ripe puers tend to lean toward the softer side, but this one carries a satisfying strength and responds particularly well to stronger brewing. Although some of the material leans slightly toward the more mature side, the tea still maintains a lively body and never feels flat. It offers a strong aftertaste, a mouth-watering finish, and even shows impressive endurance for a ripe puer.

While it is priced somewhat higher than most factory ripes of a similar age, I believe it comfortably outperforms many of them.