Aged Tulin Phoenix Sheng Tuocha

Produced by Nanjian Tea Factory under its Tulin Phoenix brand, this tuocha comes from the high-elevation tea gardens of Yunnan's Wuliang Mountains. Founded in the 1980s by Lin Xingyun, formerly of Xiaguan Tea Factory, Tulin became known for its Phoenix tuocha productions, including teas like this one. 

This tea was represented to me as a 1990s production. While I cannot verify the exact production date, the dry storage, leaf appearance, and overall character of the tea suggest significant maturity, and the wrapper style appears consistent with earlier Tulin Phoenix productions. That said, a conservative estimate based on the tea's appearance and character would place it around 2000.

The flavor is clean, showing notes of wood, fruit, and the layered complexity that develops through long-term dry storage. A slight sourness occasionally appears but feels well integrated into the overall profile. The tea has a light, refreshing character without any heaviness.

At the same time, the tea still carries some strength. A firm bitterness is present, though it can be moderated with careful brewing, gradually transforming into a lingering sweetness. The tea is smooth and has good viscosity, with some dryness at the front of the mouth that is balanced by salivation after the sip. The tea has good endurance and a pleasant chaqi. 

This tea is a great option for those looking to explore older dry-stored tuocha at an approachable price point.

Note: Although these were originally produced as 100g tuocha, the examples weighed for inventory ranged from approximately 90–100g.