As You Wish | shou puerh teacake
TASTING NOTES: bittersweet cocoa, dried red dates, toasted walnut bread
Smooth, round, and deeply satisfying 2021 ripe puerh. Aged to develop dark amber liquor and a plush, velvety texture. The finish is long and mellow, with no sharpness — only the grounding calm of well-fermented tea. Ideal for everyday grounding or contemplative sessions.
357g.
Tea character
Leaf aroma
humid cellar, cocoa shell, dried bark
Cup aroma
steamed plantain, warm loam, burnt sugar
Flavor
bittersweet cocoa, dried red dates, toasted walnut bread
Tea story
In the early spring of 2021, just after the first rains fell in Yunnan, pickers hiked through the thick fog of Menghai’s tea mountains. Their target was not tender buds, but thicker, mature leaves from old broad-leaf trees—ideal for fermentation. These were delivered to the Xinyihao workshop, a lesser-known name among puerh circles, but one respected for its small-batch precision.
The leaves were carefully spread across bamboo mats and guided through the wo dui (wet piling) process—an intricate, hands-on fermentation method that transforms green leaves into ripe puerh. For weeks, the leaves were turned, moistened, and allowed to ferment under close watch. After resting and drying, they were stone-pressed into cakes.
The name “Ruyi” means “as desired” or “everything goes well”—an auspicious term often seen in classical art and Qing dynasty scepters. This tea embodies that sentiment: calm, unhurried, and quietly refined. Whether aged further or enjoyed now, it’s a tea that never demands attention, but always offers a comforting presence.
Tea Region | Menghai County, Xishuangbanna, Yunnan, China
Tea tree | Camellia sinensis var. assamica
Cultivar | Local Menghai broad-leaf
Harvest | Spring, 2021
Picking & processing | Hand-plucked mature leaves / wet-pile fermented / stone-pressed
Toasted walnut and date loaf
The caramelized edge of baked dates and the nutty depth of walnuts mirror the tea’s mellow sweetness and earthy depth.
Braised beef cheeks with soy and star anise
The umami-rich meat and aromatic spice bring out the tea’s darker, aged tones and balance its light sweetness.
Buckwheat honey tart
The robust, slightly bitter notes of buckwheat honey draw out the tea’s mineral complexity, while the pastry softens its finish.
