- Production year: 2019
- Storage: Hunan
- Brick weight: 500g
- Price: USD 40 / brick
- Availability: In stock
Meishan Wuyu (梅山物语) was a smaller Anhua heicha brand. (I’m not sure if they’re still around — the abandoned WeChat account suggests they aren’t.) The brand was just that: a brand, without production facilities (to say nothing of a proper factory) of their own. They handled the initial material sourcing and final marketing, but not the steps in between. This was (and to my knowledge still is) typical for smaller Anhua heicha brands — not due to a lack of tea-processing know-how (or unwillingness to learn) but, more importantly, the complexity of the production process and the uncertainty of the market. (Try making a rational argument for each small producer setting up a proper qixing stove, modern brick-pressing machines, controlled environments for fermentation, etc.)
In any case, the one critical step the brand did handle themselves — the sourcing of materials — they did really well. Entrusting Sidao (思道) with the task of producing and pressing the bricks was also a smart move. That factory (which, in addition to its own productions, works as an OEM/代工 for a bunch of small brands) not only has one of the coolest names in town but is better known for its excellent brick processing and thorough qixing baking using local pinewood.
This brick is made from Gaomaeri materials — light to medium fermentation, but bearing the marks of a rich qixing-pine smokiness. No doubt it has receded since production, but the profile remains rather “qixing-heavy,” similar to Youxin’s (友信) heizhuans for those who have tried those.
Comes in a “fancy” box with a tea pick included (don’t let that scare you into believing it’s not good tea)
Despite the fact that this brick comes with a pick, I strongly recommend getting a pair of tea scissors instead. The compression is really tight. I don’t stock those, but I can help you buy a pair from Taobao and add them to your order if you’re interested.
Below is an official Blurb from Meishan Wuyu
