Black Brick Heicha Cube (黑磚黑茶, Hēi Zhuān Hēi Chá, "Black Brick Black Tea") - Black Brick is the 3rd grade of Anhua Heicha (fermented tea) from Hunan, below Tian Jian and Hua Juan and above Fu Zhuan. Traditionally darker than Fu Zhuan, with more lumber and earth notes, we have historically not carried Hei Zhuan because the whole brick is impossible to open using normal means - it has to be cut with a saw. We were able to acquire a batch of 2017 Black Brick and had Xiang Lu Shan cut them into cubes for us. Due to the nature of the cutting process, these bricks are 10 grams on average, with a standard deviation of ~1.5 grams. We're excited to be able to share this unique fermented tea with Heicha fans in the West. These cubes produce 12-20 robust steepings depending on the steeping method used. They can also be boiled in a larger container, as is traditional among the Central Asian steppe communities that are the historical market for this style of tea.
4 Reviews
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2017 Black Brick Heicha Cube
This came as a cube reminiscent of a block of pressed wood. I boiled it and the brew was as smooth as silk. Tasting notes include pine resin, hints of coffee and wine. This can easily be a daily drinker and is a perfect winter time companion.
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Glad I took the Time
I'm glad I took the advice of the previous reviewers and made sure I had time to make this my tea of the day. It lasted well over a dozen rounds and was a lovely adventure! It was bright and bursting with flavor and each steep told a different part of the story. It was well worth it and I'd definitely purchase again.
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Better not be busy
I wholeheartedly agree with the last review. This is a great journey opening up the leaves; its just gonna be a loooooong one! I bought 2 cubes. The first time I made one, my wife and I were on vacation and had a busy day ahead of us. THIS WAS THE WRONG TEA FOR A BUSY DAY. I ended up wasting the majority of the experience by rushing to get a full thermos of homogenized tea for the day.... The second cube I brewed with nothing at all to do but slowly enjoy the 'flavor Lazer light show' that this tea wants to put on for you. I was expecting a much darker shu puer-esqe tea, what I got was a bright gold liquor bursting with red tea flavor! HIGHLY RECOMMEND! just take your time with this one in particular
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Kind of a hard start but worth it
I won't lie, this cube took a little longer to open up and a little longer to fully get all the leaves unfurled but it was such a good journey through all the flavors. It's well worth the effort but personally this is a tea I definitely prefer to drink alone to enjoy the slow steps request to coax the leaves out.
