In the world of ripe Pu'er tea, there are always some classic teas that, like wine aged by time, become more flavorful as they mature. The 2004 Green Label ripe Pu'er tea produced by Menghai Tea Factory is one such masterpiece that lingers in the memories of tea lovers. It’s also a cherished treasure that we’ve kept in our Tongxinshe Teahouse for years, and today we’d love to share this tea with all fellow tea enthusiasts.
This tea was born on the eve of the restructuring of Menghai Tea Factory from a state-owned enterprise, adhering to the strict standards of the old factory and crafted with the classic 7572 formula. The number 75 represents the blending plan finalized in 1975, 7 denotes the comprehensive grade of the tea leaves, and 2 is the exclusive code for Menghai Tea Factory—truly the "benchmark sample" for evaluating ripe Pu'er tea. On the paper wrapping from that year, the words "Yunnan Seven Sons Cake Tea" and the Green Label tea logo stand out prominently. The unique "large character 'Qi'" printing and the details of the character "Chang (factory)" in the 2004 batch are its distinctive identifiers, adding a layer of historical collectible value to this tea.
At Tongxinshe Teahouse, we have stored this tea in Guangdong dry storage for more than 20 years. In a dry, well-ventilated, and odor-free environment, it has slowly aged, preserving the pure and authentic classic "Menghai flavor" from Menghai Tea Factory. The tea cake is a standard 357 grams, with a neat and compact shape. The dry tea leaves are reddish-brown and oily, dotted with golden pekoe. When you lean in to smell it, a rich aged aroma mixed with honey sweetness hits you, without a hint of off-flavors or mold—this is the perfect state of dry storage.
When it comes to the tasting experience, it’s even more stunning. After brewing, the tea soup is a translucent ruby red, with a faint aroma clinging to the cup walls. The first sip brings a rich rice soup-like texture; the liquor is thick, smooth, and free of astringency or bitterness. A sweet aftertaste slowly rises from the bottom of the tongue, with a clean sweetness lingering in the finish. The aged aroma blends with caramel and a light woody note, creating rich layers. The tea leaves at the bottom are evenly reddish-brown and elastic, a clear sign of the high-quality raw materials and uniform fermentation back then.
We know many tea lovers want to try this aged ripe Pu'er but are hesitant to buy a whole cake. So we specially offer sample sales—you don’t have to purchase a full cake to experience the warmth aged by time. Of course, for tea lovers who prefer collecting, buying a whole cake is also an excellent choice. Whether for personal tasting or collection and storage, this tea is a premium option among ripe Pu'er teas. For more information, you can visit our official website at www.txs-tea.com, or come directly to the teahouse—we’ll brew a pot and chat over a cup of tea.