7.1 oz / 200 g (70 cups)

Pressed in the style of antiquity and designed for travel over long distances on horseback, this sheng (raw), wild-grown, pu'er-style tea cake comes from ancient, 300-year-old trees in the Tả Củ Tỷ region of Lào Cai, Vietnam. The leaves were plucked and processed in April 2025.

Tả Củ Tỷ, which roughly translates to "big rice field," is a culturally diverse area in Lào Cai where Dao, Mông, Tày, Nùng and Phù Lá people live. It's filled with with rocky mountain cliffs, large boulder gardens and fertile clay-rich, rice growing areas.

Still closer to a green tea, this tea brews up quickly into a rich golden soup and has fruity, vegetal mossy and deep forest floral notes. Bitterness and astringency are low to moderate. It has a pleasing, active mouthfeel and strong minerality which will leave you energized.

Watch a video with the maker of Lào Cai Dark here!

Need a tea knife for breaking off pieces? We have them here!

Brewing instructions
Amount: Break off 2 – 3 grams of tea per 8 oz. of water (a teaspoon or two-finger pinch)
Temperature: 180 ̊ - 200 ̊ (Below a full boil)
Steep time: 30 seconds – 2.5 minutes

Pu'er tip: Rinse the leaves before steeping to "awaken" them.
1. Place the dry leaves in a cup
2. Pour over the hot water and wait 3 - 5 seconds
3. Discard water using a strainer
4. Then steep leaves normally

About Our Vietnamese Tea

Vietnamese tea trees are some of the oldest in the world. While tea farming in Vietnam has existed for hundreds of years, 20th century conflict badly harmed the industry and prevented it from reaching Western consumers. Only in the last generation has the political climate in Vietnam improved.

Our Vietnamese tea comes from wild trees growing in the pristine, ancient forests of the far northern provinces of Lào Cai, Hà Giang and Yên Bái. The tea is grown on mountain sides at an altitude between 3,000 and 5,500 feet. Tended by families on small farms, each tea selection exudes superior character and is ethically and sustainably produced. Our wild Vietnamese teas are organically produced and comply with international standards.