From Xiaguan’s cellars to the Silk Road
This 200g shu brick was selected by Amgalan Chin on a spring sourcing trip to the Xiaguan Tea Factory in Dali, Yunnan. Founded in 1941, Xiaguan is legendary for tightly compressed bricks that have traveled the ancient tea-horse road into Tibet, Mongolia, and beyond. Amgalan, whose family roots trace the very trade routes that carried these bricks north, has a deep respect for the compact format — easy to store, age, and share.
During his visit, Amgalan tasted through the 2024 shou production, noting the clean fermentation and already approachable character. He chose this brick as a daily drinker that also holds promise for cellaring. The wet-pile processing was done in Menghai using large-leaf Yunnan varietals, then blended and pressed at Dali. After pressing, the bricks rested for three months to settle, now just beginning to mellow.
In Amgalan’s own cellar, a stack of these bricks rests alongside older vintages, slowly oxidizing. He recommends aging them for 2-5 years to deepen the earthiness, but also enjoys them young for their vibrant dark fruit and camphor notes. Whether you sip it now or tuck it away, this brick carries a piece of Xiaguan’s enduring legacy and the cross-cultural journey that defines Amgalan’s expertise.