大益红玉 Hong Yu

Hong Yu means 'Red Jade' — one of the rarest releases in the TAETEA (Menghai/Mengla) lineup, produced only twice in the brand's history: a first run in 2014 and this 2023 Batch 2301. The name fits exactly: the liquor pours deep chestnut-burgundy, thick and glossy, with a surface sheen that catches the light. The 2023 Hong Yu was pressed at the Mengla factory (勐腊茶厂), using selected high-grade Yunnan material fermented to a precise level — neither too deep nor too light — to produce a tea designed to be distinctive rather than merely competent. The gap between the first and second production runs lasted nearly a decade, which reflects how rarely TAETEA releases outside its standard recipe portfolio. In the cup: cacao opening, dark berry and dried fig in the middle, and a long vanilla and sandalwood finish that lingers far past the last sip. Mouthfeel is thick and coating — this is a premium shu that drinks at a level above most factory production. At €42 for a full 357g cake, it represents strong value for a limited TAETEA release. For collectors and serious drinkers. Worldwide delivery.