Compare two teas
Side by side across seven dimensions. There is no verdict and no winner — the purpose is to understand the difference, not to be told which to buy.
Why these two get confused
Aged and young Liu Bao. The betel-nut note that defines the style only develops with years of basket ageing, so young Liu Bao disappoints people expecting it.
Point by point
| Dimension | Aged Liu Bao | Liu Bao |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Dark tea and pu-erh · not applicable · post-fermented (both) | Dark tea and pu-erh · not applicable · post-fermented (both) |
| Production | In order: Kill-green (fixation) → Rolling and shaping → Wet piling (wo dui) → Basket ageing → Ageing and storage. spring harvest. | In order: Withering → Kill-green (fixation) → Rolling and shaping → Wet piling (wo dui) → Ageing and storage. spring harvest. |
| Origin | China — Wuzhou | China |
| Flavour | woody, sweet and earthy. full bodied, rich, silky and complex in the mouth. Aroma: betel nut, camphor, old wood, dried date. Layered in character. Moderate in intensity. | woody, earthy, sweet and fruity. smooth, full bodied and silky in the mouth. Aroma: areca, damp wood, dried longan, old books. Layered in character. Moderate in intensity. |
| Brewing | Gongfu brewing (gaiwan): 5–7 g/100 ml at 98–100 °C, first steep 8s of 6 authored. Western brewing (teapot or mug): 1.5–2.5 g/100 ml at 95–100 °C, first steep 180s. | Gongfu brewing (gaiwan): 5–7 g/100 ml at 98–100 °C, first steep 10s of 6 authored. Boiling and decoction: 0.5–1 g/100 ml at 95–100 °C, first steep 600s. Gongfu brewing (Yixing pot): 5–7 g/100 ml at 98–100 °C, first steep 10s of 6 authored. Western brewing (teapot or mug): 1.5–2.5 g/100 ml at 95–100 °C, first steep 180s. |
| Cultural context | Not recorded for this tea. | Not recorded for this tea. |
| Who may prefer it | Someone who wants presence without being dominated and is willing to drink something several times before it makes sense. It rewards attention to leaf weight and timing. | Someone who wants presence without being dominated and wants to enjoy it on the first cup. It tolerates an imprecise brew. |
Nothing above is a recommendation. The last row describes the drinker each tea suits, using each tea’s own authored fields and the same sentence structure for both, so neither can be framed as the safe choice.