Name: 1998 Year Lao Cha Tou Ripe Pu'erh
Brand: Tealyra
SKU: 211-50-P
Price: 5.42 EUR
Availability: InStock
Rating: 3.6 (12 reviews)

Origin

China

Asia

Caffeine Level (mg/1g)

0

1-10

11-20

21-30

31-40

41+

Description

1998 Year Lao Cha Tou Ripe Pu'erh – Famous "Old Tea Head" Pu-erh Nuggets

"Lao Cha Tou" is a cooked (shou) pu-erh whose name translates from Chinese as "Old Tea Head." Also known as "Dragon Lumps" or "pu-erh rocks, " it is one of the most famous and beloved pu-erh varieties. Lao Cha Tou are dense nuggets of tea leaves that naturally clump together during the fermentation process, creating a pu-erh with a uniquely thick texture and remarkable staying power.

Our 1998 Year Lao Cha Tou Ripe Pu'erh has been aging since 1998, allowing its flavor to mellow and deepen into something truly special. It offers a pleasant, gentle bitterness balanced by a nutty and pronounced dried-fruit taste, a sweet and soft flavor with hints of chocolate, and a very long, lingering aftertaste. It produces a thick, heavy tea infusion and is a wonderful pu-erh that we are proud to carry.

Tasting Notes

Flavor: nutty and sweet with a pronounced dried-fruit character
Accents: soft hints of chocolate and a pleasant, gentle bitterness
Body: thick, heavy and deeply satisfying
Aftertaste: soft, sweet and remarkably long

Why You'll Love It

Because these compact nuggets open slowly, Lao Cha Tou releases its flavor gradually, rewarding you with rich, consistent infusions one after another. That makes it one of the best-value pu-erhs for gongfu brewing — a small amount goes a very long way. With more than two decades of aging, this vintage has developed a smooth, almost dessert-like character that's easy to love.

A famous pu-erh variety known as "Old Tea Head" or "Dragon Lumps"
Aged since 1998 for a mellow, mature profile
Nutty, dried-fruit and chocolate notes with a long aftertaste
A thick, heavy infusion that stands up to many steeps

How to Enjoy

Lao Cha Tou is perfect for slow, meditative tea sessions. Give the nuggets a quick rinse, then enjoy multiple infusions, noticing how the flavor evolves as the dense leaves gradually open. It's also a naturally sweet, full-bodied alternative to coffee on chilly mornings.

Whether you're an experienced pu-erh drinker or simply curious to try a legendary variety, 1998 Year Lao Cha Tou Ripe Pu'erh is a rich, rewarding tea that deserves a place in your collection.

Make it your kind of cup

ready, set, steep.

A great starting point. Adjust the strength to suit your taste.

011 TSP or 1 BAGScoop your leavesAdd tea to a roomy infuser or teapot.
0295°C200mlJust add waterPour water over the leaves at the suggested temperature.
031.5 - 3 minGive it a momentLet the tea steep, then remove the leaves.
04Your perfect cupSip and enjoyTaste it plain first, then make it your own.

A little steeping tipBefore the first cup, rinse the leaves briefly with hot water and pour it off. Pu-erh can be steeped many times — each cup smoother than the last.

Preparation:

Use 1 TSP or 1 BAG per 200ml of water at 95°C and steep for 1.5-3 min.

Ingredients:

Pu'erh tea

Write your own Review

Bond S

March 2025

nothing like the description, and not worth returning.

Beth Medina

March 2025

This is one of my favorite black teas. Very smooth with an earthy flavor. Definitely on reorder.

John C

October 2021

Surprised this tea tasted so good. First time buyer as my usual tea was temporarily out of stock. Has a bright but mellow taste for me. I hope I can get multiple infusions that taste the same. We shall see.

Andrea Bush

June 2021

I have bought this one over and over. I fear someday it be gone ! Amazingly smooth, rich and earthy. Dark and mysterious gorgeous color. Cant over brew this one. Make it a think and strong as you like. Not a hint of bitterness or astringency. Just a rich and full bodied cup in the morning. Makes great iced tea too.

See all 13 reviews

Andrea Bush

May 2019

This is one of the finest ive had. Really smooth, rich and deep. Gorgeous Chestnut Brown color. Bag smells like raisins and fruit. Not at all bitter but creamy and thick mouth feel. My overall favorite of my 100s of teas on my shelf. ! Will be buying many more. You can make many cups from a small amount. Its so good I just kept drinking it till I almost got sick from so much tea ! I think it really is well aged and ripe. NO tastes of dirt yet woodsy and earthy. Heaven in a cup is what this stuff is. Pure Zen.

Robert Shippy

November 2024

With all respect to other people's opinions, many of the criticisms are part of the special nature of lao cha tou. The fact that these little nuggets take time to open means they're very forgiving on brew time and if you are brewing gong fu style, they will give 15-20 brews easily. Traditional pan on stove brewing with topping off with water all day long works as well (with larger quantities of tea). This particular batch is mild and pleasant, not fishy or too barnyard in flavor. While I've had some more nuanced and complex versions, this well aged version is very approachable, produces many infusions of medium thick, relaxing and digestive body sensation, and is a terrific value.

Lindsey De Wit

January 2024

Interesting Pu'erh, takes a long time to open up even after several steeps in a gaiwan. Still, has a pleasant fullness and body. It's by no means a new favorite but it's not terrible. Main tasting notes are earth and mushroom.

David Lewis

July 2024

love how it looks (much better than on the pic) - but it's way too bitter for me

Kevin L

December 2023

Compared to the other pu'erh I got from this site, I find it to be the least enjoyable, very hard to get the nuggets to open up and start steeping well, and the first 5 steeps or so are weak. It may be because I am using a gaiwan, and not leaving it in a teapot for minutes straight, but this style of pu'erh isn't great for my set up.

Once it opens up, the flavour is pleasant and light, with a bit of the extra tannin feeling and thickness on the tongue that ripe pu'erh gives

Alex

September 2021

I enjoyed the tea, but on multiple occasions I've found hair in the tea itself, and it's certainly not mine. Hopefully other batches are alright but I won't be buying again.

Kerry Hart

July 2026

This is a very weak tea. I use the same amount of tea and time with other Pu'erhs and get a stronger mug of tea than with this one. Almost like I would need to use double or triple the amount of tea. It's weird. So many of the reviews sound like they are reviewing another tea than the one I got!

Adam Laughton

March 2026

It's incredibly weak. There's a vague, incredibly slight rounded sweetness and that's about it. I've tried just about everything to get it to have some flavour and body and it's just incapable of it. The only positive thing I had to say was that I received good customer service from Tealyra when I asked about it.

1998 Year Lao Cha Tou Ripe Pu'erh