TeaSteep
puerh Origin: Wuzhou, Guangxi — China

Liu Bao

Guangxi's post-fermented dark tea: betel nut, camphor, and a smooth red-amber cup that traditional tea drinkers swear by.

Essential Brewing Parameters
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Water Temperature
100°C (212°F)
Do not overheat — preserve aromatics
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Steep Duration
30 s (gongfu) / 4 min (Western)
Decant fully to prevent over-extraction
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Dose & Resteeps
1 tbsp (6 g) · 5–6 steeps
Medium (~28 mg)
Quick Steeping Timer
Keep this tab open while water heats up

About Brewing Liu Bao

Liu Bao predates puerh's export fame and was the "cooling" tea of Cantonese dockworkers and Malaysian miners. Its signature notes — betel nut, areca, camphor — sound strange and taste smooth: less punch than shou puerh, more gentleness. It ages in bamboo baskets, picking up a pine note from the packaging. Boiling water, a rinse, and long sessions are the tradition.

Western Mug vs Gaiwan Sessions

The numbers above optimize for a standard Western mug (8–12 oz). If brewing Gongfu style in a gaiwan, double the leaf dose (5–7 g per 100 ml), use boiling or near-boiling water, and reduce steep times to 15–30 seconds for 6–8 distinct infusions. Read the full Gongfu breakdown →