Shu Puer Lao Cha Tou - old tea heads with an oily, mild taste and deep aroma. Ideal for long tea drinking: withstands up to 15 spills. Buy with delivery in Ukraine.
Shu Puer Lao Cha Tou 2012 in a bag (5×100 g), Chengtai Factory, Lintsang. Natural packaging in bamboo leaf, oily taste, mature character. Buy with delivery in Ukraine.
Shu Puer Lao Cha Tou (2015) — naturally clumped puer fragments with a deep, buttery flavor. Withstands up to 15 spills. Malty, chocolatey, without bitterness. Buy with delivery in Ukraine.
Shu Puer Lao Cha Tou 2005 — aged tea in the form of dense "old heads". Oily, soft, chocolate-malt flavor. Withstands up to 15 spills. Buy with delivery in Ukraine.
Lao Cha Tou — Old Tea Heads
Lao Cha Tou translates literally as "old tea heads" — and this name captures the essence of the product perfectly. These are densely compressed nuggets of pu-erh leaves that form naturally during the wet ripening process of shu pu-erh. They are neither a by-product nor a second-rate material — they are a distinctive tea with a unique character, prized by connoisseurs around the world.
How Tea Heads Are Formed
In the production of shu pu-erh, the leaves undergo a process of wet oxidation known as wo dui. During fermentation, large piles of leaves are turned periodically, but some leaves clump together under the combined influence of heat, moisture and natural enzymes. These dense nuggets — the tea heads themselves — are the result. Only a few kilograms of Lao Cha Tou are obtained from a tonne of leaves, which makes it a rare and valuable product.
Because of their compact structure, tea heads ferment more slowly and more deeply than ordinary leaves. It is precisely this that shapes their distinctive flavour profile — richer, sweeter and more complex than standard shu pu-erh.
Flavour and Aroma
Lao Cha Tou tea is softness and depth in a single cup. The aroma is earthy and warm, with notes of damp wood, prunes and a gentle sweetness. The infusion is thick, dark and velvety. The flavour is full-bodied and enveloping, with virtually no astringency. The aftertaste is long and warm, with undertones of honey and ripe fruit.
One of the defining characteristics of pu-erh tea Lao Cha Tou is its exceptional endurance. The dense nuggets open up slowly and withstand a remarkable number of infusions without losing depth of flavour.
Ageing and Storage
Like most pu-erh teas, Lao Cha Tou improves with time. Young tea heads — up to 3–5 years of ageing — have a more pronounced earthy character and a dense aromatic structure. As they age, any sharpness fades and caramel, honey and fruit notes come to the fore. Tea heads aged ten years or more offer an entirely different experience: a silky infusion, exceptional softness and a multi-layered aftertaste.
Lao Cha Tou should be stored in a dark, dry place with good ventilation, away from strong odours. The ideal humidity is 60–70%, at room temperature. Under the right conditions, the tea heads continue to mature and develop for years.
Health Benefits
Lao Cha Tou retains all the beneficial properties of shu pu-erh, but in a more concentrated form thanks to its deep fermentation. Regular consumption of pu-erh tea Lao Cha Tou has a positive effect on digestion: fermented tea stimulates the gastrointestinal tract and supports a healthy gut microbiome. The tea is rich in antioxidants, helps lower cholesterol levels and supports cardiovascular health. The naturally occurring statins it contains help normalise lipid metabolism. Its gentle energising effect — without the sharp caffeine spike of coffee — makes Lao Cha Tou an excellent choice for those seeking alertness without anxiety.
How to Brew
Lao Cha Tou is brewed using two methods.
Gongfu cha — the classic Chinese method:
- 5–7 g per 100–150 ml of water
- Temperature: 95–100°C
- First infusions: 10–15 seconds, gradually increasing
- Number of infusions: 10–15 or more
Slow simmering — the traditional Yunnan method:
- Place the tea heads in a clay teapot with water
- Simmer over a low heat for 20–30 minutes
- The result is a thick, rich brew with a caramel sweetness
Both methods yield different results — and both are worth exploring. Simmered Lao Cha Tou is particularly well suited to cold weather. Try adding a pinch of salt or a piece of ginger to the simmered version — a traditional Yunnan technique that enhances the sweetness and depth of the infusion.
Where to Buy Lao Cha Tou in Ukraine
At the Miy Chay online store, you can buy Lao Cha Tou tea — old tea heads of various ages. You can order Lao Cha Tou online with delivery to Kyiv, Kharkiv, Odesa, Dnipro, Lviv, Zaporizhzhia and other cities across Ukraine. The price of pu-erh tea Lao Cha Tou in our catalogue reflects its quality: we work directly with trusted suppliers. Current pricing and delivery terms are available on each product page.
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