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Pu-erh & dark tea · Golden flower brick

Fu Zhuan Brick

茯砖茶, Fu brick, Fu cha

7.4/10 editor's score

A pressed dark tea brick from Hunan, famous for its "golden flowers", yellow specks of a fungus grown on purpose during ageing.

BrickGolden flowersHunan

↓ Jump to brew guide About this tea Compare

Based on published sources, not yet tasted.

What you need

250 ml water95 to 100°C

Steep 3:002 steeps

LiquorClear orange-red

Served inTeapot and cup

At a glance

A pressed dark tea brick from Hunan, famous for its "golden flowers", yellow specks of a fungus grown on purpose during ageing.

CaffeineMedium~25 to 50 mg, our estimate

Beginner fit7.0 / 10From the editor's score

HarvestSpring to autumnLeaf from late spring and summer.

Pairs withRich meats, Yak butter tea, NutsLess good with delicate fish

Grown atHills of AnhuaAnhua, Hunan

Served inTeapot and cupA general choice

About Fu Zhuan Brick

What sources say about the taste

Sources describe dark teas aged in humid conditions to grow "golden flowers", named for their bright yellow colour ¹.

01 · Aroma

First sip

Lift the cup and smell before you drink.

02 · Taste

Middle

Let it sit on the tongue for a moment.

03 · Finish

Finish

What stays after you swallow.

Hover or tap a noteBigger image and more dots mean a stronger note.

Notes and intensities are an editor's summary of published tasting notes, not our own tasting.

Where it grows

Region: Hunan (Anhua) and Jingyang, Shaanxi ¹²
Name: The famous fu zhuan "brick tea" ¹
Golden flowers: Fungi grown in humid ageing ¹
Trade: Anhua was on the Tea Horse Road ²

History and culture

Anhua County in Hunan was an important point on the ancient Tea Horse Road ².

Dark tea was long traded across the borders of Han and Tibetan areas ¹.

Editor's score

7.4/10

Weighted across six criteria: flavour 30%, heritage 20%, availability 15%, value 15%, beginners 10%, versatility 10%.

Based on published sources, not yet tasted. Rates the tea style, not a brand. How we score →

Taste profile and caffeine

Profile is an editor's summary of published tasting notes, not a lab measurement or our own tasting.

Caffeine

Brewed coffee~95 mg

Black tea (average)~47 mg

Fu Zhuan Brick~25 to 50 mg

Green tea (average)~28 mg

Our estimate. Per 8 fl oz (240 ml) cup. Coffee and tea averages from Mayo Clinic^C.

Harvest calendar

Fu bricks are made from larger, later leaf. Tap a month or a season.

Cultivars and plant

Mature Camellia sinensis leaf and stems.

How it is made

01Kill-green

Heated.

02Piling

Piled to ferment.

03Pressing

Pressed into bricks.

04Flowering

Aged humid so golden flowers grow ¹.

Dry leaf and liquor

**Dry leaf**Dark brick with yellow specks.

LiquorClear orange-red.

After steeping

Wet leafDark, coarse leaf.

The colour swatch is an approximate guide, not a photograph.

Food pairings and storage

Works well

Rich meats
Yak butter tea
Nuts

Best avoided

Delicate fish

Pairings are general suggestions from the tea's style, not tested matches.

Storage

Store in a clean, odour-free place with some airflow and steady, moderate humidity.
Keep cakes in their paper wrappers, away from sunlight and strong smells.
Unlike most teas, many pu-erh and dark teas are kept for years and change as they age.

Grades and fakes

Graded by leaf and "golden flower" growth.

How to spot a poor or fake one

The golden flowers are wanted, not mould from bad storage.
Bricks should smell clean and sweet.

FAQ

Are golden flowers mould?

They are a fungus grown on purpose during ageing ¹.

Find it inPu-erh & dark teas Teas from China AnhuaBrickGolden flowersHunan

Sources

Wikipedia, "Fermented tea". en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fermented_tea
Wikipedia, "Anhua County". en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anhua_County
Mayo Clinic, "Caffeine content for coffee, tea, soda and more". www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/caffeine/art-20049372

Scores and content updated 30 Oct 2026.