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Pu-erh & dark tea · Guangxi dark tea

Liu Bao

六堡茶, Liubao, Liu Pao

7.3/10 editor's score

A dark tea from Guangxi in southern China, often sold loose or packed in baskets and aged. Smooth, woody and mellow.

AgedWoodyGuangxi
↓ Jump to brew guideAbout this teaCompare

Based on published sources, not yet tasted.

Dry leaf of Liu Bao, top-down

What you need

3 g leafLiu Bao
250 ml water95 to 100°C
Steep 2:002 steeps
LiquorClear deep red
Served inTeapot and cup

At a glance

A dark tea from Guangxi in southern China, often sold loose or packed in baskets and aged.

CaffeineMedium~25 to 50 mg, our estimate
Beginner fit7.5 / 10From the editor's score
HarvestSpring to autumnLeaf from spring to autumn.
Pairs withDim sum, Braised pork, NutsLess good with light salads
Grown atHills of eastern GuangxiCangwu, Wuzhou, Guangxi
Served inTeapot and cupA general choice

About Liu Bao

What sources say about the taste

Sources list Liu Bao among China's regional dark teas, often sold as loose dark tea 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

Cangwu, WuzhouGuangxiCHINA
Region
Cangwu County, Wuzhou, Guangxi 2
Also sold as
Loose dark tea 1
Type
Hei cha (dark tea) 1
Ageing
Aged in humid conditions 1

More from Cangwu, Wuzhou and China.

History and culture

Liu Bao is one of China's regional dark teas, alongside Hunan and Shaanxi fu zhuan and Tibetan brick tea 1.

It is produced in Cangwu County, under the city of Wuzhou in eastern Guangxi 2.

Editor's score

7.3/10

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 →

1086Flavour & complexity: 7.0Origin & heritage: 7.5Availability: 7.0Value: 8.0Beginner-friendliness: 7.5Versatility: 7.5Flavour 7.0Heritage 7.5Availability 7.0Value 8.0Beginners 7.5Versatility 7.5
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
Liu Bao~25 to 50 mg
Green tea (average)~28 mg

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

Harvest calendar

Ageing shapes Liu Bao more than season. Tap a month or a season.

Cultivars and plant

Local Guangxi Camellia sinensis.

How it is made
01Kill-green

Pan-fired.

02Rolling

Rolled.

03Piling

Piled to ferment.

04Ageing

Packed and aged 1.

Dry leaf and liquor
Dry leafDark, twisted leaf, loose or basket-packed.
LiquorClear deep red.
After steeping
Wet leafDark, soft leaves.

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

Food pairings and storage

Works well

  • Dim sum
  • Braised pork
  • Nuts

Best avoided

  • Light salads

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

Sold by age and leaf grade.

How to spot a poor or fake one

  1. Aged lots should smell clean, not musty.
  2. Some lots show "golden flowers" 1.
FAQ
Is Liu Bao like pu'er?

Both are dark teas. Liu Bao comes from Guangxi rather than Yunnan 1.

Find it inPu-erh & dark teasTeas from ChinaCangwu, WuzhouAgedWoodyGuangxi

Sources

  1. Wikipedia, "Fermented tea". en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fermented_tea
  2. Wikipedia, "Cangwu County". en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cangwu_County
  3. 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.