Zurich aged pu'er vertical

An arc across four decades

The evening begins as Zurich’s winter darkness settles outside an unmarked door in the Niederdorf. You’ll be welcomed not with ceremony but with a small cup of warm, aged white tea — a neutral, clean palate opener — and the quiet hum of a room arranged for twelve. Amgalan Chin, our host, has spent decades bridging the tea cultures of Mongolia, Russia, and China; his approach to Shēng Pǔ’ěr (生普洱) is rooted as much in the cellars of Bulang as in the felt experience of aging tea across vastly different climates.

After a brief introduction to Bulang’s terroir — its heavy, mineral-rich soils, the broad-leaf assamica cultivar, the lineage of one family producing since the early 1980s — the tasting proper unfolds. Four sheng pu’er cakes, each separated by roughly a decade, are arranged in chronological order: the youngest still carrying a whisper of smoke and youthful astringency; a middle-aged cake where the green notes have softened into honey and dried apricot; a late-90s pressing where the leaf has begun to release earthy camphor and a hint of medicinal bitterness; and a 1980s exemplar, now mellowed into an almost impossible silkiness, still holding the mountain’s unmistakable backbone.

Amgalan brews each in identical 100ml gaiwans, controlling water temperature and pour height with the precision of a technician and the patience of a storyteller. Between flights, the room stays open for quiet observation: the shifting colours of the liquor, the way the empty cup’s aroma transforms, the lingering sensation in the throat known as húigān (回甘). Light vegetarian snacks — perhaps a nutty black sesame crisp, a slice of pear, a clean broth — arrive at a natural pause, chosen to reset rather than intrude.

The final hour loosens into a more conversational format. Participants can request side-by-side comparisons of any two vintages, ask questions about storage in dry versus humid environments, or simply sit with a favourite infusion. Members of tea.community who book this event receive a €15 discount and access to a post-vertical discussion thread where Amgalan will share additional notes and photographs from the session. For those who wish to continue exploring aged pu’er beyond the evening, puerh.app offers deep catalogues and personal aging diaries that extend the experience into daily practice.

By 10 pm, the gaiwans are emptied, the spent leaves inspected, and the room gradually returns to its quiet state. No rush, no sales pitch — just the resonance of four decades of careful stewardship held in the memory of a single cup.

What you get

• Flight of four aged Bulang Shēng Pǔ’ěr (生普洱) spanning four decades, brewed by Amgalan Chin

• A tasting journal with producer notes and space for your own reflections

• Curated vegetarian snack pairing designed to complement the changing profiles

• A 7g sample of one of the evening’s teas, sealed and dated for home brewing

• Access to a private post-event discussion thread with Amgalan on tea.community

• Single-use discount code for future purchases on shop.puerh.app

• A signed record of the flight, dated and inscribed with the lineage details

Practical details

• Where — A private tea room in Zurich’s Niederdorf district; exact address provided upon booking

• Dress — Warm layers — December in Zurich is cold, but the tea room is heated. Please wear comfortable, non-synthetic clothing that doesn’t hold strong scents

• Food — Light vegetarian snacks will be served. Inform us of any dietary restrictions at least 72 hours before the event

• Accessibility — The venue is on the first floor, up one flight of stairs; contact us if you have mobility concerns and we will do our best to accommodate

• Language — The event will be conducted in English, with Russian or Mandarin explanations available as needed

• Kit included — All tea ware — gaiwans, fairness pitchers, tasting cups — is provided. You are welcome to bring a personal tasting cup

• Weather — Temperatures typically range between -2°C and 4°C. Dress warmly for outdoor transit

• Capacity — 12 seats, €120 per person all inclusive