Liubao tea
Guangxi dark tea associated with Liubao and Wuzhou, encompassing traditional and modern processing approaches.
Notes#
Why flavour descriptions vary#
Local guidance distinguishes traditional-process and modern-process liquor colours; processing and storage matter when comparing lots.
A Guangxi legislative review explicitly rejected red, thick, aged and mellow as universal defining attributes because they are subjective and not shared by every Liubao tea. Neither an assumed age nor a guaranteed flavour should be inferred from the name alone.
Harvest, ageing and production dates#
The enacted Guangxi ordinance, effective 1 January 2026, separately records harvest information, the start of ageing, production date and storage conditions. Those distinctions help explain why a single year on a Liubao label can be ambiguous. Ask what that year represents rather than assuming it is the picking year or the full length of ageing.
Storage as part of provenance#
The same text calls for controlled, ventilated, clean storage and traceable production information. It does not establish one ideal home-storage humidity or make age alone a quality guarantee. For an old lot, documented storage history and the meaning of its dates are more useful than an unsupported age adjective.
Two stages of piling in the late twentieth-century account#
The monograph separates Liubao’s initial manufacture from its later refining. Its initial sequence includes fixation, rolling, piling, another rolling and drying; the refining sequence adds sorting, blending, moistening and a further fermentation before steaming, basket packing and maturation. It also describes an older alternative in which steaming was followed by extended piling. Thus “piling” in a historical Liubao account can refer to different stages, and one stage should not silently stand for the entire process. The sequence is the book’s record, not a specification for every tea sold today (p. 659).
Where to buy#
Price ranks compare recorded retail offers for the same tea, including offers outside the current delivery filter. Shipping and import charges are excluded.
| Product | Vendor | Price | Per 100 g |
|---|---|---|---|
| 窖藏窖寶特級六堡熟茶 | Yip TeaSelected destinations |
HK$499.00 / 500 g | $12.72 HK$99.80 / 100 g ≈ $0.89 a session |
| 特級料金花竹籮六堡熟茶 | Yip TeaSelected destinations |
HK$650.00 / 500 g | $16.56 HK$130.00 / 100 g ≈ $1.16 a session |
| Three Cranes Classic 0211 Liu Bao Tea | Yunnan SourcingSelected destinations |
$75.00 / 450 g | $16.67 ≈ $1.17 a session |
| Wuzhou Liubao Cha Tou | Yunnan CraftSelected destinations |
$8.48 / 50 g | $16.96 ≈ $1.19 a session |
| Ripe Liu Bao Tea | Yee On Tea Co.Selected destinations |
HK$135.00 / 100 g | $17.20 HK$135.00 / 100 g ≈ $1.20 a session |
| 六堡老茶婆片 | Yip TeaSelected destinations |
HK$138.00 / 100 g | $17.58 HK$138.00 / 100 g ≈ $1.23 a session |
| Guangxi Wuzhou Liu Bao Raw Tea Brick 5350 | Yee On Tea Co.Selected destinations |
HK$700.00 / 500 g | $17.84 HK$140.00 / 100 g ≈ $1.25 a session |
| Guangxi Wuzhou Liu Bao Tea Brick 3310 | Yee On Tea Co.Selected destinations |
HK$700.00 / 500 g | $17.84 HK$140.00 / 100 g ≈ $1.25 a session |
| 2000年代甜爽六堡野生老茶梗 | Yip TeaSelected destinations |
HK$388.00 / 250 g | $19.77 HK$155.20 / 100 g ≈ $1.38 a session |
| Betel Brick Liubao | MeeteaSelected destinations |
CZK 220.00 / 50 g | $20.28 CZK 440.00 / 100 g ≈ $1.42 a session |
| Aged Raw Liu Bao Tea | Yee On Tea Co.Selected destinations |
HK$160.00 / 100 g | $20.39 HK$160.00 / 100 g ≈ $1.43 a session |
| Wuzhou Liubao Cha - sheng | Yunnan CraftSelected destinations |
$11.20 / 50 g | $22.40 ≈ $1.57 a session |
| Small Basket Liubao | MeeteaSelected destinations |
CZK 250.00 / 50 g | $23.05 CZK 500.00 / 100 g ≈ $1.61 a session |
| Liu Bao Heicha | TeewaldSelected destinations |
€10.50 / 50 g | $23.55 €21.00 / 100 g ≈ $1.65 a session |
| 90年代銀霜蔘香韻竹筐六堡熟散 | Yip TeaSelected destinations |
HK$499.00 / 250 g | $25.43 HK$199.60 / 100 g ≈ $1.78 a session |
| 一年四季原料中葉六堡生茶竹筐(含社前、明前、紫芽） | Yip TeaSelected destinations |
HK$499.00 / 250 g | $25.43 HK$199.60 / 100 g ≈ $1.78 a session |
| Wuzhou Liubao Cha - sheng | Yunnan CraftSelected destinations |
$14.40 / 50 g | $28.80 ≈ $2.02 a session |
| Blue Box Liubao | MeeteaSelected destinations |
CZK 320.00 / 50 g | $29.50 CZK 640.00 / 100 g ≈ $2.07 a session |
| 2017 Sweet Scent Traditional Liu Bao Hei Cha | TheTeaWorldwide |
€13.16 / 50 g | $29.52 €26.32 / 100 g ≈ $2.07 a session |
2026 Young Raw Liu Bao
Details and price notesCompare the details Recorded seller claims; a blank means unrecorded here, not necessarily absent from the seller’s page. Matching production does not establish identical storage or condition.
Shop base currency USD. The seller's pages do not state whether this price includes tax. Excludes shipping. |
Rivers and Lakes TeaSelected destinations |
$9.00 / 30 g | $30.00 ≈ $2.10 a session |
| Liu Bao Cha 2008 | Länggass-TeeSelected destinations |
CHF 25.00 / 100 g | $30.35 CHF 25.00 / 100 g ≈ $2.12 a session |
| Yellow Tiger Pressed Liu Bao 2010 | Flying Bird TeaSelected destinations |
€14.00 / 50 g | $31.40 €28.00 / 100 g ≈ $2.20 a session |
| Betel Nut Aroma Duoteli Liu Bao Hei Cha | TheTeaWorldwide |
€14.13 / 50 g | $31.69 €28.26 / 100 g ≈ $2.22 a session |
| Wild Liubao | MeeteaSelected destinations |
CZK 360.00 / 50 g | $33.19 CZK 720.00 / 100 g ≈ $2.32 a session |
| Wuzhou Liubao Cha - sheng | Yunnan CraftSelected destinations |
$16.80 / 50 g | $33.60 ≈ $2.35 a session |
Prices recorded on the dates checked. Conversions use ECB rates dated 2026-10-20; original prices appear alongside. Origin, age and cultivar are stated by the vendor.
Prices by sales channel#
Show as table
| Product | Vendor | Channel | per 100 g |
|---|---|---|---|
| 窖藏窖寶特級六堡熟茶 | Yip Tea | International retail | $12.72 |
| 特級料金花竹籮六堡熟茶 | Yip Tea | International retail | $16.56 |
| Three Cranes Classic 0211 Liu Bao Tea | Yunnan Sourcing | International retail | $16.67 |
| Wuzhou Liubao Cha Tou | Yunnan Craft | International retail | $16.96 |
| Ripe Liu Bao Tea | Yee On Tea Co. | International retail | $17.20 |
| 六堡老茶婆片 | Yip Tea | International retail | $17.58 |
| Guangxi Wuzhou Liu Bao Tea Brick 3310 | Yee On Tea Co. | International retail | $17.84 |
| Guangxi Wuzhou Liu Bao Raw Tea Brick 5350 | Yee On Tea Co. | International retail | $17.84 |
| 2000年代甜爽六堡野生老茶梗 | Yip Tea | International retail | $19.77 |
| Betel Brick Liubao | Meetea | International retail | $20.28 |
| Aged Raw Liu Bao Tea | Yee On Tea Co. | International retail | $20.39 |
| Wuzhou Liubao Cha - sheng | Yunnan Craft | International retail | $22.40 |
| Small Basket Liubao | Meetea | International retail | $23.05 |
| Liu Bao Heicha | Teewald | International retail | $23.55 |
| 90年代銀霜蔘香韻竹筐六堡熟散 | Yip Tea | International retail | $25.43 |
| 一年四季原料中葉六堡生茶竹筐(含社前、明前、紫芽） | Yip Tea | International retail | $25.43 |
| Wuzhou Liubao Cha - sheng | Yunnan Craft | International retail | $28.80 |
| Blue Box Liubao | Meetea | International retail | $29.50 |
| 2017 Sweet Scent Traditional Liu Bao Hei Cha | TheTea | International retail | $29.52 |
| 2026 Young Raw Liu Bao | Rivers and Lakes Tea | International retail | $30.00 |
| Liu Bao Cha 2008 | Länggass-Tee | International retail | $30.35 |
| Yellow Tiger Pressed Liu Bao 2010 | Flying Bird Tea | International retail | $31.40 |
| Betel Nut Aroma Duoteli Liu Bao Hei Cha | TheTea | International retail | $31.69 |
| Wild Liubao | Meetea | International retail | $33.19 |
| Wuzhou Liubao Cha - sheng | Yunnan Craft | International retail | $33.60 |
| True Betel Liubao | Meetea | International retail | $35.03 |
| 2005 High Mountain Liu Bao Hei Cha | TheTea | International retail | $37.21 |
| 2008 Wuzhou Liu Bao Hei Cha | TheTea | International retail | $37.21 |
| Shan Dong Liu Bao | Länggass-Tee | International retail | $39.46 |
| Liubao | Meetea | International retail | $39.64 |
| Earth rising | Leaves with Hugs | International retail | $40.37 |
| Liu Bao Bing Cha | Länggass-Tee | International retail | $41.63 |
| Duoteli Liu Bao | Teehaus Cöln | International retail | $43.74 |
| Black Box Liubao | Meetea | International retail | $44.25 |
| White Box Liubao | Meetea | International retail | $44.25 |
| Duoteli Liubao | Meetea | International retail | $45.18 |
| 2005 "Sandalwood Aroma" Malaysian-Stored Liu Bao Hei Cha (30 g) | TheTea | International retail | $45.64 |
| 2005 Sandalwood Aroma Liu Bao Hei Cha | TheTea | International retail | $47.57 |
| Liu Bao Old Tree | The Tea Torino | International retail | $48.90 |
| Ancient Tea Tree Yaoshan Liubao Heicha | Flying Bird Tea | International retail | $51.59 |
| Guangxi Liu Bao Cha Yesheng 1990s | Flying Bird Tea | International retail | $51.59 |
| Peach Aroma Liu Bao Aged Dark Tea (50 g Tin) | Seven Teahouse | International retail | $51.80 |
| Guangxi Liu Bao Cha 1998 | Flying Bird Tea | International retail | $54.50 |
| Fragrant Leaves Yaoshan Liubao Heicha | Flying Bird Tea | International retail | $55.85 |
| Duoteli Liubao | Teehaus Cöln | International retail | $56.07 |
| Miner's delight | Meetea | International retail | $59.00 |
| 80年代末珍藏老外貿六堡熟茶 | Yip Tea | International retail | $61.16 |
| 1990's Camphor Aroma Jin Hao Liu Bao Hei Cha | TheTea | International retail | $70.72 |
| 2003 Duoteli 8303 Aged Liu Bao Hei Cha | TheTea | International retail | $73.08 |
| 1990's Chinese Medicine Aroma Liu Bao Hei Cha | TheTea | International retail | $77.81 |
| 6 hugs | Leaves with Hugs | International retail | $87.48 |
| Gold Box Liubao | Meetea | International retail | $134.60 |
| Three Cranes Liubao 1980's | Meetea | International retail | $184.39 |
| 1980s Malaysian Stored Liu Bao Heicha (25 g) | Puerh.uk | International retail | $266.93 |
| Liubao Supérieur 1980s Aged Heicha (25 g Box) | Wistaria Paris | International retail | $269.16 |
| Yee On Original Liu Bao Basket | Yee On Tea Co. | International retail | $344.01 |
| Vive Liubao 1980's | Meetea | International retail | $460.97 |
| Bao Lan Liubao 1970's | Meetea | International retail | $1,660 |
| 1960's Liubao | Meetea | International retail | $1,729 |
Sources#
What these sources support
The monograph separates Liubao’s initial manufacture from its later refining. Its initial sequence includes fixation, rolling, piling, another rolling and drying; the refining sequence adds sorting, blending, moistening and a further fermentation before steaming, basket packing and maturation. It also describes an older alternative in which steaming was followed by extended piling. Thus “piling” in a historical Liubao account can refer to different stages, and one stage should not silently stand for the entire process. The sequence is the book’s record, not a specification for every tea sold today (p. 659).
中国农业出版社 / China Agriculture PressFull text · Printed pp. 659–659; PDF pages 738–738 (1-based) · checked 2026-10-20
Scope and limits: This monograph was published in 2000. Its account does not establish universal or present-day practice, or the requirements of modern standards.
- 王镇恒、王广智主编. 中国名茶志. 中国农业出版社, 2000年12月第1版. ISBN 7-109-06510-3 / 9787109065109.