L&H HK Spring Auction 2024
“Vintage Pu-er Tea and Premium Tea Auction” & “Premium Delicacies Auction”
26 May 2024 (Sunday)
15/F, Winsor House, 311 Gloucester Road, Causeway Bay
Hong Kong, 09 May 2024 – The joy of tea culture lies within savoring history; tea carries symbolic Chinese heritage and matures to form a distinct aroma over time. With a mission to revitalize tea culture, L&H HK upholds the principle of ‘Greatness Consists in Refinement’, actively searching for premium teas across the globe. L&H HK Spring Auction 2024 gathers up to 15 vintage Hao Grade teas, all of which have remained iconic throughout the ages. Demonstrating the transformation of teas across the years, this collection is one of the most comprehensive in auction history, allowing tea enthusiasts to travel back in time and return to the golden age of vintage teas.
Two Supreme Hao Grade Masterpieces
Two of the Hao Grade teas stand out amongst the entire collection: Jing Chang Hao Pu-er Tea Cake (Big Ticket) and Shuang Shi Tong Qing Hao Pu-er Tea Cake (Early Five Color Flag) were both produced by century-old tea houses. With exceptional Hao Grade teas becoming a rarity, these collectibles have become cherished treasures with immense value.
Jing Chang Hao Pu-er Tea Cake (Big Ticket) is produced by one of the most renowned tea estates within the Jiangcheng region and highly regarded as the benchmark for Pu-er teas. The lot comes accompanied by the original packaging, which proves its undeniable value. Senior tea experts believe that the Jing Chang Hao preserved in dry storage is a close match for or even a preferred alternative to the Song Pin Hao Blue Label, which has been lauded as the ‘King of Teas’, showing substantial investment potential for tea collectors.
LOT: 157
Seven Pieces of Extremely Rare 'Jing Chang Hao' Pu-er Tea Cake (Big Ticket), Circa 1930s
Estimate: HK$ 5,000,000 - 8,800,000
Jing Chang Hao is renowned for its superior manufacturing techniques and top-tier storage methods among all early private tea estates. Seen as the benchmark for Pu-er teas, it is rare to find similar teas with the same exquisite flavor, making this lot extremely valuable. This lot has been carefully pressed with and aged for nearly a hundred years under dry storage, resulting in a smooth and refined taste.
LOT: 127
A Piece of Extremely Rare and Fine 'Shuang Shi Tong Qing Hao' Pu-er Tea Cake (Early Five Color Flag), 1920-1928
Estimate: HK$ 800,000 - 1,500,000
This lot comes with the original packaging and ticket attached, including the Five Color Flag and the red inner ticket, indicating its authenticity as a phenomenal Tong Qing Hao that is scarcely seen in the current market. To add to its uniqueness, this lot was also created by the tea house owner Master Liu between the years of 1920 and 1928, developing into a collectible with historic value after maturing for over a century, whilst exuding strong aroma and tea characteristics.
Hao Grade Teas Comparable to Textbook Standards
Hao Grade teas are commonly recognized as the most prestigious amongst Pu-er teas for their historic value and exquisite craftsmanship, akin to other celebrated antiques. L&H HK Spring Auction 2024 presents a total of 15 Hao Grade teas, encompassing acclaimed tea houses in Yunnan, such as Jing Chang Hao, Tong Xing Hao, Song Pin Hao, Tong Xing Hao and Chen Yun Hao. Carefully selected by our team of professional experts, each lot represents the finest of its kind, embodying the distinctive qualities of the brand and the tea house. Through this extensive collection of Hao Grade teas, tea lovers can take a deep dive and experience the essence of premium Pu-er tea like never before, with impeccable condition and selection only seen in textbooks.
LOT: 129
A Piece of Extremely Rare and Fine Vintage 'Song Pin Hao' Pu-er Tea Cake (Red Ticket), 1917-1930
Estimate: HK$ 2,600,000 - 4,000,000
This lot is in excellent condition, weighing a substantial 359g. The tea cake has a shiny surface and clear strips, with a faintly visible inner ticket buried deep within. Red Label Song Pin Hao represents the highest grade of Pu-er tea, known as the tea king, and its rarity makes it highly coveted.
LOT: 207
Two Pieces of 'Tong Xing Hao' Xiang Zhiqing Pu-er Tea Cake, Circa 1920s
Estimate: HK$ 1,100,000 - 1,800,000
Tong Xing Hao was one of the earliest tea houses in Yiwu and Xiang Zhiqing was a tribute with exceptional quality. After being well-preserved in a dry warehouse for over a century, the tea has developed an excellent aroma and flavor through aging.
LOT: 128
A Piece of 'Chen Yun Hao' Pu-er Tea Cake (Black Ticket with Autograph), Circa 1910s
Estimate: HK$ 550,000 - 900,000
Chen Yun Hao was an esteemed brand from the early years of the Republic of China. After a century of aging naturally, it embodies the characteristics of top-grade tea, including a strong aroma, elegant flavor, lingering fragrance, and a long and satisfying aftertaste.
LOT: 130
A Piece of 'Tong Chang Hao' Huang Wenxing Pu-er Tea Cake, Circa 1930s
Estimate: HK$ 350,000 - 600,000
Tong Chang Hao Tea House, known for its excellent quality, was recognized as a producer of tribute tea. This lot has been stored in a dry warehouse and has been pressed into a compact and perfectly round shape with a golden color and texture.
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LOT: 158
A Piece of 'Tong Chang Hao' Pu-er Tea Cake, Circa 1930s
Estimate: HK$ 250,000 - 380,000
This lot has been naturally preserved in glass paper wrapping, with a label reading "1930 Huang Wenxing" when sold. The blue inner ticket is buried among the tea cake made with carefully selected delicate and tender tea buds.
LOT: 133
Six Pieces of 'Ding Xing Hao' Jincha (Blue Ticket), Circa 1930s
Estimate: HK$ 300,000 - 500,000
Among the six pieces in this collection, one features an inner ticket adorned with the crescent symbol, making it exceptionally rare due to its discontinued production and limited remaining stock. This lot has been well preserved naturally in good condition.
Unprecedented Collection with Sought-after Collectibles
In addition to Hao Grade teas, the auction also brings together best-in-class Yin Grade teas, Mid-aged teas, tea bricks and loose teas. Identified by the team through the appearance, smell and color of tea leaves in a thorough worldwide search, tea enthusiasts are bound to discover precious gems for investment or collection purposes. Since teas are known to age with grace and vitality, L&H HK exhibits the evolution of teas to pass on traditional Chinese heritage for Pu-er tea lovers to evolve with the development of tea culture. Furthermore, the collection of nourishing delicacies showcases a number of health-focused foods that have become part of the nation’s intangible cultural heritage. Not only are they in line with modern health principles, they also help make daily commodities a considerable investment.
Yin Grade teas are the embodiment of the essence passed down from the Hao Grade teas, their scarcity determines their esteemed value for tea connoisseurs. Featured auction items include the Red Mark in original tube packaging, Green Mark in original tube packaging, Gam San Lau without Wrapping, as well as Grade A and Grade B Blue Mark.
LOT: 122
Seven Pieces of Red Mark Pu-er Tea Cake, Circa 1950s
Estimate: HK$ 4,000,000 - 6,800,000
After nearly a century aging process, the tea cake exhibits remarkable vitality and a full tea aroma. As the ancestral graded tea in the Pu-er tea world, it is acclaimed as a ""drinkable antique.""
LOT: 125
A Piece of 'Gam San Lau' Red Mark Pu-er Tea Cake without Wrapping, Circa 1950s
Estimate: HK$ 320,000 - 600,000
This lot is preserved in an absolute dry warehouse. The cake has a near perfect round shape and an embedded inner ticket. It is very rare in the market to find the same kind in such perfect storage condition.
LOT: 155
Seven Pieces of Green Mark Pu-er Tea Cake, Circa 1950s
Estimate: HK$ 2,200,000 - 3,800,000
Tea expert Deng Shihai once said this particular tea blend is the successor tea of the famous early Red Mark Pu-er and Tong Qing Hao." This lot has been preserved in dry warehouses under excellent condition.
LOT: 121
Two Pieces of Red Mark Iron Pu-er Tea Cake, Circa 1950s
Estimate: HK$ 1,100,000 - 1,800,000
The lot is known as the "existing Legendary Tea". It comes in original packaging and has been stored in a dry warehouse, resulting in a strong fragrance and full-bodied flavor.
LOT: 120
Two Pieces of Blue Mark Iron Pu-er Tea Cake, Circa 1950s
Estimate: HK$ 500,000 - 800,000
This lot is preserved in dry or natural storage under excellent condition. The tea cakes are compressed using Yiwu Zhengshan Qiaomu under an iron mold, resulting in tighter tea cake and a slow aging.
Mid-term teas, with their appearance, condition, and storage performance, are also eagerly anticipated and possess great potential for appreciation. Among them are the 8582, 7542, and 88 Qing teas, which have been stored in dry warehouses or even pure dry storage, showcasing their exceptional value.
LOT: 102
Seven Pieces of 8582 Pu-er Tea Cake in Thin Wrapping, Circa 1980s
Estimate: HK$ 600,000 - 1,000,000
The lot is in perfect condition under absolute dry storage. The robust tea leaves used have developed a long-lasting aftertaste with multiple layers, comparable to that of Yin Grade Pu-er, making it an excellent choice for midterm teas.
LOT: 107
Seven Pieces of 8582 Pu-er Tea Cake in Thick Wrapping, Circa 1980s
Estimate: HK$ 700,000 - 1,200,000
The bamboo shell is adorned with a green circular sticker labeled "China Commodity Inspection," indicating that it has undergone strict commercial inspection and appraisal. After several decades of aging under dry storage, it has developed a tea flavor reminiscent of Yin Grade teas.
LOT: 101
Seven Pieces of 88 Pu-er Tea Cake, Circa Late 1980s
Estimate: HK$ 680,000 - 1,200,000
88 Pu-er Tea Cake stands as a trailblazer in the world of dry storage, setting a new benchmark for the Pu-er market. The brewed tea has a strong flavour and a wild fragrance of plum and camphor. This legendary tea promises a bright and promising future.
LOT: 187
14 Pieces of 7542 Pu-er Tea Cake in Thick Wrapping, Circa 1980s
Estimate: HK$ 320,000 - 480,000
This lot is wrapped in thick cotton paper, which is considered a higher grade. After over forty years of aging under a mildly dry storage, the tea exudes a powerful tea aroma with hints of aged plum.
In addition, there will be a wide variety of precious teas making their appearance, reflecting different tastes from various eras. As they mature over the years, their potential is highly anticipated.
LOT: 178
A Piece of 'Xin Ji Hao' Lao Ban Zhang Cha Wang Di Pu-er Tea Cake (Harvest Certification), 2022
Estimate: HK$ 68,000 - 120,000
This lot adheres to the rigorous "Two Picks Three Stays" harvest standard by selectively picking tea leaves from the outskirts of the Cha Huang trees region while maintaining the Ban Zhang trees untouched. By implementing these protective measures to preserve the finest trees, they have successfully produced high-quality Pu-er tea cakes.
LOT: 163
Seven Pieces of 'Kunming' Pu-er Tea Cake, Circa 1960s
Estimate: HK$ 500,000 - 800,000
This lot is preserved in a dry warehouse, unlike the remaining Kunming Pu-er which are stored in a natural or traditional warehouse, making this lot an absolute rare find. With more than sixty years of aging, the tea has reached its optimal drinking stage.
LOT: 173
Four Pieces of 73 Pu-er Tea Brick (Zhu Sha Red), Circa 1970s
Estimate: HK$ 150,000 - 280,000
This lot is recognized as a precursor of ripe tea and holds the distinction of being one of the oldest and rarest versions available in the market.
LOT: 142
Two Bags of Qiaomu Pu-er Tea, Circa 1950s/1960s
Estimate: HK$ 120,000 - 200,000
Weight: About 4kg
This lot of tea is estimated to be from the 1950s or 1960s, similar to loose tea packaged with the character "Wan." After aging for over half a century, it exhibits a reddish-brown color and releases a rich and long-lasting mellow aroma.
LOT: 139
Two Cans of Old White Tea, Circa 1960s
Estimate: HK$ 100,000 - 180,000
Weight: About 1.8kg
This lot emanates an ancient rustic medicinal fragrance and delivers a mellow and smooth taste after having been aged under dry conditions. Despite being an important export to Southeast Asia since the Qing Dynasty, it has a low yield due to the limited production field. Therefore, this particular lot is a rare and irreplaceable testament to the past.
LOT: 134
Six Pieces of 'Sun Yi Shun' Liu An Tea (Three Tickets), Republic of China
Estimate: HK$ 300,000 - 500,000
This lot with three inner tickets is well-preserved under a mildly dry to natural warehouse. The bamboo basket is inscribed with the name "Sun Yi Shun, selected pre-rain top-grade silver needle leaves", indicating the high quality of the tea.
The medicinal value and rarity of aged tangerine peels are unquestionable. Sourcing from three major regions, they are perfect for both gifting and personal use, providing collectors with a diverse range of choices.
LOT: 301
Dried Tangerine Peel, Circa 1963s
Estimate: HK$ 30,000 - 60,000
Net weight: About 597g
This lot has been aged for sixty years in dry storage. The inner leaves have loosened and some flakes have fallen off. The peel is dry, thin, and crispy, with a rich and mellow aroma. It is a highly valuable and collectible item.
LOT: 309
Dried Tangerine Peel, Circa 1987s
Estimate: HK$ 55,000 - 100,000
Net weight: About 1500g
This lot is obtained from the largest and sweetest mandarins after the Winter Solstice. It is naturally sun-dried and aged, resulting in a rich and abundant aroma. After more than thirty years of aging, the peel remains intact, with a large and complete structure.
LOT: 303
Dried Tangerine Peel, Circa 1986s
Estimate: HK$ 65,000 - 120,000
Net weight: About 1800g
This lot is sourced from the largest and sweetest mandarins harvested after the Winter Solstice. It boasts a full oil chamber, intact peel, and a delightful, fragrant aroma. It is truly a rare and precious find.
Revitalizing Traditional Chinese Tea Culture
As Greater China’s leading Pu-er tea auctioneer, L&H is committed to promoting traditional Chinese tea culture, having hosted numerous successful auctions with unparalleled collections only seen in textbooks. Offering up to 10,000 square feet of multi-functional space in Causeway Bay for auction, exhibition and office use, the space is ideal for tea gatherings, seminars and courses. Tea aficionados, on the other hand, may revel in the panoramic view of the Victoria Harbor while immersed in the world of tea. L&H hopes to provide a refined tea haven for collectors through diversified activities and spaces, with the aim to continue breaking auction records and conceiving new Pu-er classics, ultimately taking the national tea craze to the next level. Equipped with an all-inclusive lineup unforeseen in history, the L&H HK Spring Auction 2024 will surely touch the hearts of collectors, bringing about an unforgettable tea fair.
L&H HK Spring Auction 2024
Auction
May 26 (Sunday)
2 p.m. – Vintage Pu-er Tea and Premium Tea Auction
4:30 p.m. – Premium Delicacies Auction
Preview
May 24 to 26 (Friday to Sunday)
Venue
15/F, Winsor House, 311 Gloucester Road, Causeway Bay
