Deep, earthy and beautifully smooth, Yunnan Puerh is a distinctive fermented tea with a rich, mellow character and remarkable depth. Grown and produced in Yunnan, China – the historic home of Puerh – this is a tea shaped as much by its traditional processing as by the leaf itself.
Puerh has been produced in Yunnan in south-west China for centuries, and remains closely associated with the province today. Yunnan's mountainous landscape, warm climate and long history of tea cultivation have made it home to some of China's most celebrated tea traditions.
At the heart of Puerh is Yunnan's large-leaf tea, traditionally used as the raw material for its production. After picking and initial processing, the leaves undergo microbial fermentation, gradually transforming their appearance, aroma and flavour and giving Puerh its unmistakable character.
This fermentation places Puerh within the Chinese family of hēichá (黑茶), usually translated as dark tea. Although its deep colour can resemble a very strong black tea, the way its character develops is quite different.
Once infused, Yunnan Puerh produces a wonderfully dark liquor with a deep, earthy aroma and smooth, rounded flavour. There is richness and body, but without the sharper astringency often associated with a strong black tea.
Earthy and woody notes form the heart of the cup, accompanied by a mellow depth that develops as you drink. The finish is smooth and lingering, making this a particularly distinctive tea to sit with and enjoy slowly.
Puerh also responds beautifully to repeated infusions. The leaves continue to release flavour as they open, with the character of the cup subtly changing from one infusion to the next.
For anyone accustomed to conventional black or green tea, Yunnan Puerh offers something altogether different. Its combination of fermentation, depth and wonderfully mellow flavour makes it one of China's most fascinating styles of tea – and a tea worthy of being explored in its own right.
Origin: Yunnan, China
Tea type: Ripe Puerh (Shou Puerh)
Tea family: Hēichá / Dark Tea
Process: Fermented
Character: Deep · Earthy · Smooth · MellowBest enjoyed: Without milk
30g - 10 to 15 cups of tea100g - 40 to 50 cups of tea
200g - 80 to 100 cups of tea
500g – 200 to 225 cups of tea
1kg – 400 to 450 cups of tea
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