Pu-erh Tea

Hello my Cha Ren (Chinese for Tea People / Tea Friends)

We will continue the Kungfu tea topic next time...

We just received an email  from fellow Cha Ren Rick about Pu'Erh Tea, so let’s go for this first.

Pu-erh is grown in the South-East of China in Yunnan province, a beautiful big area covering a lot of mountains on both sides of Lanchang river. The tea bushes are the same type however the different locations/altitude/nature and degree of fermentation bring different tastes, just like red wine.

In the market, you will find Pu-erh in three general forms: fresh leaf, natural post-fermented and pre-fermented.

Fresh Leaf:

Fresh Pu-erh leaf carries a taste similar to green tea, but is actually better than green tea. For example, the after taste has more depth and length and additionally it can be infused up to 30 times.

Natural Post-Fermented Pu-erh:

This is classic Pu-erh. As the tea ages (especially 20+ years old) the taste and quality improves dramatically. You will know when you are drinking well kept true post-fermented Pu-erh - it has an incredibly smooth taste, a deep wood flavour and a "kick back" effect - a real perceivable body feeling.

The downside to post-fermented Pu-erh is of course the time it takes to age and the high price. Tea people want the taste, but not the long time and high cost, and hence the development of pre-fermented Pu-erh...

Pre-Fermented Pu-erh:

Pre-fermented Pu-erh is aged prematurely via use of water and temperature change to achieve a similar dark infused tea and smooth taste just like the old post-fermented Pu-erh, but almost no kick back and without the characteristic deep wood flavour and no body feeling / health effect… Why? Because almost all of the medicinal –OH components are lost in the hydrolization of the pre-fermentation.

Ok, after the basic knowledge above, let’s go to our USA friend’s email:

Hi Sifu George,

This is very interesting to me.

I have gotten a bit deeper into Tea and am sending you a picture of the tastiest aged Pu Erh tea I could find. Just interested in your review of this particular Pu Erh.

Aged 10-? Years. From XXXX's Tea. I bought it from their US Division in New York.

Choice Tea Cheers!

Rick

Thanks for your email, Rick! We have reproduced your picture above but have removed the logo and other commerical markings since we do not want to infringe on this company's copyright.

Just by looking it's of course hard to tell but I believe it is a pre-fermented Pu-erh, but I cannot tell the exact time of its storage, I need to taste. If you want to send me a small sample you are more than welcome!

You have inspired me Rick, and now I'm considering preparing an education kit: containing Pu-erh new leaf, 1 year, 10 years both pre-fermented and post-fermented, 50 grams each. Then you will be able to study and make comparisons by yourself :) a good idea maybe? Please add your comment below...

Here are the Pu-erh teas we currently offer on our site:

Pu-erh.Kungfucha.net

We also offer a range of higher quality aged post-fermented teas right up to 50+ years (see photos below) so if you're interested feel free to contact us (see link below).

Any questions, please comment below or send us an email: ContactUs-Kungfucha.net

My partner Miho has prepared some photos below showing me preparing a 50+ years aged Pu-erh.Let's take a look first and then why don’t we stop for a cup of tea?!

Sifu George

Aged Pu-erh (50 years +)