How to choose the right pu erh tea? Which pu erh tea to buy?

For novice tea drinkers, finding the right pu erh tea can be challenging. Pu erh comes in two varieties: raw and ripe. Additionally, factors such as regional terroir, cultivar, and aging time significantly influence its flavour. Consequently, pu erh tea offers a much broader flavour spectrum compared to other tea categories. Moreover, for those pursuing health benefits, the specific type and its aging process are crucial factors.

If you're overwhelmed by the wide range of online offerings, this guide will help you start your journey of pu erh tea.

Ripe versus raw pu erh tea

When considering the purchase of pu erh tea, it’s essential to understand the distinction between ripe and raw varieties, as their flavours are markedly different. Raw pu erh tea offers a fresh and crisp taste complemented by a high aroma. Its grassy and fresh aroma evokes the experience of being in the mountains, surrounded by nature. On the other hand, ripe pu erh tea offers a smooth, sweet, earthy, and rich taste, akin to savouring a fine aged wine.

Ripe pu erh tea

If it's going to be your first time buying pu erh tea, we recommend first trying out both types to determine whether you only like one of the types or both.

Seasons matter

Sometimes, seasons matter. Many tea enthusiasts tend to enjoy a soothing ripe pu erh during the cold autumn and winter seasons but crave the freshness of raw pu erh during spring and summer.

Fresh and aged pu erh tea

A distinctive characteristic of pu erh tea is its ability to improve its aroma with age. While other types of tea are only fermented during their production process, pu erh tea continues to slowly ferment even after it's crafted. Hence, it's also known as 'post' fermentation. Thus, unlike green and black teas that eventually go stale, pu erh teas continue to enhance in flavour and quality over time. This is especially true for raw pu erh tea.

Raw pu erh tea

With years of aging, raw pu erh teas will develop a rich, pervasive aroma and a lingering taste. Its deep, complex flavour offers a sensory journey through time. However, for those who favour a fresh, delicate taste, younger pu erh teas are the best choice.

Conversely, ripe pu erh teas are crafted using the modern 'wo dui' method, also known as 'pile fermentation.' This technique was initially developed to replicate the flavour of aged raw pu erh tea. However, it is best to consider ripe pu erh as a distinct category, as its taste differs significantly from that of aged raw pu erh tea. Ripe pu erh tends to evolve less with age, compared to raw pu erh.

For more information about the difference between ripe versus raw pu erh tea and pile fermentation, you may visit this page: What is pu erh tea?

Origin

Once you become more familiar with this category of tea, you'll not only discern the taste differences between raw and ripe pu erh but also appreciate the subtle nuances within each type. At this point, you're ready to delve into the various tea regions, where the unique terroir and differing tea cultivars can significantly influence the aroma.

For example, raw pu erh tea from the Bingdao region is typically subtle and floral, whereas teas from the Jingmai region are generally more bitter. Given the subtle nuances in flavor, along with other influencing factors and individual sensory perceptions, making broad generalizations about each region is challenging. Therefore, it's essential to keep detailed tasting notes as you progress on your tea journey. This practice not only hones your skills but also helps you more quickly identify the teas you love.

Tea leaf grade & size

While the origin of raw pu erh tea is significant, it is less crucial for ripe pu erh. This is because the post-fermentation process diminishes many of the regional flavor nuances. What is more important is the size of the tea leaves. A blend of small leaves and buds tends to undergo a lighter post-fermentation, preserving more complexity and bitterness. Conversely, larger leaves, broken leaves, and 'leftover' tea leaves are usually fermented more intensively, resulting in a smoother and sweeter tea.

Blend versus single origin

Until now, our discussion in the tea region section has focused primarily on single-origin teas. However, the majority of pu erh tea sold in China is actually composed of blends. Major pu erh factories like Xiaguan and Dayi predominantly produce their teas based on signature blends/recipes.

Whether you prefer blends or single-origin teas comes down to individual taste. For those who value consistent flavors, blends provide a sense of reliability, as factories strive to maintain the same taste profile over the years. Notable examples include Dayi’s raw 7542 tea cake and Xiaguan’s ripe Xiaofa tuocha. On the other hand, critics of blends argue that they often taste "average." Enthusiasts of single-origin pu erh teas tend to be more adventurous, appreciating the unique and surprising flavours these teas offer.

For more information, please visit this page:Pu erh tea blend versus single origin.

Health benefits

When it comes to choosing pu erh tea based on its health benefits, again the distinction between raw and ripe pu erh matters the most. Raw pu erh retains the original flavour of the leaves and has anti-inflammatory and detoxifying effects. It's particularly suitable for those prone to stress and inflammation.

On the other hand, ripe pu erh has a unique rich flavour that helps nourish the spleen and stomach, making it especially suitable for individuals with weaker digestive systems. Researchers have found that ripe pu erh tea can help regulate various physiological processes, such as inhibiting cholesterol elevation and lowering blood pressure.

Please read this article for more information about the health benefits of pu erh tea.

Conclusion

Whether it's the deep, rich flavour of aged pu erh tea or the vibrant taste of freshly made raw pu erh, there's always a tea to suit every tea enthusiast's personal preference. This article distills the insights we've gathered from our journey through the world of pu erh tea. We hope it serves as a valuable starting point for you to begin your own exploration!