{"title":"Pu Erh Teas","description":"\u003cp\u003ePu Erh is one of China’s most distinctive and fascinating styles of tea, originating in Yunnan Province, one of the world’s most ancient tea-growing regions. Named after the town of Pu’er, through which the tea was historically traded, these teas are also sometimes described as dark teas because of the way their character develops through fermentation and ageing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUnlike most teas, Pu Erh undergoes post-fermentation after the leaves have been processed. Microbial activity gradually changes the tea, developing deeper, smoother and often earthier flavours. Pu Erh may be sold as loose leaf or compressed into cakes, bricks, tuo cha and many other traditional shapes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere are two principal styles: \u003cstrong\u003eraw (sheng)\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003eripe (shou)\u003c\/strong\u003e. Raw Pu Erh develops gradually with age, its flavour changing over many years under suitable storage conditions. Ripe Pu Erh undergoes an accelerated fermentation process in which the leaves are carefully piled, moistened and turned, producing the darker colour and mellow character associated with mature Pu Erh in a much shorter time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePu Erh has a long history in China and was once sufficiently valuable for compressed bricks of tea to be used as a form of currency along the old tea-trading routes. Ageing and collecting fine Pu Erh has since developed into a specialist market of its own, with particular vintages, mountains and producers sometimes commanding remarkable prices.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFlavours vary enormously. Ripe Pu Erh can be smooth, mellow, earthy, woody and naturally sweet, while raw Pu Erh may begin fresher and more lively before becoming softer, richer and more complex with age. Some styles are immediately approachable; others have more unusual flavours that can be something of an acquired taste.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne of the pleasures of Pu Erh is its ability to produce repeated infusions, with the flavour developing from one brewing to the next. Whether loose or traditionally compressed, these are intriguing teas with a character quite unlike any other tea style and a history stretching back through centuries of Chinese tea culture.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"500-year-tea-tree-pu-erh-gam-fei-tea","title":"500 Year Tea Tree Pu Erh Gam Fei Tea","description":"\u003cp\u003eOur 20 Year Aged Iceland Pu'erh is a premium raw (sheng) pu'erh from Mengku Iceland Tea Garden in Shuangjiang County, Yunnan. Iceland tea is a highly sought-after variety with roots tracing back to the Ming Dynasty, grown in an isolated village 2,000 metres above sea level along the historic Ancient Tea-Horse Road.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHandpicked from large, ancient wild trees over 100 years old, each leaf is whole and unbroken. The leaves are characterised by their dark green colour, softness, and distinctively strong fragrance unique to Mengku.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOn first steeping, expect a subtly woodsy aroma that evolves into smoky floral notes. This aged pu'erh truly reveals itself after the first infusion—exceptionally smooth with delicate camphor and incense-like undertones. The chaqi is smoked, smooth, and fresh with just a hint of astringency.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWhen stored properly, this tea ages beautifully and will develop complexity over time. For the optimal experience, brew using a gaiwan and savour multiple infusions to fully appreciate its character.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"TEALYRA","offers":[{"title":"100g","offer_id":59160672403804,"sku":"201-Teas-Size-100g","price":16.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"200g","offer_id":59160672436572,"sku":"201-Teas-Size-200g","price":28.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"500g","offer_id":59160672469340,"sku":"201-Teas-Size-500g","price":65.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"1kg","offer_id":59160672502108,"sku":"201-Teas-Size-1kg","price":125.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1023\/0277\/7692\/files\/500_YEAR_PU_ERH.jpg?v=1790091568"},{"product_id":"imperial-gold-pu-erh-gam-fei-tea","title":"Imperial Gold Pu Erh Gam Fei Tea","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis unusual tea takes its common name, Pu Erh, from the town near which most of it is grown. It is also known as Red or Dark or Gam Fei Cha tea in China. These teas undergo post-fermentation through a microbial process after they are dried and rolled. They are available as loose leaf or in various compressed forms. The major differentiation is between raw (sheng) and ripened (shou) types. The ripe type refers to those varieties that have gone through a proper post-fermentation process, a recent invention that manipulates conditions to approximate the result of the aging process by prolonged bacterial and fungal fermentation in a warm humid environment under controlled conditions, which involves piling, dampening, and turning the tea leaves in a manner much akin to composting. The raw types are those in the process of gradual darkening through exposure to microbes over many years in a controlled environment. Certain selections from either type can be stored for maturity before consumption which is why some are labelled with year and region of production. Most are prepared to be drunk and sold within six months of manufacture. If one were to follow the Chinese example, Pu Erh tea is the most famous of all for its health-giving properties and as a slimming tea. It is believed to speed up metabolism without raising the heart rate. Pu Erh teas grow in one of the most ancient tea growing areas and in the primaeval forest of Mt. Dahei, there is a 1700-year-old tea tree. Pu Erh is very highly regarded in China for its reputed health benefits such as lowering triglycerides and cholesterol and has also been linked in many western articles as an aid to weight loss. We have chosen a cross section from amongst the 200 or so varieties on offer. At one time the bricks of Pu Erh were used as currency. It is fair to say that the stranger varieties have an acquired taste! The black tea varieties can take milk; they have a mellow character and leave a sweet taste in the mouth, whilst green Pu Erh should be drunk without. Pu Erh leaves produce many infusions. The wonderful appearance of Pu Erh teas makes them a unique gift to give to health-conscious friends. An interesting characteristic of Pu Erh teas is that some people believe the longer you keep them the better they become. Some 30-year-old varieties of Pu Erh are sold for tens of thousands of pounds a kilo in Hong Kong. Whilst having access to these types, vintage Pu Erh is a speciality market all of its own, where pricing is dictated by the passion of collectors, rather like the art world, even in regard to forgeries! Our selection is picked for its pleasant flavour and the quality of the leaves before becoming a 'Red' tea and is to be enjoyed rather than stored. Most of our selection are the 'Ripe' type, with a 'Raw' white tea that was given a short fermentation to begin the ageing process. I would still recommend drinking this type now. This loose leaf variety of Pu Erh has a wonderfully earthy, mossy aroma with hints of firewood, minerals and a touch of camphor. It has the typically smooth, almost leather-like flavour and deep red colour you would expect of a 'ripe' or 'Shou' post-fermented tea. Pu Erh Gam Fei Cha, known also as 'dar' and \"red' tea in China has recently gained a reputation as a slimming tea thanks to Victoria Beckham! Also known as Super Gam Fei Cha.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Fine Tea Merchants","offers":[{"title":"100g","offer_id":59160863146332,"sku":"203-Teas-Size-100g","price":9.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"200g","offer_id":59160863179100,"sku":"203-Teas-Size-200g","price":15.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"500g","offer_id":59160863211868,"sku":"203-Teas-Size-500g","price":35.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"1kg","offer_id":59160863244636,"sku":"203-Teas-Size-1kg","price":65.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1023\/0277\/7692\/files\/203V_0_1.jpg?v=1789635037"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1023\/0277\/7692\/collections\/pu_erh_header.png?v=1792497363","url":"https:\/\/imperialteas.co.uk\/collections\/pu-erh-and-dark-teas.oembed","provider":"Imperial Teas","version":"1.0","type":"link"}