Taking the plunge into the world of Pu-erh can seem like a daunting task. In particular, those who are already tea lovers but haven’t branched out to Pu-erh tea often find themselves faced by many questions. Raw or ripe? Aged or young? Which region or mountain should I drink from? How should I brew it?
As we’ve said before, there is no such thing as the perfect Pu-erh. Rather, each person has their own special tea that is perfectly suited to them. Within Pu-erh tea, the first decision to make is always whether to drink raw or ripe Pu-erh. Today we’ll be discussing how to choose the best raw Pu-erh tea to suit your tastes. Stay tuned for a similar post about ripe Pu-erh.
Finding your ideal raw Pu-erh:
If you’re looking to start drinking raw Pu-erh, the first question is whether to choose a tea that’s young or aged. Both have their advantages. A good young Pu-erh is bright and lively. The flavor is typically quite delicate, but with a natural sweetness. A prime example of this is one of our newest teas, the 2016 Sweet Clarity.
An aged Pu-erh is filled with complex mystery. Its flavor is still vibrant, but with a mellow complexity that only years of aging can bring. Though it has only been aging six years and still has a bright future ahead, our 2010 Ancient Arbor Tea Trees brick has many of the characteristics of a fine aged raw Pu-erh. In addition to its six years of aging, the fact that it comes from trees that are over five hundred years old gives it a majestic sense of history.
The region or mountain that the tea comes from also can make a significant difference in its taste. Tea from the Jingmai mountain, for example, often has an orchid scent that you rarely come across in Pu-erh tea. Each region has its own distinguishing characteristics, and each is well worth trying for yourself.
At the end of the day, any Pu-erh tea is worth falling in love with. At Denong Tea, we are committed to finding the right tea for you. To learn more about each of our raw Pu-erh teas, visit our website.
If you have any other questions, please feel free to contact us at info@denongtea.com.
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