As the name implies, brewed pu-erh (pronounced "poo - AIR") tea ranges from reddish brown to black in color. One of its unique characteristics is that it mellows with age and grows richer and deeper in flavor. Vintage teas are superlative, boasting flavors and aromas that conjure up the same adjectives used to describe fine wine or whiskey. One key difference, however, is that storing tea is simple: Kept in a well-ventilated place, tea requires no temperature regulation. Unlike other teas, pu-erh tea can come in compressed cakes of various shapes & sizes (round, square, and even bamboo-like tubes).  Pu-erh Tea, from China, is an example of this compressed tea.  With the beginning of the tea and horse trade in the Tang dynasty (618-907), caking tea made it easier to weigh and transport to remote tribal villages.

Try our other Black Teas from the Yunnan Province in China.