Pu-er Teas
Purchase 2 ounces of any pressed pu-er for $12 (except the Lao Shu Bing Cha cakes)
BAI BING CHA – WHITE PU-ER
SHENG (RAW) PU-ER
Our interest for Bai (white) pu-er grew during our 2007 visit to China, where we sampled many quality white pu-ers and enjoyed their smooth, inviting, and slightly sweet flavor. White pu-er is difficult in theory to distinguish from green pu-er, except that they certainly taste strikingly different. White pu-er is “raw” like green puer, but mostly tips are used to make it and the leaves are not allowed to wither as long as for green pu-er. It’s a bit more earthy than our Bai Mu Dan white tea with a flavor reminiscent of Darjeeling.
$5.50
$25/cake
QING BING RUSTICA – GREEN PU-ER
SHENG (RAW) PU-ER
This Qing Bing (“green cake”) pu-er is a combination of wild tea and cultivated tea. One can taste in each cup the earthy, herbal tones of wild tea within the astringent and muscatel layers of cultivated tea. Perhaps, if lucky, one might even catch the aroma of the Xishuangbanna hills at sunrise, or the feeling of seeing The King of Tea Trees standing proud at 1700 years old, deep in the Yunnan jungles…
$5.50
$25/cake
LAO SHU BING CHA – WILD TREE PU-ER
SHENG (RAW) PU-ER
Marked by an abundance of wild or old (“lao”) tree (“shu”) leaves, the newly harvested leaves and buds are taken from the ancient forests and left to wither and dry in the sun on bamboo mats. The leaves are then steamed before they are pressed into large cakes. Experiencing the sweet-and-sour amber brew of Lao Shu Bing Cha is like taking a stroll through the old tea trees of the jungle – humbling and invigorating all at once.
$5.50
$30/cake
MENG HAI TUO CHA – DARK PU-ER NEST
SHOU (RIPE) NEST
This large nest variety is produced in Meng Hai County in Yunnan Province and is one of our darker, ruddier pu-ers. It has a strong earthy, slightly astringent flavor, reminiscent of underground caverns where treasures are kept.
$5.50
$14.00/nest
CHI TSE BING CHA – DARK PU-ER
SHOU (RIPE) PU-ER
Chi Tse Bing Cha or “Seven Piece Cake Tea” gets its name from the packing process: Seven cakes of tea are stacked on top of each other and wrapped up in bamboo leaves. This variety is particularly quenching and has a deep, earthy flavor.
$5.50
$35/cake
ZHAO LI CIAO – DARK PU-ER BRICK
SHOU (RIPE) PU-ER BRICK
This dense brick pu-er brews up hints of tempered, bittersweet flavors which give a unique twist on the traditional flavor and aroma of shou pu-ers.
$5.50
$25.00/brick
CHA TOU – PU-ER NUGGETS
SHOU (RIPE) NUGGETS
Cha Tou means “Tea Head”. These pu-er nuggets are what’s left over, the “head and tail” from the main body of shou (ripe) pu-er that is composted to expedite the fermentation process in fermentation rooms. This pu-er sticks to the cement floor under the piles of pu-er cha that are left to ferment for up to four months. This tea is sweet, bold in color, and uplifting to the spirit.
$5.50
Loose Leaf $4.00/ounce
BAMBOO PU-ER
SHOU (RIPE) BAMBOO
Traditional “ripe” pu-er packed into the hollow center of bamboo and then roasted over an open fire giving it a sweet and smooth flavor. Legend has it that it is a favorite of panda bears in the Yunnan jungles!
$5.50
$18.00/bamboo
PU-ER CHA – LOOSE LEAF
SHOU (RIPE) LOOSE-LEAF
We offer this loose-leaf variety from the province of Yunnan as an unusual delicacy. Long, dark-brown leaves with a luster of gray gather in the teapot to produce garnet colored brew that turns as black as coffee with prolonged steeping. With a rich aroma of old temples, its distinctive taste is chthonic and deep, like holy soil. Many drinkers become addicted to its captivating, nostalgic flavor.
$4.50 $3.75
Loose Leaf $4.00/ounce
LIU BAO – LOOSE LEAF PU-ER
SHOU (RIPE) PU-ER
Liu Bao means “six fortresses” and is the name of a small village in Guangxi province where it is produced. It is the only pu-er style tea we offer from outside of Yunnan Province. It’s an energizing loose-leaf pu-er that is lighter in taste than our loose-leaf Pu-er Cha and has a flavor reminiscent of betel nut, a stimulant popular in Southeast Asia. This tea is great for combating the blues.
$4.50 $3.75
Loose-leaf $$4.00/ounce
LIU BAO BING CHA
SHOU (RIPE) PU-ER
A variety of Liu Bao that has been pressed into small, dense “pucks”. It has a dark and rick flavor with a touch of ocean brine. A good tea to steady the will before a long sea voyage.
$5.50
$14/cake
SHENG PU-ERLA – MINI NEST
SHENG (RAW) PUERLA
A mini variety of our green puer, remarkably similar to Qing Bing Rustica. Mild, yet slightly smoky in flavor and quite stimulating to the mind. Puerla is a made up work that cleverly describes this mini pu-er “tuo cha” or nest tea. Perfect for sampling what sheng (“raw”) pu-er tastes like.
$3.75
$.75/pu-erla
SHOU (RIPE) PUERLA – MINI NEST
These little “ripe” nests pack a punch and produce an infusion almost as dark as coffee. Perfect for sampling what shou (“ripe”) pu-er tastes like.
$3.75
$.75/pu-erla
MANDARIN PU-ER
SHOU (RIPE) SCENTED LOOSE-LEAF
Traditional “ripe” pu-er cha packed into mandarin rinds and stored so as to take on allure of citrus. This delicious citrus-scented pu-er gives the sensation of being enfolded in a warm shell of deeply nourishing satisfaction.
$3.75
$6.00/mandarin
CHRYSANTHEMUM PU-ER
We are proud to offer this traditional pairing of dark, earthy pu-er with the subtlety sweet and floral chrysanthemum. These two together soften the heavier pu-er and strengthen the light flower. A nice compliment to a light meal or dessert or during hearty conversations with close friends.
$4.50 $3.75
GINGER PU-ER
A spicy twist on traditional pu-er cha tea! This is the ultimate digestive infusion, suitable for after a meal or to warm and revitalize the body on a cold winter’s day.
$4.50 $3.75
