There are two different ways Pu'er tea can be classified: dark (shu) and raw (sheng).

Raw Pu’er is naturally fermented and in its younger phase it is sweet and clean, reminiscent of a green or light oolong tea, but with more body and vigor. With time, the tea is transformed into a dark, rich, smooth, and earthy brew. Raw pu’er tea cakes are a great option for tea collectors because they age beautifully.

Dark Pu’er cakes are aged in a special chamber that speeds up the fermentation process, simulating the process that naturally occurs over time with raw pu’er. This lets you enjoy pu’er tea as if it were decades old. While you can continue to age dark pu’er tea at home, you will not notice such a dramatic effect as with the raw pu’er. Dark pu’er makes a deep, dark, smooth, earthy brew, that’s unlike any other tea.

Whether raw or dark, pu’er tea is naturally digestive and has some incredible health benefits.

Location

Yunnan is the southwesternmost province in China, as well as one of the most biologically and culturally diverse. Located on the far eastern edge of the Himalayan uplift, the land is mountainous and the climate is temperate, making it ideal for tea.

Processing

Pu’er tea is derived from the area’s indigenous broad leaf variety of the tea plant, camellia sinensis. These larger, tender leaves are essential for the complex notes found in a good cup of pu’er. The microbial fermentation and oxidization the tea leaves undergo after they are sun dried and rolled gives pu’er tea a distinct flavor and texture. The fermentation process also alters the chemical makeup of the resulting brewed liquor, subsequently enhancing health benefits.

Liji Pu’er

Farmed with traditional, bio-dynamic techniques, our Liji Pu’er tea is made from the leaves of ancient, wild tea trees. Unlike most monoculture tea farms, Liji cultivates its tea trees in a biodiverse tea forest. This method not only delivers an amazing pu’er tea, but it also provides greater nutrients in the tea and wild tea harvesting is a far more sustainable practice. By investing in wild-grown pu’er like Liji, you’re taking a step to protect against the growing threat of deforestation in Yunnan and helping to preserve the natural environment.