The Bana Guide to Pu-erh Tea
Pu-erh is a tea with unusual depth and complexity. Its character is shaped not only by cultivar, terroir, harvest, and processing, but also by time and storage. A young raw Pu-erh can express the character of the mountain and season in which it was made, while decades of aging can transform a tea in remarkable and sometimes unexpected ways.
Bana Tea Company has specialized in Pu-erh since 2008. This guide brings together what we have learned through years of tasting, sourcing, selecting, aging, and studying Pu-erh, including the writings of Bana's founder, Linda Louie, and knowledge shared by the farmers, producers, collectors, and tea experts with whom we have worked.
Whether you are encountering Pu-erh for the first time or have been drinking it for years, explore the topics below to learn how Pu-erh is made, how to evaluate it, how origin and old-tree material influence its character, and how storage and time transform the tea.
New to Pu-erh
Begin with the fundamentals: what Pu-erh is, how raw and ripe Pu-erh differ, and how this unusual tea is made.
Choosing & Appreciating Pu-erh
Learn what Bana looks for in a tea—from origin and leaf material to aroma, mouthfeel, finish, body feel, and the experience of successive infusions.
Aging & Storage
Explore what happens as Pu-erh ages, why storage matters, and how young and aged teas can offer very different experiences.
History & Culture
Explore the people, places, and traditions that shaped Pu-erh, from Yunnan to Hong Kong and Taiwan.
From the Tea Mountains
Firsthand stories about the places, people, and traditions behind Bana's teas.
All Pu-erh Articles
History of Tuo Cha Pu-erh Tea
The pressing of Pu-erh tea leaves into a variety of shapes and sizes is a tradition dating back hundreds of years. Among these shapes, the bowl-like tuo cha has a...
History of Tuo Cha Pu-erh Tea
The pressing of Pu-erh tea leaves into a variety of shapes and sizes is a tradition dating back hundreds of years. Among these shapes, the bowl-like tuo cha has a...
Yunnan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Pu-erh Tea
There is a popular saying among pu-erh aficionados that: "Pu-erh is produced in Yunnan, aged in Hong Kong, and gained notoriety in Taiwan." The interconnectedness of these three places vis-a-vis...
Yunnan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Pu-erh Tea
There is a popular saying among pu-erh aficionados that: "Pu-erh is produced in Yunnan, aged in Hong Kong, and gained notoriety in Taiwan." The interconnectedness of these three places vis-a-vis...
The Godfather of Ripe Pu-erh Tea
Most pu-erh drinkers know that ripe pu-erh was created in 1976. However, few know that the technique of fermenting raw pu-erh tea started decades before that. The story begins with Lu...
The Godfather of Ripe Pu-erh Tea
Most pu-erh drinkers know that ripe pu-erh was created in 1976. However, few know that the technique of fermenting raw pu-erh tea started decades before that. The story begins with Lu...
The Story of 88 Qing Bing
This is the story of tea master Vesper Chan's most famous tea, and his invention of the "dry storage" technique that is now the norm for raw Pu-erh.
The Story of 88 Qing Bing
This is the story of tea master Vesper Chan's most famous tea, and his invention of the "dry storage" technique that is now the norm for raw Pu-erh.
Criteria for Choosing Pu-erh Tea
Determining the quality of Pu-erh tea requires some basic knowledge and experience. The quality of Pu-erh tea is based on a number of factors: area of production, leaf source, the...
Criteria for Choosing Pu-erh Tea
Determining the quality of Pu-erh tea requires some basic knowledge and experience. The quality of Pu-erh tea is based on a number of factors: area of production, leaf source, the...
Making Raw and Ripe Pu-erh Tea
The difference between raw and ripe Pu-erh is the respective fermentation processes that each type of tea undergoes. Raw Pu-erh is made from fresh leaves undergoing basic steps of tea...
Making Raw and Ripe Pu-erh Tea
The difference between raw and ripe Pu-erh is the respective fermentation processes that each type of tea undergoes. Raw Pu-erh is made from fresh leaves undergoing basic steps of tea...