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
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...
Green Tea or Raw Pu-erh?
While the title might seem a little circular, we have occasionally heard or read that raw pu-erh starts out as a green tea or that pu-erh tea, before aging, is...
Green Tea or Raw Pu-erh?
While the title might seem a little circular, we have occasionally heard or read that raw pu-erh starts out as a green tea or that pu-erh tea, before aging, is...
Aged vs Young Pu-erh
Is aged pu-erh better than young pu-erh? Pu-erh tea is reputed as a tea that improves with age. So is it better to buy aged pu-erh? It depends. Before the...
Aged vs Young Pu-erh
Is aged pu-erh better than young pu-erh? Pu-erh tea is reputed as a tea that improves with age. So is it better to buy aged pu-erh? It depends. Before the...
Proper Pu-erh Storage
Like fine wine, Pu-erh tea can be aged for many years and aged Pu-erh can appreciate in price. However, time is not the only criteria in selecting a good aged...
Proper Pu-erh Storage
Like fine wine, Pu-erh tea can be aged for many years and aged Pu-erh can appreciate in price. However, time is not the only criteria in selecting a good aged...