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
Pressing Tea Cakes
Long ago, when Pu-erh tea was transported by horse caravan to Tibet and other far away provinces, it was compressed for the purpose of easy transport. Today, the need for...
Pressing Tea Cakes
Long ago, when Pu-erh tea was transported by horse caravan to Tibet and other far away provinces, it was compressed for the purpose of easy transport. Today, the need for...
Two Types of Pu-erh Tea
There are two major types of Pu-erh tea: "Raw Pu-erh" and "Ripe Pu-erh". These two Pu-erh types are distinguished by their respective fermentation processes. While most teas, by and large,...
Two Types of Pu-erh Tea
There are two major types of Pu-erh tea: "Raw Pu-erh" and "Ripe Pu-erh". These two Pu-erh types are distinguished by their respective fermentation processes. While most teas, by and large,...
The History of Pu-erh Tea
China's Secret Brew Pu-erh - The Tea that Ages Like WineHigh in the mountains of Yunnan, China, in an area believed to be the birthplace of tea some 4700 years...
The History of Pu-erh Tea
China's Secret Brew Pu-erh - The Tea that Ages Like WineHigh in the mountains of Yunnan, China, in an area believed to be the birthplace of tea some 4700 years...