• Tea cake with text, a cup of tea, and tea leaves on a white background
  • Close-up of a dark brown tea cake with visible tea leaves on a white background
  • Close-up of a tea cake with visible tea leaves on a white background
  • Dried tea leaves on a leaf-shaped plate with a cup of brewed tea on a decorative mat.
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Bana Tea Company

The Taste of Menghai Ripe Pu-erh (4.9) · 19 reviews

The Taste of Menghai Ripe Pu-erh

$46.00 USD
$46.00 USD $46.00 USD
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Vintage: 2018 Autumn Harvest
Weight: 250 grams
Type: Ripe Pu-erh (fermented)
Grade: Premium
Production area: Bulang Mountain, Menghai County, Yunnan Province

The makers of this tea, Mr. Zhou and his father, both worked for the famous Menghai Tea Factory, one of four state-owned tea factories in Yunnan. It was, here that Mr. Zhou honed his tea making skills. In 2005, Mr. Zhou started his own tea factory where he produced his tea according to the traditional methods and the high standards of Menghai Tea Factory.

Using premium leaf materials, this tea is flavorful and bold with a nice sweet finish. In time, it is expected to become mellow but savory. Bana sourced this tea direct from Mr. Zhou and is able to offer this tea at a very affordable price. If you are a fan of ripe pu-erh, this tea would be a great choice for your daily consumption. If you are interested in collecting pu-erh, this tea will bring you pleasant surprises after some years of aging. 

Brewing guide

Use 5-6 grams of leaves in 6 oz pot or cup. Brew with 212 F degree water (100 C).
RINSE: 1 second
1st BREW: 10 seconds
2nd BREW: 10 seconds
3rd BREW: 15 seconds
4th BREW: 20 seconds
5th BREW: 30 seconds
6th BREW: 40 seconds
7th BREW: 1 minute
8th BREW: 2 minutes

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Customer Reviews (19)

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Excellent tea

By Pamela Bethune
This was my fist use of puer tea and I love it. The short steeping time was a bit surprise but it worked beautifully. The tea is smooth with a delicate flavor.
Our Response:

Thank you so much for your high praise. We are delighted to know that this tea serves you a perfect gateway for you to become a pu-erh enthusiast.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Wonderful

By Cameron Bruno
Great value and daily driver. Clean and smooth.
Our Response:

This is a classic tea of the Menghai taste. Thank you for your kind words.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Double Happiness

By Dariel Garner
It started as a sample. Then it became the first brick, then two , then five, next 7 bricks...
Know I have to consider how many to buy to create years of drinking as this tea ages and naturally matures from something special to miraculous.
Our Response:

So glad to hear that. This tea is well-stocked so you don't need to worry about it running out anytime soon. :)

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Delicious.

By Margaret Cozine
I am a Pu-ehr fanatic. At last I have found
the perfect tea. Thank you so much.
Our Response:

Excellent! Glad you found your perfect tea from Bana.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Only Regret not buying more

By Josh Hardin
Bought the starter kit from here many years ago. Just recently brought it back out and started drinking tea again. This was one of the cakes and it aged well. Just got a fresh cake in and could tell there were subtle differences. However, I enjoy the warm flavors and scents this tea creates. Only wish I could justify buying a sleeve of them to have plenty for daily and a few to age. Bana you always take care of your clients and I’d admire the execution of your business.
Our Response:

Thank you for the kind words. We are glad we've earned your trust and business.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Meh

By Phyllis Hallam
I was looking forward to some flavorful tea but this was average.
Our Response:

Sorry this tea did not meet your expectation. Thank you for sharing your opinion.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

I love it

By Karri Smith
This has to be one of my favorites. I've tried different ripe pu erhs, many that were SIGNIFICANTLY more expensive than this, but I really love this one. I'm not a professional taster and can't talk about mouth feel or tasting notes. All I can say is that this tea is not too sweet, not too bitter. It's just a solid tea.
Our Response:

We are thrilled to hear you have found your "perfect tea." Thank you for taking the time to write us a review. We truly appreciate it.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Pu-erh Tea

By Martha Carrico
The packaging is so beautiful that I don't want to open it. I'm going to order another to serve at my book group. We loved The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane.
Our Response:

Thank you for your kind words. Look forward to hearing from you again.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Lower Cholesterol

By Oleeta Igar
An excellent tea. Rich and smooth. My cholesterol (Triglycerides) were down by half during last checkup. No real change in my diet. Just drinking this Pu-erh tea. It may not work for everyone but I’m happy. Thank you!
Our Response:

Good for you, Oleeta! Keep it up to good health! Cheers!

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Health Benefits

By Oleeta
I love Bana Tea Company. I learned about these teas from reading Lisa See’s Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane. What a wonderful book. I am trying the ripe Pu-erh in hopes of lowering my Cholesterol and Blood Sugar levels. Neither are terrible but they are over the marks. I’ll let y’all know. This tea is a smooth full bodied tea that tastes of cherries. Tonight I got some wood flavors but no chocolate yet. I’ll have to keep drinking it, which I am happy to do!
Our Response:

Welcome to the world of pu-erh tea and thank you so much for taking the time to write the review. The Taste of Menghai is one of our very popular ripe pu-erh.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

New

By Andrew Levine
I’m new to this tea. I tried younger Pu erh but this aged one has a subtle comforting taste. It sits well with me.
Our Response:

Thank you for your review. So glad to hear you like this tea.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Velvet darkness...

By Dariel Garner
Wonderful velvety brew. Earning a place in our daily drinkers list.
Our Response:

That's excellent, Dariel! Thank you.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

My Favorite

By Joshua LeMoine
I keep coming back to this tea even after trying multiple more expensive and higher rated raw and ripe Pu-erhs. There is something about the flavor, so comforting, not to mention the body and mind energy I get from this tea. I feel so focused, and at peace. I am so happy to have discovered this little treasure.
Our Response:

Thank you so much for sharing your experience with this tea.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Aging my cake

By James Vandegriff
I have this cake lined up to try in 2025 because I like to give cakes some time to unwind.
I appreciate your work with tea, Linda. All the best, Jim Vandegriff
Our Response:

Thank you for your kind words.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Robust and strong

By Leah Schmiedeke
I like this tea for later in the day. It gives me energy without the jitters. The flavor is more earthy than my all-time Pu-reh, which is Chen Xiang, but in the afternoon and evening, this is just what I like. I've ordered this tea several times and it has become a staple for me.
Our Response:

Thank you, Leah, for your nice review. This tea is my all-time best-selling tea so far.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

An Everchanging Ripe Pu'er

By Sara K.
I had to try this tea many times to fully appreciate it. It's flavor seems a little different every time, sometimes it's sweeter, sometimes it's more savory (this might be due to inconsistency in how I steep it). However it comes out, I always like the result. I can get good flavor out of it for about five steeps (though the 5th steep is sometimes a miss and sometimes I get something good out of a 6th steep). It's a fantastic bargain at this price, and I'm so happy that I got a 10-cake tong.
Our Response:

So glad you enjoy this cake so much. Thank you for letting us know,

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Menghai Ripe Pu-erh

By Timothy Doherty
Wonderful tea. The nose is straight chocolate covered cherries. Incredibly smooth mouthfeel, no bitterness whatsoever, easy drinking and satisfying. If I had one minor gripe it would be that it only gives about three steeps before the flavor subsides almost entirely, even when doing quite brief steep times, but it's excellent for the price and beautiful while it lasts.
Would definitely buy another tong if there were more!
Our Response:

So glad to hear you enjoyed this tea. I will have more tongs coming in a few weeks.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Great bargain.

By Neal Perrin
First impression of this ripe puerh was dark chocolate covered dark cherries. As the infusions went on I noticed light burnt Carmel. Last infusion I got a slight watermelon flavor this puerh is a real bargain glad I purchased the Tung.
Our Response:

This tea is very great value indeed. Glad you stocked up.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

enjoyment

By Michael Klapper
remarkable tea. Enjoying every cup
Our Response:

Awesome! Thank you.