Pu-Erh Imperial

Indulge in the unique and captivating flavours of Pu-Erh Imperial, also known as Cooked Golden-Tipped Pu-Erh, a tea that embodies the essence of fine loose-leaf Pu-Erh. Dark, savoury, and earthy, this tea has garnered a reputation as a stomach filler, with some even using it as an appetite suppressant. But beyond its functional benefits, we adore Pu-Erh Imperial simply because it is delicious!

Pu-Erh stands apart as a completely unique type of tea, celebrated for its distinctive, ripe, and earthy flavour that transports you to the primordial subtropical forests where the most ancient wild tea leaves were first cultivated.

Unlike black tea, Pu-Erh is a fermented dark tea, and the secret to its flavour and character lies in its method of processing. Large flat leaves undergo partial oxidation before being left to naturally develop bacteria and other microbes, imparting Pu-Erh with its unparalleled taste.

The resulting cup reveals a dark red hue with a savoury aroma that entices the senses. Bold, robust, and ripe flavours dominate the palate, with earthy undertones complemented by a fruity finish that hints at grape, plum, and cherry.

Experience the enchanting allure of Pu-Erh Imperial, a tea that captures the essence of ancient tea traditions and the rich biodiversity of its origins. Savour each sip as you embark on a journey through time and taste, exploring the depths of Pu-Erh's complexity and character.

Story

Pu Erh Map of Origin

Pu Erh is famous for its ripe, earthy, woody flavours; distinctive and invocative of the primordial subtropical forests from which the most ancient tea leaves were first picked and cultivated.

Pu Erh hails exclusively from Yunnan in China, an area famous for its pioneering tea plant cultivation and ancient history and traditions surrounding the tea plant and leaves. This historic region also developed the process of fermenting and oxidising tea leaves, both of which helped to improve the flavour of lower quality leaves and to preserve tea leaves for transport and trade - the very evolution that transformed tea from a local herb to an international commodity!

Yunnan Pu Erh Tree

Pu Erh vitally uses both of these processes (oxidisation and fermentation) in order to create its distinctive flavour – unique in the tea world. The whole process starts with large, flat tea leaves from wilder varieties of tea plants which have been fixed but not oxidised (like green tea) to retain their original, wild character. The oxidisation (heating and drying) process then begins, but is stopped short of removing all moisture from the leaves. These leaves are then either left raw (loose) or formed into tightly pressed cakes and bricks where they are left to ferment (the remaining moisture in the leaves are left to develop microbes and natural bacteria) which significantly changes their flavour.

To Enjoy

Place two teaspoons per cup into an infuser, filter or teapot. Add freshly boiled water and infuse for 4 minutes. Serve immediately.

Health Benefits

• Black tea improves cardiac blood flow and coronary function and also improves endothelial function in the heard which improves vascular function.(Dr Renold Sebold, The Truth About Tea & Health part 1)
• Pu-erh tea is a particular type of Chinese black tea which is praised for its ability to boost the metabolism and help the body break-down fat. Throughout history, the Chinese have drunk Pu-Erh tea to counterbalance rich food and help digestion. Today it is very popular as part of weight-loss programmes due to its positive effects on metabolising fat.