Rishi Organic Ancient Pu-erh Ginger

Organic, Fair Trade pu-erh from ancient tea trees is blended with organic ginger and organic orange peel for a wintery flavor that's ideal for new pu-erh drinkers.

Organic, Fair Trade, slightly tippy pu-erh leaves from the Yunnan province of China (which many agree is the only origin of true pu-erh) are blended with copious amounts of ginger and orange zest. There's a distinct aroma of pickled (rather than dried) ginger backed with notes of earthy pu-erh.

The brew is the color of burnt umber, but redder, almost like an uncut garnet.

The brewed aroma is deeply earthy and rich with a hint of spice.

The flavor is balanced. There's a mild citrus-ginger kick, but overall it is smooth and very drinkable. A hint of pepperiness in the finish keeps you sipping more. A slight muddiness to the pu-erh's flavor indicates that it's not the best on the market.... Then again, why blend the best?

Pu-erh is traditionally used to aid in digestion and is said to counteract the effects of heavy, greasy meals when drunk as a digestif. It's also said to be stimulating. Likewise, ginger is often used for digestion, and orange zest is said to be stimulation. Given these uses, Pu-erh Ginger makes perfect sense as an after-dinner drink or stomach soother.

Organic Pu-erh Ginger has a better-than-most quality pu-erh at its base and a balanced, appealing flavor profile. I recommend it to new pu-erh drinkers. Whether you want to get into pu-erh for a New Year's resolution or simply because you're interested in its reputed health benefits, this is a great tea to try.

Disclosure: Review samples were provided by the manufacturer. For more information, please see our Ethics Policy.