Also spelled puer or pu'er, pu-erh is a type of tea that is either fermented or intended to be fermented with age. It is often seen in forms like the small Tou Cha (or 'bird's nest') form pictured above, the 'Bing Cha' (disc-like cakes), or the brick (which looks like a brick and may be imprinted with designs or text), or it can be sold as a loose-leaf tea. All forms of pu-erh except for loose-leaf pu-erh are compressed into shape. Tou Cha and Bing Cha are wrapped in thin paper, as pictured above.
Pu-erh is fermented, much like wine is fermented. There are two ways it can be fermented. One is quick and cheap, but it usually yields a less smooth, less complex tea. The other method takes years, but (when done well) it produces incredible teas that are prized by many tea connoisseurs and collectors.
Many coffee drinkers love puer for its deep, dark flavor. Descriptors for puer include:
Pu-erh is fermented, much like wine is fermented. There are two ways it can be fermented. One is quick and cheap, but it usually yields a less smooth, less complex tea. The other method takes years, but (when done well) it produces incredible teas that are prized by many tea connoisseurs and collectors.
Many coffee drinkers love puer for its deep, dark flavor. Descriptors for puer include:
- Earthy
- Rich
- Dark
- Woodsy
- Chocolaty
- Espresso-like
