Pu-erh and Oolong Teas

There are two kinds of pu-erh: ripe and raw. Ripe pu-erhs are force-fermented with moisture and yeast, whereas raw pu-erhs are designed to ferment naturally over time, like wine in a cask. Traditionally, pu-erh is made using green tea that is compressed into a dense form like a “brick” or a “puck” (see our pu-erh cakes below) using heat, steam, and a steel or stone tea-mold. Today, loose leaf pu-erhs, like our No. 3 Shu Cha Pu-erh, are also widely available.

Oolong teas are largely produced in regions across China and Taiwan. There is a wide variety in types of oolongs as any teas that are semi-oxidized are considered oolongs. Some have more green tea characteristics like Ali Shan, whereas others have black tea characteristics like Golden Oolong depending on oxidation levels.