Table of Contents
What is Pu Erh Tea?
Choosing the Right Pu Erh Tea
Pu Erh Tea Formats
How to Prepare Pu Erh Tea
Brewing Methods
Gaiwan Style Brewing
Western Style Brewing
Grandpa Style Brewing
Gong Fu Cha Style Brewing
Brewing for Optimal Flavor
Common Mistakes When Brewing Pu Erh Tea
How to Store Pu Erh Tea
FAQ
How do you break apart pu erh cakes?
Why do you rinse pu erh tea?
Why do tea addicts go crazy for pu erh?
Final Thoughts
Pu erh tea is a weird and wonderful type of fermented tea famous for its rich, complex flavor and centuries of history. This tea has captured the hearts of tea lovers worldwide, and every sip is a journey.
In this guide, you will learn how to brew pu erh tea properly is key to unlocking its full potential. The brewing process depends on water temperature, steeping time and tea weight. Whether you like the fresh, floral notes of raw pu erh (sheng pu erh) or the earthy tones of ripe pu erh (shou pu erh), mastering the brewing technique can turn your tea time into a flavor adventure.
What is Pu Erh Tea?
Pu erh tea is a type of fermented tea from Yunnan province of China. Unlike green tea, black tea, white tea or oolong tea, pu erh goes through a unique fermentation and aging process that gives it its rich, earthy flavor and deep amber color.
Available in two main types—raw pu erh (sheng pu erh) and ripe pu erh (shou pu erh)—this dark tea has many flavors, from the bright, floral notes of young raw puer to the smooth, mellow character of ripe puer.
Pu erh tea is often compressed into cakes or bricks which can be aged for many years and appeals to tea drinkers who want a robust and evolving tea experience.
Choosing the Right Pu Erh Tea
Choosing the right pu erh tea is the first step to a perfect brew. It comes in two main types: sheng pu erh, also known as raw pu erh, and shou pu erh, or ripe pu erh.
Sheng pu erh is preferred by experienced tea drinkers for its complex, evolving flavor profile that can range from floral and fruity to earthy and robust. Shou pu erh tea has a smoother, more approachable flavor, making it a great choice for new tea drinkers.
When choosing your tea, consider the age and quality of the tea leaves. High quality, organic pu erh tea is often chosen for its pure, rich flavor and aroma. Choosing organic pu erh tea also supports sustainable farming and can help preserve the integrity of your infusion.
Pu Erh Tea Formats
The format of your pu erh tea affects the brewing process and final taste. Loose leaf tea is popular among tea enthusiasts because it allows precise control over tea weight and steeping time, so you can adjust the strength and flavor of your brew. Loose leaf pu erh is great for those who like to experiment with infusion times and water temperatures.
Pu erh cake, a tightly compressed form of pu erh tea, requires a bit more preparation, such as breaking off pieces using a tea knife or pick. This traditional format is loved for its aging potential and flavor development over time. Other compressed formats like tuocha and bricks are portable and convenient for tea drinkers on the go.
When choosing a tea format, consider your lifestyle, brewing preferences and budget. Loose leaf tea is flexible and easy, pu erh cakes and tuocha is traditional and steeped in history.
How to Prepare Pu Erh Tea
The most important thing for a proper brew is preparation. Before steeping, rinse the tea leaves with hot water to remove the impurities that linger and awaken their flavors. This is an important step for pu erh cakes which can have leftover dust from compression.
If you are using a pu erh cake, gently break off the desired amount of tea using a tea knife or pick, being careful not to damage the leaves. The recommended tea weight is typically 1-2 teaspoons (about 3-5 grams) per 8 ounces of water, but you can adjust to your taste for a stronger or weaker brew.
Using fresh water and boiling it is important to release the full flavor of the fermented tea leaves. Prepare your tea set—whether it’s a gaiwan, teapot or glass pot—so the brewing process is smooth.
Brewing Methods
There are several ways to brew the pu erh tea, each with its own charm and benefits. The most popular methods are:
-
Gaiwan Style Brewing: Uses a gaiwan or a yixing tea pot, allowing precise control over the brewing process. This method is great for appreciating the subtle nuances of pu erh tea through multiple infusions.
-
Gong Fu Cha Style Brewing: A traditional Chinese tea ceremony using a small tea pot or gaiwan with a high leaf-to-water ratio and multiple short steepings. It highlights the rich flavor and evolving aroma of pu erh tea, making it a deep experience.
-
Western Style Brewing: A simple and convenient method using a tea pot and strainer to steep the tea leaves for a longer time, typically 3-5 minutes. Great for those who want a easy brewing routine without sacrificing flavor.
-
Grandpa Style Brewing: This is the most casual and easiest method, it's where the tea leaves are steeped directly in a cup or tea pot without any strainer. Popular with ripe pu erh, it produces a strong and smooth brew with minimal effort.
In the following sections, we will show you how to brew using each of these methods, so you can find the one that suits your taste and occasion.
Gaiwan Style Brewing
Gaiwan style brewing is a traditional and elegant way to brew pu erh tea. Follow these steps:
-
Add the prepared tea leaves to your gaiwan or yixing tea pot.
-
Pour hot water, between 195°F and 205°F, over the leaves to start the steeping process.
-
For the first steep, steep for 10 to 30 seconds.
-
Gradually increase steeping time for each subsequent steep to extract all the flavors and aromas.
-
After each steep, pour the brewed tea into a tea pot before serving into tea cups to ensure even flavor distribution among all drinkers.
This method allows you to taste the evolving flavor of pu erh tea, enjoying the subtle changes in flavor with each later steep.
Western Style Brewing
Western style brewing is a convenient and easy way to brew pu erh tea. Follow these steps:
-
Place the prepared loose leaf tea into a tea pot with a strainer.
-
Pour boiling water over the leaves.
-
Steep for 3 to 5 minutes, depending on your taste.
-
Use the strainer to separate the tea leaves from the liquid.
-
Pour tea into cups and enjoy.
-
Adjust steeping time to your desired strength; longer steeping yields a stronger brew, shorter steeping a lighter cup.
This method is great for those who want a simple brewing routine without special tea ware.
Grandpa Style Brewing
Grandpa style brewing is a casual and easy method loved by many for its simplicity. Follow these steps:
-
Place about 2 to 5 grams of loose leaf tea or a small piece of pu erh cake directly into a large cup or mug.
-
Pour in boiling water.
-
Steep for 3 to 5 minutes, or longer if you like it stronger.
-
Drink from the cup.
-
Add hot water to the same leaves and continue to infuse through multiple steeps.
-
Use a lid or strainer to prevent leaves from getting into your mouth.
This method is good for ripe pu erh, which can produce a smooth and mellow flavor even with long steeping times. Grandpa style brewing is for tea drinkers who like a strong tea without the formality of traditional brewing.
Gong Fu Cha Style Brewing
Gong fu cha is a traditional Chinese tea ceremony that emphasizes skill and technique. Follow these steps:
-
Put in a generous amount of tea leaves—about 6 to 7 grams—into a small gaiwan or yixing tea pot.
-
Rinse the leaves with boiling water to wake up the tea.
-
Discard the rinse water.
-
Steep with boiling water at 195°F to 205°F for 10 seconds for the first steep.
-
Pour the tea into a tea pitcher before serving into small tea cups.
-
With each subsequent steep, add 5 to 10 seconds to the steeping time to extract all the flavors.
Gong fu cha enables tea drinkers to experience the aroma and taste of pu erh tea through multiple infusions, this makes it very rewarding and an immersive tea ritual.
Brewing for Optimal Flavor
To brew pu erh for best flavor, water temperature and steeping time are key. The ideal water temperature is between 195°F and 205°F, hot enough to extract the tea’s compounds without bitterness.
Ripe pu erh needs shorter steeping time than raw pu erh, which benefits from longer infusions to bring out its complexity. Use fresh, filtered water to prevent impurities and odors from affecting the tea’s flavor.
Experiment with tea weight, steeping time and water temperature to find your personal sweet spot, whether you like strong tea or lighter brew. Mastering pu erh tea brewing is key to appreciating its unique character.
Common Mistakes When Brewing Pu Erh Tea
Brewing this type of tea can be tricky for new tea drinkers and some common mistakes can affect the taste. These are:
-
Using water that is too hot or steeping the tea leaves for too long, which usually results in a bitter tea that masks the flavors of this fermented tea.
-
Using low quality tea leaves, which can reduce the aroma and richness of your pu erh tea.
-
Using inadequate brewing equipment, which can also affect the tea’s flavor and overall pu erh tea brewing experience.
To avoid these pitfalls, always use high quality, organic pu erh tea and follow the brewing guidelines. Be aware of these common mistakes and you’ll get a balanced cup every time.
How to Store Pu Erh Tea
Proper storage is crucial to preserve the flavor and aroma of pu erh tea. Store your tea in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight, moisture and strong odors which can degrade the tea.
An airtight container like a tin or glass jar is ideal for keeping the tea fresh. Some tea enthusiasts prefer humidity controlled environment to further protect the tea’s delicate characteristics, especially for aging pu erh cakes.
By storing your pu erh tea correctly, you can enjoy its flavors and character for years to come.
FAQ
How do you break apart pu erh cakes?
Use a tea knife or pick to gently pry off small pieces from the tightly compressed pu erh cake. Be careful not to crush the leaves to preserve them for brewing.
Why do you rinse pu erh tea?
Rinsing pu erh tea removes the dust and impurities from the leaves and helps to wake up the tea’s flavors, resulting to a cleaner and more vibrant cup.
Why do tea addicts go crazy for pu erh?
Pu erh’s unique fermentation process creates a rich and complex flavor profile that evolves with each steeping. Its cultural significance, unique fermentation process and evolving flavor also contributes to its devoted following.
Final Thoughts
Brewing pu erh tea is an art that requires patience, technique and appreciation for this ancient fermented tea’s unique characteristics. By following the step-by-step guide above, tea drinkers—new or seasoned—can unlock the flavor and aroma of pu erh tea.
From selecting the right tea to the different brewing methods like gaiwan, gong fu cha, western and grandpa style, there’s always something new to learn in pu erh. Whether you’re a pu erh fan, black tea, green tea or other tea lover, the ritual and experimentation will make you appreciate these teas more.
Ready to start your pu erh tea adventure? Browse our selection of premium organic pu erh tea, loose leaf and beautifully crafted pu erh cakes at our tea store now!
