Pu-Erh is an aged tea (traditionally black). 

The tea is processed in much the same way as

normal. Once the leaves are dried however the

tea is sprayed with steam. Once the tea is 

softened from the steam it is compressed into

the desired shape (traditionally round cakes 

but come in a variety of shapes more recently). 

The tea is then racked in a dry dark storage 

room and left to age. Traditionally the tea

was aged for 10 to 50 years. More recently 

some pu-erh tea is “cooked” to speed up the 

ageing process. This involves the tea being 

left in a high temperature and humidity for 

45-65 days before it is compressed into the 

desired shape. Ageing the tea gives it a rich, 

earthy flavour and aroma.