Tea Tip from In Pursuit of Tea:

Yunnan Province is located in Southern China and forms the border with Laos and Burma. This is the region where the tea plant is thought to originate. The tea in this area is the large leaf varietal, similar to the tea that is found in Assam, India.

We tasted some fresh green tea (Temple Garden) and some green pu-erhs. The Bamboo Green and the Green Beencha are two examples of pu-erh, the tea that the region is so famous for.The Temple Garden is a full bodied green tea with plenty of flavor. Notes of earthiness, chestnut and sweet corn are strong in this example of a green tea. Because the leaf is so delicate, the tea should be brewed in water that is well below boiling to prevent cooking the leaves and destroying the subtle notes of the tea.

The Green Beencha and the Bamboo Green are known for their strong, earthy, full bodied flavor. This is because, they are post-fermented during their processing. It is often formed into bricks and is one of the few tea that ages well. To prepare the Pu-erhs, break off about a tablespoon in volume for a 6oz serving. Use water that is just off a boil and rinse the leaves once, then steep for 2 - 3 minutes. ( Rely on taste not color ). When brewed to your taste remove the leaves and enjoy. Re-steep to make another cup!

Although the teas that we tasted are quite different and are made in different ways, they have the similarities due to the region - the soil, the weather and the varietal of tea plant.

Past Tea Tips:
Tea and Water Temperature Twelve Trees Oolong
Tie Guanyin Oolong Tea
Jasmine Pearls
Darjeeling
Freshness Storage, and Packaging
Sound of Tea
Ceylon
Tieguanyin Oolong Tea
Why Pair Tea with Food?
Tea Classification
White Teas
Display Teas
For more information on drinks and beverages, read Charmaine Solomon's article on well-known drinks you may encounter in Asian travels or upon inspection of the refrigerator section of your local Asian grocer.