Tea Brewing 101 | Pu-erh Tea

Pu-erh is the most oxidized and fermented tea available. Which means there is a lot of flavor packed into its leaves. So what's the best way to get all the deliciousness that Pu-erh tea offers? The answer is in how you steep it. First, make sure you follow recommended steeping instructions. Did you know that Pu-erh is one of the best teas for re-steeping? So you can enjoy the flavor over and over. High-quality teas are often not the cheapest, so whenever you can re-steep a high-quality tea, you get more for your money.

Let's go over basic steeping instructions. Pu-erh is a hardy tea. It has withstood extensive periods of oxidation and fermentation, which is one of the reasons it's excellent for re-steeping. The recommended amount is one teaspoon per eight ounces of water. The ideal water temperature is between 200-212 degrees Fahrenheit and the ideal steep time is 5 minutes. It's a very forgiving tea when it comes to temperature and steep time, but following our recommendations will help you get the most out of your tea.

My favorite Hackberry Pu-erh tea is the Strawberry Hazelnut Pu-erh. It's a highly versatile tea. I usually make this as a tea latte with almond milk. That's my favorite way to drink it, but simply brewing it in water is also great if you're looking for a more straightforward flavor that doesn't have the creaminess of milk. I recently tried it "dirty." I added an espresso shot which added depth and boldness to my latte and gave it a little extra caffeine kick.

If you want a simple and clean flavor, try it with just water. If you want a creamy and comforting experience, steam the leaves with your milk. And if you want a bold and exciting flavor, add an espresso shot. I love all three variations!

Dirty Strawberry Hazelnut Pu-erh Latte 

Just leave the coffee out on this one if you prefer. I don't often sweeten this drink because I think the tea is sweet enough, but like we always say, drink it how you like it.

Ingredients 

• Your favorite Hackberry Pu-erh tea
• Your favorite Sagebrush coffee brewed to your liking
• Milk of choice
• Sweetener if preferred

Instructions 

1. Combine 3-4 teaspoons of tea with milk. I use almond milk with all my lattes. 
2. Steam milk with a frother, steam wand, or over the stove. Sometimes I use a frother, but my proffered method is a pot over the stove. 
3. Strain tea leaves. Depending on how you steamed milk, the straining process may vary. 
4. Add sweetener if desired. I don't sweeten all my tea lattes. 
5. Add espresso shot or drip coffee.
6. Stir.
7. Enjoy!

Chocolate Chip Chai Pu-erh Tea

I love an afternoon cup of coffee, but sometimes I want a flavorful cup of tea. Our Chocolate Chip Chai Tea is often what I go after. Chai is already delicious as is, and when you add chocolate and milk to it, it becomes a rich and decadent treat. Follow the exact directions for the Strawberry Hazelnut Pu-erh and add coffee, if desired.