Mandarin Pu-erh Tea (Ju Pu 柳普) — Xinhui Mandarin + Ripe Pu-erh (Shou 熟)

Other names: Ju Pu, Mandarin Pu-erh, Gan Pu (柳普), Chen Pi Pu-erh, Tangerine Pu-erh, Da Hong Gan (大红柳), 新会柳普

Here's the mellow, sweeter cousin of Xiao Qing Gan — our Ju Pu mandarin pu-erh.

A whole ripe Xinhui mandarin is hollowed and packed with ripe pu-erh, then cured together. Where the little green tangerine is sharp and high, this fully ripened mandarin gives a rounder, softer, sweeter citrus — married to the smooth depth of Menghai ripe pu-erh.

These are generous fruits, so one goes a long way — a warm, comforting, citrus-sweet cup.

About This Ju Pu

Each Ju Pu is a whole ripe mandarin from Xinhui (新会) in Guangdong — the home of China's most prized citrus peel, chen pi — hollowed and filled with ripe (Shou) pu-erh from Menghai, Yunnan, dated 2013.

As it brews, the ripe-mandarin peel gives a soft, sweet, mellow citrus note, while the ripe pu-erh brings its warm, smooth depth underneath. The two settle together into a rounded, comforting, gently uplifting cup.

• Type: Ripened (Shou 熟) pu-erh in ripe-mandarin peel
• Peel: Xinhui (新会) ripe mandarin (da hong gan, 大红柳) — China's most celebrated citrus
• Tea: ripe pu-erh from Menghai, 2013
• Flavour: soft, sweet, mellow citrus over smooth ripe pu-erh
• Format: whole fruits, sold individually — bigger than xiao qing gan; break for several brews

Prefer the sharper, higher green-tangerine style? Try our Xiao Qing Gan — browse both in our Ripe pu-erh collection.

Essential Pu-erh Tea Accessories

Ju Pu is easy to brew — break off a piece and go. A couple of pieces still help:

• The perfect match: we went looking for a really handy way to brew mandarin pu-erh — and found it in this glass cha hai (fairness cup) with strainer. Drop your pieces in, pour, and the built-in strainer holds back the leaf while you pour out a clean cup — a genuinely perfect match for these citrus teas.
• Teapot: a Yixing zisha pot rounds out pu-erh's earthy depth, or a gaiwan makes an easier, more affordable start.
• Storage: keep your fruits dry and away from odours — a breathable home like our pu-erh bamboo storage unit works well.

See the full range in our Pu-erh accessories.

Want to understand pu-erh a little better? Here's some honest, no-fluff knowledge to help you find your pu-erh.

How to Choose Your First Pu-erh

The quick version:

Raw (Sheng) is like sashimi — fresh, bright and a little wild;

Ripe (Shou) is like a rich, slow-cooked stew — dark, mellow and smooth, transformed by time.

Love green or white tea? Start raw.

Love black tea, dark tea (hei cha) or roasted oolong? Start ripe — like this one.

Your next pu-erh: explore by region.

Scroll down — there's plenty here to help you decide. Finding a pu-erh you love is a genuinely fun journey, and the pricey one isn't always the one that suits you.

Ju Pu is one of the easiest and friendliest ways in — sweet, citrusy and smooth, easy for anyone to love.

Pu-erh Regions: Why Origin Shapes Taste & Price

Region is one of the biggest reasons two pu-erhs can differ so much in taste, quality and price.

Across Yunnan, tea grows on hundreds of mountains, each giving its own character — shaped by the land and the tree type (ancient-tree, arbor or plantation).

The ripe pu-erh inside this fruit comes from Menghai. Here's how Yunnan's three core regions break down:

A handy shorthand pu-erh drinkers use:

Ban Zhang is the king (bold and powerful),

Bing Dao is the queen (sweet and smooth),

Yiwu is grace itself (soft, supple and silky).

What Decides a Pu-erh's Price?

Pu-erh prices run from everyday to eye-watering, and it helps to know what you're paying for. A few things set the price:

• Where it's grown (region): a famous mountain like Lao Ban Zhang or Bing Dao is scarce and commands top prices.
• The tree (variety & age): ancient-tree (gu shu) leaf sits above arbor (qiao mu), which sits above plantation (tai di).
• The pick: even from the same tree, tender bud-and-tip fetches more than coarser leaf — and spring tea is prized over autumn.
• Age, storage, grade & brand: older well-stored cakes, higher grades, and established houses like Dayi and Xiaguan all add to the price.

That's why two cakes with the same famous name — say, "Bing Dao" — can sit at very different prices. The exact village, tree type, grade and season all change what ends up in the cup, so the same name never means the same tea.

Pu-erh, Caffeine & Antioxidants

Like all true tea from the Camellia sinensis plant, pu-erh is post-fermented and naturally contains antioxidants and caffeine — that's simply part of the leaf.

A gently brewed, well-aged ripe pu-erh tends to drink smooth and rounded rather than sharp. It's the classic cup to enjoy after a rich meal — warming, comforting and easy — which is exactly how it's been loved in China for generations. If you're sensitive to caffeine, keep your leaf light and your steeps short.

Brew this ripened pu-erh the right way

— check out our professional Brewing Guide, Storage Care, and The Origins below 👇