Xiao Qing Gan ( 小青柑) — Green Tangerine Ripe Pu-erh (Shou 熟)

Other names: Xiao Qing Gan, Green Tangerine Pu-erh, Mandarin Pu-erh, Citrus Pu-erh, Chen Pi Pu-erh, Gan Pu (柳普), 小青柑普洱

Meet one of the most charming teas in the pu-erh world — Xiao Qing Gan, a little green tangerine hollowed out and packed with ripe pu-erh.

Brew the whole fruit and two flavours melt together: bright, fresh citrus, and smooth, sweet depth from ripe pu-erh inside.

Best of all, it's one of the easiest teas to brew — one little fruit is a whole session, no cake pin, no fuss.

About This Xiao Qing Gan

Each Xiao Qing Gan is a small, unripe green tangerine from Xinhui (新会) in Guangdong — the home of China's most prized citrus peel, chen pi — hollowed and filled with ripe pu-erh from Menghai, Yunnan.

As it brews, the green-tangerine peel gives a fresh, high, citrus lift, while the ripe pu-erh brings its warm, smooth, mellow sweetness underneath. Together they make a rounded, comforting, uplifting cup — and a tea that's as lovely to give as it is to drink.

One fruit is a single easy serving — drop it whole into your pot, or break it into pieces for a stronger citrus note.

• Type: Ripened (Shou 熟) pu-erh in green-tangerine peel
• Peel: Xinhui (新会) green tangerine — China's most celebrated citrus
• Tea:  ripe pu-erh from Menghai, 2012
• Flavour: fresh citrus lift over smooth, sweet, mellow ripe pu-erh
• Format: whole small fruits — one per brew, no cake pin needed

Essential Pu-erh Tea Accessories

Xiao Qing Gan is the easy option — one whole fruit per brew, no breaking required. A couple of pieces still help:

• The perfect match: we went looking for a really handy way to brew Xiao Qing Gan — and found it in this glass cha hai (fairness cup) with strainer. Drop the whole fruit in, pour, and the built-in strainer holds back the leaf while you pour out a clean cup — a genuinely perfect match for these little fruits.
• Teapot: a Yixing zisha pot rounds out pu-erh's earthy depth, or a gaiwan makes an easier, more affordable start. The whole fruit sits neatly in either.

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.

Xiao Qing Gan is one of the easiest and friendliest ways in — a single little fruit per brew, sweet and citrusy, 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 👇