Known as the “health-giving tea” and “beauty-slimming tea” in China, Puer tea is something you won’t regret trying out.
 
This famous tea from the Yunnan province of southern China gives you both taste and health benefits.
 
For tea-loving tourists, the large Yunnan Pu’er Tea Market offers convenient location near the Tian’anmen Square near a lot of Beijing hotels.
 
It is here on the second floor where I found Leyuanyu Pu’er Tea Shop.


The shopkeeper, Mr. Wang, warmly invited me to sit down and sample their fermented and unfermented teas.
 
Decorated with unique items from the hometown of Pu’er tea, Leyuanyu provided me a great tea-tasting experience.
 
The stone elephants, wooden decorations, and green plants soon led me into a relax state.
 
Fermented tea looks red, and tastes kinda sweet. Unfermented tea looks like amber. They taste somewhat bitter at first, but give a sweet after-taste.
 
Mr. Wang said all their Pu’er tea comes from naturally grown trees without any human interference. They offer two famous brands: “National Chinese” and “Image of Washan Mountain”.


The former has won many prizes in Pu’er tea competitions.
 
Looking around, I found a wide variety of compressed Pu’er tea on display. The compressed nature makes them easy to carry.
 
Some even come in nice small packages fit for presents or souvenirs. Prices are reasonable.
 
One particular 250g “Tea Horse Ancient Road Pu’er Brick Tea” cost only RMB 50, for instance.