In recent years, more and more people have become increasingly fond of Citrus Pu'er Tea. On one hand, this is due to the promotion and popularization of aged tangerine Peel from Xinhui, which has drawn more attention to its benefits and effects. On the other hand, the combination of Xinhui tangerines and Yunnan Pu'er tea creates a unique beverage flavor that appeals to an increasing number of people. There are many types of citrus Pu'er teas available on the market, so how should you choose? Let's discuss this below:

Types of Citrus Pu'er Tea?

The differences in Pu'er within citrus Pu'er teas are not significant; therefore, the types of citrus Pu'er mainly differ based on the type of tangerine peel used. Tangerine peels can be divided into different categories based on their level of maturity: citrus seedlings, young green citrus, green citrus, semi-ripe citrus, and ripe citrus.

1. **Citrus Seedlings**: These are made using immature citrus fruits. In early June, after the tangerine flowers have fallen off, small citrus fruits the size of thumbs grow. At this stage, they do not yet contain any flesh and are considered seedlings. The fruits are then harvested to make citrus seedling fruit tea.

2. **Young Green Citrus**: This refers to the fruit when the peel has not yet changed color and is physiologically immature. The fruits at this stage are known as young green citrus. After harvesting, the pulp is removed, and Pu'er tea is filled inside. Without any additives, a special process is used to blend the fresh scent of Xinhui tangerine with the rich flavor of Yunnan Pu'er tea, allowing the tangerine peel (aged tangerine peel) and tea leaves to absorb each other's essence. Over time, they become even more fragrant.

3. **Green Citrus**: After growing for another one to two months, young green citrus fruits mature into green citrus. At this point, the peels have not fully ripened and remain green.

4. **Semi-Ripe Citrus**: Semi-ripe citrus refers to fruits that are not fully mature and are generally harvested around November. The peels obtained from processing these fruits are called semi-ripe peels. They are slightly thicker, brownish-green with red tones, have a moderate hardness, are slightly sweet, and store well.

5. **Ripe Citrus**: Ripe citrus fruits are harvested in December (before the winter solstice). At this point, the Xinhui citrus is completely mature, and the peel is a bright orange-yellow color. Ripe citrus fruits are rich in oils and have a thick peel. They have a sweet and aromatic scent when smelled.

Selecting Citrus Pu'er Tea

The ingredients in citrus Pu'er tea are aged tangerine peel and ripe Pu'er tea. Good citrus Pu'er tea meets two main criteria: high-quality ripe tea and excellent aged tangerine peel. The ripe tea needs to be top-grade palace material, while the aged tangerine peel must be made from Xinhui tangerines in Guangdong Province. Both are indispensable.

When choosing citrus Pu'er tea, in addition to observing its appearance and smelling its aroma, taste testing is essential. Your tongue will not deceive you. When you approach a tea seller, ask two questions right away: the price of the citrus Pu'er tea and whether you can try it. Avoid asking other questions to prevent being misled. After tasting, if you agree, proceed to the next step and listen carefully to the tea seller's detailed introduction. Does it match your taste? When everything seems good, don't rush to buy it; go to the next step: separate brewing. Select mature tea leaves and Brew them independently, and also brew the aged tangerine peel separately. To save costs, sellers usually select either the aged tangerine peel or the ripe tea. Since it is a blended flavor, a good taste can often mask a bad one. The process of separating the aged tangerine peel from the ripe tea must be thorough. The less mature the aged tangerine peel, the better the aroma. A characteristic of Xinhui aged tangerine peel is its fragrance. This aroma can completely cover the natural scent of the ripe tea. Therefore, if the aroma of the aged tangerine peel in independently brewed citrus Pu'er tea is insufficient or incorrect, it is definitely not Xinhui citrus Pu'er tea.

Even if the ripe tea has the scent of the aged tangerine peel, its characteristics do not change much during independent brewing. The unique, rich, and smooth quality of ripe tea will still stand out in citrus Pu'er tea. If the ripe tea in independently brewed citrus Pu'er tea does not meet the above three points, it indicates that the selected ripe tea in the citrus Pu'er tea is of inferior quality. Selling such products at a high price is deceptive.

Citrus Pu'er tea is a combination of aged ripe tea and its advantages. Independent evaluation is a unique method to identify the quality of citrus Pu'er tea. You can follow the above methods to purchase satisfactory citrus Pu'er tea.