Drinking Tea should be a simple and enjoyable experience. When you find a tea that suits your taste, it's great. However, the constant emergence of new products and terminology in the market often confuses ordinary tea enthusiasts.

For example, Xiaoqinggan was all the rage in 2016, along with Jupu, Ganpu, and Chenpi Pu'er. Have you truly understood these similar yet distinct names for processed Pu'er teas?

1. Chenpi (Dried Tangerine Peel) and Chenpi Pu'er Tea

Chenpi, also known as dried tangerine peel, is made from the dried peels of the fruit of plants in the Rutaceae family, specifically Citrus reticulata and its cultivated varieties. In Traditional Chinese medicine, older and well-aged tangerine peels are considered superior, hence the name Chenpi, which means “precious old.”

Chenpi can be classified by origin into Sichuan Chenpi and Guangdong Chenpi, with Xinhui Chenpi being the most authentic and highly regarded. The large red tangerines grown here produce high-quality dried peels with significant medicinal value and are traditionally used as flavorings and condiments, enjoying a good reputation and sold worldwide.

In the local standards of Guangdong Province, “Peels of tea orange (Dazhong Youshen and Xiaozhong Youshen) cultivated within the geographical indication product protection area of Xinhui Chenpi, sun-dried or oven-dried, and stored and aged for three years or more within the protected area are called Xinhui Chenpi.”

In a broad sense, Chenpi tea refers to tea products made by blending Chenpi with tea leaves. Therefore, Chenpi Pu'er simply means drinking Pu'er tea mixed with Chenpi. Currently, there are several forms of Chenpi Pu'er tea: one type is a mixture of chopped Chenpi and ripe Pu'er loose tea; another type is a blend pressed into tea cakes or bricks. In Guangdong folk tradition, Chenpi and tea leaves are usually stored separately, and when it comes time to drink, they are mixed and brewed according to a certain ratio. Aged Pu'er paired with Chenpi is a perfect match.

The combination of the unique fruity aroma of Chenpi and the sweet and mellow taste of Yunnan Pu'er tea produces a smooth, delicate, and sweet infusion. Its excellent Health benefits have made it popular among many people.

2. Gan (Citrus) and Ganpu Tea

Gan, also known as Citrus or Golden Fruit, belongs to the Rutaceae family. Citrus fruits are often confused with oranges, but they are generally larger and have thicker peels.

The Ganpu tea commonly found on the market is made using Xinhui Citrus from Xinhui, the same raw material used for Guang Chenpi, scientifically known as Citrus reticulata, with a national geographical indication.

After harvesting Xinhui Citrus, it is cleaned and air-dried. A circular opening is made at the top of the fruit using a tool, and the pulp is removed entirely. Pu'er tea is then stuffed into the fruit peel, and the cut-off lid is placed back on. After a period of drying, the finished product is Ganpu tea.

In addition to Xinhui, other regions famous for their citrus include Zhaoqing's Emperor Citrus, Chaozhou Citrus from the Chaoshan region, and nearby Guangxi and Zhuhai citrus. These are also made into Chenpi and Ganpu tea and sold across the country. However, due to differences in geographical location, soil nutrition, and other environmental factors, their overall quality falls short of that from Xinhui.

3. Jue (Tangerine) and Jupu Tea

Jue and Gan are different species within the same family and genus. Citrus fruits are larger, slightly flattened, with thick, coarse peels that are sponge-like and durable for storage. Tangerines, also known as oranges, are smaller, often flattened, with thin peels that lack sponge-like texture. After drying or dehydration, tangerine peels do not possess medicinal properties and lack the characteristic aged aroma when used for tea.

Jupu tea on the market is typically made using Yangshan Tangerine peels and other tangerine peels combined with ripe Yunnan Pu'er tea.

4. Ganpu Tea ≠ Chenpi Pu'er Tea

Although the raw materials for Ganpu tea and Guang Chenpi are essentially the same, the transformation of Gan peel into Chenpi requires aging over time. Therefore, strictly speaking, Ganpu tea without a minimum age requirement is not equal to Chenpi Pu'er tea.

Many products on the market labeled as Chenpi Pu'er tea are actually Ganpu tea, as Chenpi Pu'er tea has a higher cost and medicinal value, making it naturally more expensive. Since Ganpu tea is aged for a shorter period and does not achieve the same effects as Chenpi Pu'er tea, it is priced lower. Currently, there are no national standards for Chenpi Pu'er tea. Some believe that Ganpu tea aged for three years can be called Chenpi Pu'er tea.

5. Jupu Tea ≠ Ganpu Tea

The difference between Jupu and Ganpu is first reflected in price. Authentic Xinhui Citrus costs four to six times more than Yangshan Tangerines and other tangerines, so Ganpu tea is often several times more expensive than Jupu tea or even more.

Due to differences in raw materials, appearance, aroma, and taste vary. To determine if the Ganpu tea you purchase is authentic, first, examine the oil vesicles on the surface of the peel: Citrus peels have large and evenly distributed oil vesicles with curled edges; tangerine peels have finer and denser oil vesicles. The thickness also differs: Xinhui Citrus peels are thicker, about 2.2 mm; tangerine peels are thinner, about 1.1 mm. Ganpu tea has a sweet taste with a lingering aftertaste when brewed, while Jupu tea lacks the characteristic aged aroma.

6. Xiaoqinggan May Not Be Suitable for Everyone

The popular Xiaoqinggan in 2016 is made from young Xinhui Citrus peels.

Citrus peels can be divided into Qingpi (Green Peel), Weihongpi (Yellow Peel), and Dahongpi (Red Peel) based on harvest time and quality. Qingpi refers to the peels of fruits harvested when they are not yet colored and physiologically immature (usually from the beginning of autumn to the beginning of winter). At this stage, the fruits are called green citrus, with a bluish-black exterior, hard and thin peels, bitter and astringent taste, and a fragrant aroma. Green peels contain abundant limonene, making them rich in volatile aromatic oils and more durable when steeped.

Compared to mature red peels, green peels have a more potent medicinal nature and stronger qi-moving properties. They are commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine for breaking up qi stagnation, soothing the liver, and dispersing stagnation, unlike red peels, which are milder and often used for regulating qi and strengthening the spleen.

As the chilly winds of autumn and winter