Puerh is one of the most popular types of Chinese teas. This is an unusual post-fermented product that has unique properties. Therefore, it is called the tea of youth, beauty and harmony. Shu and Sheng pu-erh are distinguished, the varieties of tea have several differences.
"Tea brothers" Shu Pu-erh and Shen Pu-erh are produced in the same province of the Middle Kingdom - Yunnan. Despite the fact that they are made from the same raw materials, the difference in both the manufacturing technology and the taste, aroma, and color of the infusion is obvious. A tea gourmet needs to learn to see the differences between these types of tea in order not to overpay for the product.
Shu and Shen have several distinctive features. Chief among them is the degree of fermentation. Shen is produced as follows: raw materials are collected, green leaves are dried in the sun, additional processing is carried out and pressed. Shu is made from less quality raw materials, which are first collected, then dried, allowed to "flirt" under the influence of moisture and heat. The tea leaf is then dried and pressed again.
For Shen, a leaf is chosen from old trees growing in the highlands. Shu is created from tea leaves collected from trees from tea gardens.
Shu pu-erh and Shen pu-erh - differences
Sheng Pu-erh is a real tea king that appeared about 700 years ago. Shu began to be produced about 40 years ago. To distinguish them by taste, it must be borne in mind that Shen is peculiar, with a slight sourness and sweet aftertaste. Shu pu-erh is softer and at the same time heavier, compared to it, Shen may seem harsh.
The aroma of Sheng Pu-erh is slightly fruity, it is sweet. And Shu smells like smoke, chocolate and cinnamon. If you brew both types of tea, it will be obvious that Shen is light and transparent, while his brother is dark and opaque.
How to choose pu-erh
When buying pu-erh tea at retail or wholesale, you need to be guided by the fact that the Shen tea treasure only improves its characteristics over time. Really high-quality raw pu-erh, as Shen is also called, is rare. Typically, this tea is pressed into bing cha pancakes or other forms and stored for several years before being sold. Thanks to this approach, Shen becomes more fragrant, beneficial due to the influence of microbes.
Shu is often called ready, accelerated, black. It usually costs less than the precious Shen in Yunnan itself. Artificially aged pu-erh tea does not require a long wait, it can be brewed almost immediately after production. Express fermentation was developed in 1974 and today Shu is more often purchased by novice connoisseurs, and tea collectors and experts unconditionally vote for Shen. You can eat ready-made pu-erh on an empty stomach.
