When Pu’er tea was introduced to the Imperial Palace in the Tang Dynasty, it won the favor of the royal nobles. In 1732 AD, Pu’er tea was officially included in the list of tribute tea. Did the palace Pu’er tea still exist when it was offered to the emperor in the Qing Dynasty? Pu’er ripe tea was developed by “wodui” technology in 1974. Why is palace Pu’er tea called the Royal Pu-erh tea?

The Best Pu-erh Tea is Royal Pu-erh

In the early years, Yunnan Tea Import and Export Company screened delicate and tender super-grade raw materials. To highlight their rarity, they were named “Royal Pu’er”.In the early years, Yunnan Tea Import and Export Company screened delicate and tender super-grade raw materials. To highlight their rarity, they were named “Royal Pu-erh”.

As time went on, this exquisite tea gained influence, becoming referred to as “Royal” pu’er tea by the market.

National standards and tea evaluation terms do not use the term “Royal”. It is a market term.

Royal Pu-erh Tea Is Famous In Qing Dynasty

The raw material of palace-grade ripe tea, the tenderest part of the tree, has mature tea buds that are small and have golden hair, a golden color, and a brownish-red luster.

Ruan Fu wrote a record of Pu’er tea during the reign of Daoguang because the material selection standard is similar to the tribute royal family’s during the Qing Dynasty: “The core of Pu’er tea in February was very thin and white and was called Maojian.” As a tribute, it was sold by the people at the rear of the tribute..”

All Pu’er tea that paid tribute to the imperial Royal at that time was only made from bud tips of high-quality wild large-leaf trees. After the imperial Royal had picked all the tea buds, the rest were allowed to be picked and sold by the people.

As a result of this origin, modern people have named this Pu’er tea grade with bud tip as the raw material “Royal”.

Different tree species, different experiences

In Yunnan, palace-grade Pu’er ripe tea can only be made from large-leaf species. However, a variety of small-leaf species are also widely used in the production of Pu’er ripe tea for market reasons.

In high-quality production areas, palace tea with large leaves is relatively rare and more expensive because of its thin strands.

Moreover, compared with common palace-grade tea, the tea with large leaf species has more endoplasmic, higher bubble resistance, and better taste performance, which makes it more valuable for collection.