Good tea is a hallmark of Chinese culture. As much as humans have cultivated the cultivation, production, and preparation of this beverage over centuries, there also exists the ideal of naturalness.

This is especially true for the teas from the Pu’er region. The leaves used to make these sought-after premium teas come from trees that have been growing in remote areas of Yunnan Province for several hundred years. The leaves are processed by hand and pressed into the characteristic cakes for these teas. During storage, which can last several decades, a second fermentation occurs, giving these Grand Crus of Chinese tea their unmistakable aromas.

Meng-Lin Chou takes her readers on a journey to the tea-growing regions of Pu’er. The tea merchant from Zurich is originally from Taiwan. She not only introduces the most important gardens and their teas but also provides essential background knowledge about the history, mythology, and ecology of Pu’er. Simon Trüb accompanied Meng-Lin Chou on one of her trips and contributes illustrations featuring motifs from the forests of Pu’er to the elegantly designed book.