Golden Digestif (Chrysanthemum Pu-erh)

Golden Digestif is a ripe Yunnan pu-erh blended with white chrysanthemum and Xinhui tangerine peel (chenpi) — the classic Cantonese after-dinner combination, in one cup.

Taste

Nose: a nostalgic aroma of damp earth, old libraries and warm spice, lifted by the sweet nectar of chrysanthemum.

Palate: the liquor is a deep, translucent amber-red. It enters the mouth with a thick, lubricating smoothness. The earthy bass notes of the pu-erh are balanced by the spicy, medicinal sweetness of the chenpi, while the floral chrysanthemum dances lightly on top.

Finish: a lingering returning sweetness — hui gan — that coats the throat.

What's inside

• Ripe (shou) pu-erh — from Yunnan, fermented and aged for a smooth, earthy body with none of the raw edge.
• White chrysanthemum — from Hangzhou, the traditional pairing for aged pu-erh.
• Xinhui tangerine peel (chenpi) — from the region regarded as the benchmark for aged peel.

How to brew

This tea is robust. Use about 5 g per small pot, freshly boiled water (100°C). Give it a quick 10-second rinse and discard, then steep 20–30 seconds for the first drink, adding 5–10 seconds each round. It will hold up for 8–10 steeps.

When to drink it

After a meal — that is what it was built for. Also a good working tea: ripe pu-erh carries roughly 15–25 mg of caffeine per cup, well under a black tea.

Part of the O2H pu erh tea collection — blended for Australian palates and packed in Melbourne in biodegradable packaging. Read more in our chenpi science guide and our pu-erh guide.

Frequently asked questions

What is chenpi?
Chenpi is aged, dried tangerine peel. The peel used here comes from Xinhui in Guangdong, the region regarded as the benchmark for it. It brings a warm, spicy citrus sweetness that balances the earthiness of ripe pu-erh.

Does ripe pu-erh have a lot of caffeine?
No — ripe (shou) pu-erh typically carries about 15–25 mg per cup, roughly a third of a black tea. The fermentation and ageing mellow it, which is why it works after dinner.

How many times can I re-steep it?
Eight to ten steeps in a small pot. Start with a 10-second rinse, then 20–30 seconds for the first drink, adding 5–10 seconds each round. The later steeps get smoother and sweeter.