Pu-erh Grey (Refined Dark Tea)

Pu-erh Grey is an Earl Grey idea rebuilt on a dark tea base — ripe Yunnan pu-erh with Pakistani rose petals instead of the usual black tea and bergamot. Smoother, earthier and far lower in caffeine than the original.

Taste

Ripe pu-erh gives a deep, smooth body — earthy, faintly sweet, with the thick mouthfeel that fermentation brings and none of the astringency of a black tea. Rose petals lift it with a soft floral aroma that sits surprisingly well against the darkness. If you like Earl Grey but find it sharp, this is the same shape of tea with the edges taken off.

What's inside

• Ripe (shou) pu-erh — from Yunnan, fermented and aged for a smooth, mellow base.
• Rose petals — from Pakistan, for natural floral aroma.

How to brew

For a mug: one heaped teaspoon (about 3 g), freshly boiled water (100°C), steep 2–3 minutes. For a small pot: 5 g, a 10-second rinse, then 20–30 second steeps, adding 5–10 seconds each round — it will give you 8–10 cups.

When to drink it

All day, and later than you would drink Earl Grey — ripe pu-erh sits at roughly 15–25 mg of caffeine per cup, against 50–70 mg for a black tea. Good at work, after a meal, or after training.

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

Frequently asked questions

How is Pu-erh Grey different from Earl Grey?
Same idea, different base. A classic Earl Grey is black tea scented with bergamot. Pu-erh Grey uses ripe Yunnan pu-erh with rose petals instead — so it is smoother and earthier, with roughly a third of the caffeine (about 15–25 mg versus 50–70 mg).

Is it low in caffeine?
Relatively, yes. Ripe (shou) pu-erh typically carries about 15–25 mg of caffeine per cup, well under a black tea. That makes it easier to drink later in the day.

Does it taste strongly of pu-erh?
It is smooth rather than aggressive. Ripe pu-erh is fermented and aged, which gives an earthy, faintly sweet body without the rawness people sometimes expect. The rose keeps it light on top.