Pu-erh tea is named after the region by the same name in Yunnan province in China. It is unusual in that it is usually aged and it is not uncommon for Pu-erh teas to be listed by vintage, like wine, sometimes aged for 5 or 20 or even 50 years. Leaves from ancient old forests with tall trees are often the origin of this tea.

Pu-erh is also different from other teas because it can be classified by grade, shape, region as well as season. It can be in loose leaf form, compressed bricks, the well-known tuo-cha (nest or bowl), cakes and other assorted shapes.

In its unripened form, pu-erh is technically a type of green tea but as it ages, natural fermentation takes place through the process of ripening.