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Puerh is one of those categories of tea that always seems to be the hardest to find information about. It’s not as widely known as black tea or green tea, but there are some tried and true resources that I often turn to. Here are 6 books that will help you learn about puerh tea.
Tea Horse Road: China’s Ancient Trade Road to Tibet
Tea Horse Road: China’s Ancient Trade Road to Tibet by Michael Freeman and Dr. Selena Ahmed is one of the most visually stunning tea books on my shelf. It’s also an in-depth exploration of the region of Yunnan, its history, and puerh tea’s role in that. Dr. Selena Ahmed is an ethnobiologist and Michael Freeman is an award-winning photographer. Talk about a dream tea to help show you the way!
The Ancient Tea Horse Road
The Ancient Tea Horse Road by Jeff Fuchs follows a similar vein as Tea Horse Road but with a bit more prose and a sense of adventure. This book is the chronicle of Jeff’s 7.5-month-long journey following this ancient trade route. There are plenty of trials, tribulations, and dangers along the way. I think it gives the reader essential insight into the human side of tea. I also highly recommend checking out Jeff’s ‘The Tea Explorer’ documentary as a companion to this book.
Tea: A User’s Guide
Tea: A User’s Guide by Tony Gebely has become my personal tea encyclopedia. This book is just the facts and nothing but the facts so you won’t find fanciful stories. What you will find is an exhaustive list of fermented teas from around the world. This an excellent reference guide as you navigate the world of heicha, of which puerh is one part. I found the sections on the processing of puerh particularly helpful.
The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane
The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane by Lisa See is fictional, but it is also an incredibly well-researched and intriguing story. It follows the life of Li-yan, a girl born in a small village in Yunnan, and how tea weaves itself in and out of her life. The author traveled extensively in Yunnan with Linda Louie of Bana Tea Company. There’s even a tea-tasting guide at the end for book clubs.
Puer Tea: Ancient Caravans and Urban Chic
Puer Tea: Ancient Caravans and Urban Chic by Jinghong Zhang is one of the books I find myself recommending most often. Although it is a scholarly work, it is still very readable for those just becoming interested in puerh. It focuses largely on the Yiwu area but there is a lot to unpack, especially the 2007 pricing bubble and crash. The author provides a lot of sociological perspectives on puerh that I have not seen anywhere else. There are accompanying videos that are all a must-watch as well.
Appreciating Chinese Tea Series: Pu-erh Tea
Appreciating Chinese Tea Series: Pu-erh Tea by Wang Jidong is a quick but valuable read. It is rare to find Chinese sources that have been translated into English. Though the wording can be awkward at times, it is not difficult to understand. There are some insights into shou puerh processing and unusual teas that would be very helpful for beginners.
I hope that this list helps you in your journey to learn about puerh. They are all books that I return to for research often. Is there a book about puerh tea that you think belongs on this list? I’d love to hear from you in the comments below!
This post was originally published on July 23rd, 2018. It was revised and updated on June 4th, 2024.
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What a great list! Thank you so much! Can’t wait to learn more about Puerh!
Thank you! It’s an awesome journey once you start digging in.