TuoCha, cakes, loose leaf: Pu Erh tea in all its forms

Discovering the TuoCha tradition

TuoCha is one of the most well-known forms of Pu Erh tea. Some mistakenly think it's a variety. In fact, it's simply a presentation style. The manufacturing process remains the same, regardless of the final appearance of the product.
According to tradition, Pu Erh tea comes from wild trees growing in the mountains of the Yunnan region in China. The large tea leaves are harvested and dried in the sun. Then, they are moistened and stored in a warm room. This triggers a fermentation process characteristic of Pu Erh tea. Finally, the leaves undergo another drying period before being sorted and compressed into nest shapes.
To achieve this result, pressing is done in bamboo molds shaped like bowls. Generally, when Pu Erh tea is marketed as TuoCha, it is packaged in small quantities, ranging from 100 to 500 grams.

Pu Erh tea presented in cake form

Another common presentation form for Pu Erh tea is compression into cakes. The manufacturing process is similar to TuoCha. Here again, producers select wild tea leaves that grow naturally in China's Yunnan province. Pu Erh indeed benefits from a protected geographical indication certifying that it comes exclusively from trees in this region. The production steps remain the same: harvesting, sun-drying to promote oxidation, then fermentation.
Then, the tea is compressed into cakes of varying weights and sizes. Generally, you'll find Pu Erh packaged in 357-gram cakes (sometimes 400 or 500 grams). Originally, pressing was intended to facilitate storage and transportation of this post-fermented tea. Additionally, it allows for easier preservation, which is advantageous since Pu Erh is known to improve with age.
You might wonder how to break into a cake to prepare your infusions? This indeed requires having some accessories allowing you to preserve your Pu Erh tea longer. You can use a knife or pick, specially designed not to damage the dried tea leaves.

Yunnan tea sold in bulk

Like other teas, Pu Erh is also sold loose leaf. This doesn't change its manufacturing method, qualities, or benefits. The leaves are simply not compressed after the sorting stage. This form is more common in Western countries. You'll find different weight packages. However, you should note that when sold loose leaf, post-fermented tea will age faster than in compressed cakes or nests. It will therefore be less easy to preserve.
Regardless of the chosen form, you'll enjoy savoring a cup of Pu Erh tea to appreciate its typical taste with woody notes.