Imperial is a term used in the industry to describe a grade of Puerh tea, indicating that the original leaves of this grade are of very high quality. Loose, ripe Puerh tea is graded according to standards, with seven grades from highest to lowest: Imperial Grade, Special Grade, Grade 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9, respectively. The lower the grade, the coarser and older the tea leaves. "Imperial Grade" has tiny buds with golden hairs and a shiny brown-red color. The leaves selected for this grade are mainly used for loose-leaf tea for individual drinking rather than being compressed into cakes or bricks. Imperial Grade Puerh tea is priced higher due to its limited yield and the more challenging fermentation process than ordinary Puerh tea grades. The origin of Imperial Puerh tea dates back to the Qing Dynasty(1820), when Puerh tea was offered as a tribute to the emperor. Only after the youngest buds were picked in spring were the remaining leaves allowed to be harvested by the public. Imperial Puerh tea from 2003 offers 20+ years of aging, providing a bright red liquor with a light body and a sweet, full-bodied finish. The tea is harvested in Yunnan, China, and is perfect for tea connoisseurs looking for a complex taste. The options from 2015 and 2020 provide you with a more affordable choice. The difference between them lies in the aging process. The longer the aging, the more subdued and stable the aroma of the dry leaves, the richer and sweeter the taste of the tea soup, and the deeper, more reddish-brown color of the tea soup.
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